This Is DesignIntelligence

The effective leader, the one who positively impacts other’s lives, will usually articulate their core beliefs through a positive lens rather than a negative one.  It’s an insight about what the leader is for rather than what they’re against.

Hubris is a term not often used in modern language. It means "the pride that comes before a fall".

Ken Sanders has led a long and distinguished career, holding leadership positions at several iconic firms, including ZGF and Gensler. Since retiring in 2018, Ken continues to support the industry by serving on various boards, by teaching at DesignIntelligence Learning, and most recently, authoring the book “Voices of Design Leadership”. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he shares what led him to architecture and the career path that followed, the role of culture in hybrid work environments, and why it’s important to build a firm that reflects the mosaic of the world.

Effective leaders stride into any given situation with their awareness antennae tuned in to read the room, observe the manner of each, and will adjust to communicate with and positively impact each for the common good.

Darryl Condon has been with hcma architecture out of Vancouver for over 20 years and currently serves as its Managing Principal. On this edition of This Is DesignIntelligence, he talks about what drew him to architecture, the core motivator and purpose at hcma, and how to best to respond to the changing value proposition of the profession.

The responsibility of effective communication is a central attribute of leaders who care about their organizations, teams, and employees. It’s not always convenient . . . actually, it’s rarely convenient, but it’s essential.

Dilip Choudhuri is President and CEO of Walter P Moore, focusing on the strategic leadership of the firm, alignment of leaders across the firm, and mentoring key direct reports. His visionary leadership has transformed the firm into a digital-first, technology-enabled firm. On this edition of This is DesignIntelligence, he talks about the changes he’s seen in engineering sciences in the post pandemic period, the extraordinary innovation happening at Walter P Moore, and how engineering can help better determine health and healthiness in buildings.

Inch deep leadership is pervasive.  It may be a mile wide in every direction, but that’s not what makes for sustainably effective leadership. 

Kai-Uwe Bergmann is a partner at BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group), heading the business development office which is active in over 40 countries. He also oversees BIG’s urban development projects and supports BIG Landscape. On this edition of This is DesignIntelligence, he talks about what inspired him to become an architect, why he believes every project he designs needs to provide something to the community that is not yet there, and the forgotten opportunity where design professionals can provide value.

Do you love what you do?  Granted, not every day is a celebration in our work.  Sometimes the day is arduous, full of tripping hazards, and crazy conflicts that seem to spring-up from nowhere.