2025 Hello Reader, I’m writing this issue while traveling through Asia — only the second time I’ve been here in my life — and the timing feels meaningful. It’s the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a moment that always invites me to reflect on my own journey. As a first-generation Chinese American, I grew up under the quiet pressure of the “model minority” myth: work hard, be exceptional, stay respectful — and most importantly, stay under...
10 days ago • 1 min read
2025 Hello Reader, This week, I put together a presentation for the AIA California Board of Directors to help spark a deeper conversation around AI. My goal was to move beyond the hype and challenge how we think about integrating emerging technologies into our practice, not as surface-level tools, but as drivers of real transformation. Here’s what I encouraged the board to consider: AI isn’t just about automation—it’s about reducing the friction in our workflows. When implemented...
17 days ago • 2 min read
2025 Hello Reader, When the pandemic disrupted life as we knew it, every industry—not just architecture—scrambled to recreate old workflows in a remote environment. Instead of reimagining how we work, we clung to what we knew, often trying to make legacy systems fit a new reality. Zoom became the new meeting room, but the culture, the processes, and the expectations largely stayed the same. That moment could have been a catalyst for rethinking work from the ground up. But now, with AI...
24 days ago • 1 min read
2025 Hello Reader, This week, I had the privilege of joining a group of CEOs from leading architecture firms across the country for a candid conversation about the future of our profession. It was encouraging to hear how deeply invested they are in evolving their practices—from raising the value of what architects bring to the table, to staying relevant in a rapidly shifting world, to thoughtfully integrating AI into their operations. What struck me most was that despite the size and...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
2025 Hello Reader, I’m on spring break this week, so we’re keeping it short and sweet. But as always, there’s plenty stirring across the profession that’s worth reflecting on. This week on the podcast, we’re highlighting the path of a civic-minded leader who reminds us that architecture is deeply tied to public service. Rico Quirindongo’s work shows what it means to lead with integrity, intention, and care for community — a timely reminder as we continue thinking about the broader...
about 1 month ago • 2 min read
2025 Hello Reader, Last week, I had the incredible honor of presenting the 2025 AIA/ACSA Topaz Medallion for Excellence in Architectural Education to someone who’s shaped my thinking for over two decades—Tom Fisher. We met at an ArchVoices retreat in the late '90s, and from that first conversation, Tom pushed me to stay curious, critical, and deeply engaged in rethinking how architecture serves society. To recognize his contributions now felt like a full-circle moment—one rooted in personal...
about 2 months ago • 2 min read
2025 Hello Reader, This week in the Practice of Architecture community, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to run Practice of Architecture as an AI-first company—and what it would take to truly adopt that mindset. Eric Cesal recently asked whether any genuinely AI-first firms exist in our industry, and that question has stuck with me. There’s a fundamental difference between using AI tools to improve existing processes and reimagining an entire practice with AI as the foundation. The...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
2025 Hello Reader, After weeks on the road, I've treasured this past week at home—a much-needed reset before diving back into the whirlwind. Today, I'm swapping keynote stages for something possibly more challenging: serving as the mystery reader in my daughter's classroom. Frankly, I suspect these young critics might be tougher to impress than any conference audience I've faced! Behind the scenes, I've been revamping my business operations in Notion, streamlining systems that were overdue...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
2025 Hello Reader, Last week, my website decided to take an unplanned break—so rather than send out a newsletter with broken links, I hit pause. Ah, the joys of solo entrepreneurship... sometimes things don’t go as planned, and you just have to roll with it. The upside? That means this week, you get two new episodes of Practice Disrupted: 🎙️ Lattice Over Ladder: A New Model for Leadership in Design – We explore how leadership in architecture is shifting from a rigid hierarchy to a more...
2 months ago • 2 min read