Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture

How can an architectural education prepare you to break away from traditional practice and tackle complex systems like social impact housing, community advocacy, and non-traditional careers?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Sarai Williams, Vice President of Housing Strategy and Partnerships at BDP Impact Real Estate. A thread that keeps surfacing this season is what happens to the people who receive an architectural education and then choose not to practice traditionally. Sarai’s multi-disciplinary journey, spanning a Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University, a dual Master’s in City & Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from Penn, and years in architectural consulting and landscape design, offers a compelling look at how design thinking extends far beyond the drafting board.
Sarai reflects on realizing early in her education that she was better suited as an editor and advocate than a traditional "starchitect". From performing forensic architecture in consulting firms to leading housing initiatives that keep people successfully housed across a national portfolio, she shares how systems thinking from architecture applies directly to real estate development and homelessness mitigation. She also dives into the art of the informational interview, a critical tool that shaped her career, and how asking candid questions opens doors to unconventional opportunities.
The conversation also explores Unruly Practices, a graduate elective Sarai co-taught at the University of Pennsylvania. Designed around unprepared guest panelists who answer unfiltered student questions, the course helped students channel career anxiety into actionable strategies for grant writing, entrepreneurship, and alternative paths. Sarai and Evelyn close on the future of housing, emphasizing the need for architects to strip away ego, become better listeners, and build multi-disciplinary teams with professionals outside design.
"The future of housing relies on architects stripping away ego, becoming better listeners, and building multi-disciplinary teams with professionals outside design." - Sarai Williams
This episode serves as a powerful reminder that an architecture degree is a versatile toolkit for systems thinking, problem-solvingv, and advocacy. By stepping outside traditional boundaries and collaborating across disciplines, architects can drive meaningful social impact where it is needed most.
Guest:
Sarai Williams is Vice President of Housing Strategy and Partnerships at BDP Impact Real Estate, where she works at the intersection of social impact real estate development and homelessness response. She earned her Bachelor of Architecture from Howard University and a dual Master's in City & Regional Planning and Landscape Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. With past experience in architectural consulting, forensic design, and landscape architecture at Olin, Sarai also spent four years co-teaching Unruly Practices, an elective at Penn dedicated to helping students navigate non-traditional design careers and systems-level advocacy.
This episode is especially for you if:
✅ You are curious about how to leverage an architectural education in non-traditional fields like social impact real estate, urban planning, and advocacy.
✅ You want to master the art of informational interviews to discover new career paths and build authentic professional networks.
✅ You are seeking strategies to manage career burnout, set healthy boundaries, and transition from traditional design practice.
✅ You want to understand how systems thinking from design school can be applied to complex social challenges like veteran homelessness and affordable housing retention.
✅ You believe that the future of architecture relies on cross-disciplinary collaboration, active listening, and community-centered problem solving.
What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
📍 Show Links:
Connect with Sarai on LinkedIn
Learn more about Community Solutions
Learn more about BDP Impact Real Estate

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How can architects leverage AI and data to eliminate inefficiencies and reclaim their time for design?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Natalia Bakaeva, a registered architect in Ontario who transitioned from running her own multidisciplinary practice to becoming the co-founder and CEO of ARKI. This season continues to highlight architects who stopped waiting for the profession to change and built something themselves. Natalia’s journey traces a unique path from beginning architecture school at sixteen in the Russian Far East, to studying in Moscow and London, and eventually establishing her career and practice in Toronto.
The conversation delves into the deep frustrations Natalia experienced with the lack of innovation, scaling limitations, and heavy administrative burdens inherent in traditional practice. Recognizing that architectural services are difficult to productize and that firms often base decisions on guesswork rather than historical project data, she pivoted to the tech industry. Together with her co-founder, Mehdi, she developed ARKI, an AI "memory layer" or "second brain" that categorizes and stores a firm's construction details, layouts, and drawings to make them easily searchable and reusable.
Natalia and Evelyn also unpack the cultural resistance within the AEC industry toward adopting new technologies and the necessity of backing up software solutions with hard ROI data. Natalia emphasizes the importance of architects taking the driver's seat in the AI transformation rather than being at the mercy of outside developers. She closes with profound advice for anyone feeling unfulfilled in their current role, encouraging professionals to follow their intuition and find their ikigai - the intersection of what they love, what they are good at, what the world needs, and what they can get paid for.
"I'm starting now to think about artificial intelligence and all this tech journey is more of coming back to the craft. My ideal scenario is, we automate the processes that can be automated so we can spend more time on things that we actually like to do, on creativity, on the parts that are maybe related to materials or what users experience every day, something that is tangible, something that makes a real impact." - Natalia Bakaeva
This episode serves as a powerful reminder that while the tools of the profession are rapidly evolving, the core goal remains the same: designing better spaces. By embracing technology and better data management, architects can automate redundancies and return to the true craft of architecture.

Guest:
Natalia Bakaeva is a registered architect in Ontario who ran her own practice in Toronto, working across residential, commercial, healthcare, education, and public art. With a rich background that includes an early start in architectural education in Russia and a bilingual master's program between Moscow and London, she transitioned into the tech sector after experiencing the inefficiencies of traditional practice. She is now the co-founder and CEO of ARKI, full-time, building an AI system of record that operates on a firm's internal project data.
This episode is especially for you if:
✅ You want to understand how AI can transform dormant firm data into a searchable "wisdom hub" or "second brain."
✅ You are curious about the journey from running a traditional architecture practice to founding an AEC tech startup.
✅ You want to explore the concept of productizing architectural services and overcoming industry inefficiencies.
✅ You are looking for inspiration to follow your intuition and find your ikigai within or outside the profession.
✅ You believe architects need to be proactive in shaping the tools and technologies that will define the future of practice.
What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
📍 Show Links:
Learn more about ARKI
Connect with Natalia on LinkedIn
Learn more about Natalia on her Website

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How can architects leverage storytelling to differentiate their practice, build authentic client connections, and communicate the true value of design?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Lee Schneider, founder of Red Cup Agency and adjunct assistant professor at the USC School of Architecture. With a rich background spanning screenwriting, network news production at Dateline NBC, and over a decade teaching media making to architecture students, Lee brings a unique outside perspective to the profession. Together, they explore how narrative carries weight in business development, firm positioning, and project selection.
The conversation dives deep into the three foundational stories every architect must learn to master: the origin story of purpose, the testimonial story of social proof, and the tailored case study that addresses specific client needs. Lee breaks down common pitfalls, such as relying on the "genius reel" or assuming projects will simply speak for themselves, and emphasizes why collaboration and active listening matter more to clients than pure prestige. They also examine how evolving digital media, short-form video, and AI are shifting how firms communicate.
Beyond digital marketing, Lee and Evelyn unpack the mechanics of high-stakes interview preparation, team composition, and building project advocates on both sides of the table. Lee shares practical strategies for overcoming public speaking hesitations, grounding presentations in authentic personal purpose, and adapting narrative delivery across different mediums. Ultimately, they highlight how clearer storytelling can elevate public appreciation for the architectural discipline as a whole.
"Clients want you to listen to them. For the most part, they're looking for a collaboration. They're not looking to be talked down to. If you're giving a case study, a really smart case study would include a little taste of that, the idea that this firm listens to clients." - Lee Schneider
This episode serves as a powerful reminder that architecture is communicated not just through drawings and budgets, but through human connection and shared purpose. By mastering narrative strategy and focusing on client collaboration, practitioners can stand out in a crowded market and demonstrate the indispensable value of design.
Guest:
Lee Schneider is the founder of Red Cup Agency, a communications consultancy based in Santa Monica, and an adjunct assistant professor at the USC School of Architecture, where he has taught media making for over ten years. A former producer for Dateline NBC, playwright, and screenwriter, he specializes in helping firms, technical startups, and emerging leaders articulate complex ideas through compelling linear and non-linear storytelling.
This episode is especially for you if:
✅ You want to understand how narrative strategy can differentiate your firm in competitive business development and RFP processes.
✅ You are curious about the three essential stories every architect needs - origin, testimonial, and case study - and how to avoid the "genius reel" trap.
✅ You want to explore practical ways to adapt your firm's communications across emerging media formats, short-form video, and podcasting.
✅ You are looking for actionable strategies to prepare for high-stakes client interviews, build authentic team advocacy, and improve room-reading skills.
✅ You believe that better storytelling across the AEC industry can broaden public appreciation for the full value of architectural practice.
What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.
📍 Show Links:
Learn more about Red Cup Agency
Connect with Lee on LinkedIn
Listen to Lee’s Podcast

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Why are the youngest designers often the most resistant to adopting AI, and how can firms effectively navigate this technological shift?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Stacy Thorwart, former global AI strategist for Steelcase and founder of The Intelligent Designer. Stacy shares her unique journey from running a small residential interior design firm to leading enterprise-level AI strategy, and eventually launching an educational platform full-time to teach other designers
The conversation challenges common assumptions about AI in the AEC industry. Stacy reveals that the lowest adoption rates she sees aren't among senior staff, but junior designers coming straight out of school who lack exposure to the true capabilities and limitations of the tools. She unpacks the reality that the biggest barrier to AI integration isn't necessarily fear, but a severe lack of time for experimentation and context-building within already overwhelmed schedules.
Stacy and Evelyn also tackle the nuanced conversation around AI and sustainability, the vital role of leadership sentiment in determining organizational success, and why AI image generators are not yet a one-to-one replacement for technical drawing tools. Ultimately, they explore how AI might not replace design professionals, but rather elevate the value of human-to-human connection and create net new opportunities within the industry.
"AI is everywhere. It is in our email, it is in our phones, it is in our GPS, and it is baked into the design tools and design software we're using. So by saying you're opting out of AI, really that means you're opting out of all technology." - Stacy Thorwart
This episode serves as an essential guide for navigating the impending wave of AI technology, emphasizing that true innovation requires a balanced approach to education, responsible implementation, and a continued appreciation for the human element of design.
Guest:
Stacy Thorwart is an interior designer, educator, and the founder of The Intelligent Designer. With over a decade of experience at Steelcase, culminating in her role as global AI strategist, she bridges the gap between complex technology and creative practice. In 2023, she launched her educational platform full-time, which has since trained over 8,500 designers on how to responsibly and effectively integrate AI into their workflows, from conceptual visualizations to administrative tasks and procurement.
This episode is especially for you if:
✅ You want to understand why junior designers are often the most resistant to AI and how to address this education gap at the firm level.
✅ You are curious about where AI tools can save the most time right now, especially in administrative, marketing, and procurement workflows.
✅ You want to explore the real environmental implications of AI data centers and how to approach sustainable tech usage without taking an "all or nothing" approach.
✅ You believe that adopting AI will ultimately elevate the value of human relationships and in-person connections within the architectural and design process.
What have you done to take action lately? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:
Learn more about The Intelligent Designer
Connect with Stacy on LinkedIn
Follow Stacy on Instagram

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How can architectural thinking, technology, and a shift from outputs to outcomes empower designers to solve complex human challenges beyond the built environment?
In this episode of Practice Disrupted, host Evelyn Lee sits down with Michael Caton, a Pratt-trained architect whose non-traditional career trajectory spans international mega-projects, technology-driven practice, mass timber housing, and pediatric behavioral health. Michael shares how graduating into the 2008 financial crisis launched a global journey, from construction administration on an Abu Dhabi hotel spanning a Formula One track to civic leadership in Brooklyn, that fundamentally reshaped how he views the architect's role in the room.
Michael reflects on his evolution through technology-focused roles at Studio V, enterprise spatial delivery at WeWork, and his five-year tenure as the first design hire at mass timber startup Juno. Along the way, he completed a full-stack engineering bootcamp and navigated the counterintuitive realities of scaling housing innovations. He discusses the critical mindset of falling in love with the problem rather than the solution, and how his personal journey as a parent to a neurodivergent son led him to found Lumi, a pediatric behavioral health startup delivering real-time, multi-player behavioral guidance for families.
The conversation culminates in an inspiring case for the future of architectural agency. Michael challenges firm leaders to look beyond drawing sets and physical artifacts to focus on the true transformations clients are buying. By prioritizing outcomes over outputs, he argues, design thinkers can leverage their problem-solving superpowers to create profound, measurable impact across the built environment and far beyond.
"If we really focus on those outcomes and that impact through the eyes of that client, those users in very deep ways, that makes the work that we create all the more powerful." - Michael Caton
This episode serves as a powerful reminder that an architect's greatest skill is not merely generating drawings, but applying systems thinking and design synthesis to complex human needs. By focusing on outcomes over outputs, design leaders can expand their agency and unlock meaningful transformation in traditional practice and new industries alike.
Guest:
Michael Caton, AIA, is an architect, technologist, and founder of Lumi, a pediatric behavioral health startup dedicated to supporting neurodivergent families with real-time, personalized behavioral guidance. A graduate of Pratt Institute, Michael’s multi-faceted career spans international project delivery in the UAE and Switzerland, civic leadership advocacy with AIA New York, enterprise workplace delivery at WeWork, and mass timber product development as the first design hire at Juno. Combining architectural expertise with full-stack software engineering, he is a passionate advocate for outcome-driven design and leveraging technology to strengthen human connections.
This episode is especially for you if:
✅ You are curious about how architectural training can open doors to non-traditional, high-impact careers outside conventional firm practice.
✅ You want to explore the compelling case for prioritizing outcomes over outputs to increase client value and professional agency.
✅ You are eager to learn about the counterintuitive challenges and supply-chain realities of scaling mass timber housing startups.
✅ You want to understand how personal lived experience and empathy can drive the creation of human-centered tech startups.
✅ You believe that technology should be leveraged to foster deeper human connections and solve sticky societal problems.
How are you prioritizing outcomes over outputs in your practice? Share your reflections with us on social and join the conversation.

📍 Show Links:
Learn more about Michael Caton
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Learn more about Lumi

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