Hello Reader,

What a milestone! We recently hit 60,000 unique listeners on Practice Disrupted, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Whether you’re a new listener or someone who has shared our podcast with your network—thank you! It’s humbling to know our conversations resonate with so many of you.

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You won’t want to miss our latest episode: Architecture, And: Creative Director Obiekwe Okolo. I sat down with Obi, who spoke candidly about what it feels like to love a profession that doesn’t always love you back. Despite his passion, his story of realizing architecture wasn’t the right fit is a reminder of how complex our relationship with this industry can be.

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This week, I found myself back in Los Angeles, reconnecting with old friends and visiting architects who tragically lost their homes in the Eaton fire. It hit hard. Having witnessed the devastation of the Cerro Grande fire in Los Alamos years ago, and now seeing the same pain in LA, it’s a stark reminder of how fragile our sense of home can be. It reinforced why the work we do matters—why building resilient communities isn’t just a catchphrase but a necessity.

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For those of you attending the Leadership Summit next week, I’m looking forward to seeing you there. Let’s keep the conversations going, continue supporting one another, and drive our profession forward—together.

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Keep learning and growing,

Evelyn M Lee, FAIA | NOMA Founder, Practice of Architecture & Host, Practice Disrupted & Fractional COO

/// PoA Podcast - Practice Disrupted ///

Architecture, And: Creative Director Obiekwe Okolo How does an architectural background shape a career as a Creative Director? Architecture teaches more than just how to design buildings—it shapes the way we see, think, and create. In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee sits down with Obiekwe "Obi" Okolo, a Nigerian-American photographer, multimedia artist, and creative director at Bittersweet Creative, to explore how his design education continues to influence his work in storytelling, strategy, and cultural advocacy. Together, they explore how an architectural background can open doors to unexpected and impactful career paths. Listen Here

Rethinking Firm Structure & Sustainable Home Design How can small architecture firms innovate for a sustainable future? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, we sit down with Carina Coel, Founder and Principal Architect of Restructure Studio, and Alexandra Chaves, Project Manager at the firm. Together, they share how their firm balances custom and pre-designed home offerings, embraces flexible work models, and fosters leadership in architecture. Listen Here

/// Practice Community + LAB /// What we're reading and sharing ///

​HBR: The Legal Landscape Around DEI is Shifting. Your Messaging Should, Too - Striking a balance between saying too much and too little is key to avoiding legal risks while maintaining trust with employees and stakeholders.

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​Site Inspection Management - How do you manage site inspections for large projects?

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​Firm Maturity Index - One of our community members just launched the Firm Maturity Index at BQE. It's a quick 14-question quiz that covers Business Development, Project Management, Financials, Billings & Invoicing, and Operations.

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Every article we share in our newsletter can be found in the Practice Community + Lab.

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