Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Michelle Kolbe, CCO, Co-Founder, and Head of Design of EvoDOMUS.

 

In this episode, Aya and Michelle take a trip down memory lane as they talk about Michelle’s journey as an architecture major who traveled to Europe and how this opportunity exposed her to various experiences that soon served as a compass that helped her navigate her career life. 

 

Michelle also discusses the idea behind the creation of EvoDomus, their design process when working on pre-fab homes, and how she handles tasks and the people on-site. On top of that, Michelle shares how she developed her business acumen, how she navigated their firm amidst the pandemic, and how one of the most crucial aspects of being a successful creative entrepreneur is understanding how to deal with challenging situations and clients. 

 

Make sure to listen until the end of the episode to know more about Michelle’s views on design, business, and work-life balance!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Michelle Kolbe is the CCO, Co-Founder, and Head of Design of EvoDOMUS, a firm that specializes in the intersection of modern and green architecture. They create solid, warm homes for people who are environmentally aware and love modern architecture.

 

Michelle traveled to Europe after finishing her degree in architecture at Kent State University, gaining valuable international experience in residential, retail, and commercial design in both Germany and England. She collaborated with architect Arata Isozaki in his Berlin office in the mid-nineties, soaking up the vibrancy and excitement of the post-reunification era in this truly amazing city. After 17 years abroad, she returned to the US, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the fields of energy-efficient architectural design, client relations, and construction management. Her admiration of the clean lines of Bauhaus-inspired modernism coupled with contemporary materials, and advances in current building science, serve as a perpetual source of inspiration for her home designs.

 

Find out more about EvoDOMUS

www.evodomus.com

Instagram: @Evodomus

www.evo.supplies

Instagram: @Evodomus_kitchen_studio

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Evelyn Lee, Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, founder of Practice of Architecture, and co-host of Practice Disrupted Podcast.

In this episode, Aya and fellow podcaster Evelyn delve into the intersection of architecture, technology, and innovation. Evelyn discusses her career pivot, how her extensive background in technology and design prompted her interest in business operations, and how she made the decision to support architects in expanding their expertise and offering new services in order to remain relevant and profitable in a rapidly evolving industry.

Evelyn also gives a short but sweet discussion about the topics of her most recent affiliation with LinkedIn’s US Creator Accelerator Program where she publishes cross-disciplinary content focusing on business operations. Stick around until the end of the episode to know how she maintains a healthy work-life balance, and who she is outside of AIA, Slack, and Practice of Architecture.

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

 Evelyn Lee, FAIA, is the first-ever Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, Founder of the Practice of Architecture, and Co-Host of the  Podcast, Practice Disrupted. Lee integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organization’s employees, clients, and guests.

She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including the 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She recently served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021.

 

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If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE.

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Aimon Ali, fashion entrepreneur, runway show producer, creative director, and founder of Fashion Talks.

In this episode, Aya and Aimon share a lovely conversation about Aimon’s life as a creative entrepreneur in the fashion industry. Aimon discusses how her passion for fashion developed, her early creative endeavors, and how her familiarity with a busy lifestyle enabled her to manage time gracefully while having several commitments.

This episode also dives into Aimon’s journey organizing her successful fashion runway event at the Cleveland Museum of Art, as well as the challenges she encountered and how she overcame them. Be sure to stick around until the end to know a fun fact hear the extended post-recording session where she shares her first NYC collaborative fashion event experience!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Aimon Ali is a fashion entrepreneur as well as an experienced Fashion Runway Show Producer, Stylist, and Creative Director from Toronto, Canada. With 7+ years of experience in the Canadian Fashion Industry, she has done events in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Vancouver.

After her move to Cleveland, she started exploring the creative industry in Cleveland in search of the fashion she loved and was used to. She soon realized there was something missing. There were so many amazing creatives with some amazing work but no outlet when it came to elevated fashion.

So she made it her goal to bring elevated and diverse events and services to Cleveland. Events you don’t have to think twice about before attending. Events based on quality, high fashion, and community.

HIGHLIGHTS & TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Teaser and Intro

02:53 What sparked Aimon’s interest in fashion

04:43 Aimon’s early creative and fashion endeavors

06:20 From Psychology to Fashion

09:09 Behind the scenes of Fashion Talks’ Runway Show in the Cleveland Museum of Art

15:30 Managing time and enjoying the ‘busy life’ doing what you love

19:00 Setbacks and challenges while organizing the fashion show at the CMA

23:19 Being authentic to attract people and build a solid network

25:55 What inspired her to pursue fashion entrepreneurship

28:00 When to take the “big leap”

28:55 Aya and Aimon’s fun common interest!

32:57 Aimon’s NYC event recap

BE PART OF THE PODCAST:

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Dena Prastos— architect, futurist, and CEO of Indigo River, a transdisciplinary design consultancy firm.

In this episode, Aya speaks with Dena about her passion for waterfront architecture, design resiliency, and ecology. Dena also talks about how growing up in Alaska influenced her fascination for nature, why she is dedicated to climate adaptation and incorporation of the environment into her designs, and why it is crucial to generate new, integrated viewpoints on sustainability, resiliency, and system-based thinking in infrastructure development nowadays.

Catch this episode to know more about Dena’s visionary perspective on architecture!

 

About the Guest:

Founder and CEO of Indigo River, Dena is the first “waterfront architect,” trailblazing a new category in the industry. Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture, resiliency, and climate adaptation. 

A leading authority in New York Harbor and beyond, the firm specializes in climate adaptation through waterfront solutions that seamlessly transcend boundaries – guiding and executing projects from ideation through final construction and operations. Waterfront architect, civil engineer, futurist, climate adaptation expert, entrepreneur, and creative original, Dena is driven to transform the built world at the water’s edge.

Connect with Dena on Linkedin or on Instagram at @denaprastos.

Find out more about Indigo River at www.indigoriver.com.

 

Highlights & Timestamps:

• 03:32 — Dena’s interest in nature
• 10:51 — Features of a waterfront architect
• 11:39 — Waterfront architecture as a specialization
• 13:24 — Waterfront architecture and its scope
• 14:25 — Biomimicry, ecology, and futurism in relation to waterfront architecture
• 20:57 — The history of Indigo River
• 28:50 — Difference between resiliency and sustainability

 

Be part of the podcast!

Do you have a question in mind? Send me your questions and I’ll answer them on a podcast episode!

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE.

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Jenika Gonzales, a Visual & Graphic Designer at Mitchell’s Ice Cream and a Freelance Designer (Jenika May LLC)

In this second episode honoring the October Filipino Heritage Month, Aya gets into a hearty conversation with a fellow creative Filipina-Clevelander, Jenika Gonzales. Jenika talks about her upbringing in the Philippines, what it was like to spend eight years apart from her mother, her family’s immigration journey, and how these experiences ultimately affected her outlook in life today. As a creative at heart and in practice, Jenika emphasizes the value of interpersonal connections and that there’s always an opportunity that arises from developing trust and healthy relationships with people. 

This episode dives into Jenika’s creative journey, design process, thoughts on human relationships, and even her enthusiasm for food, so be sure to catch this episode and be part of the conversation!

About the Guest:

Jenika Gonzales is a Visual & Graphic Designer at Mitchell’s Ice Cream and a Freelance Designer (Jenika May LLC). In her past work, Jenika helped design the packaging of Market Garden Brewery’s cans, Created and promoted Global Cleveland’s 10-year anniversary rebrand as it’s first Marketing Director, worked on Dimit Architects logo rebrand, and have collaborated with many small businesses in Cleveland and beyond.

Active in the community, Gonzales was a member of the inaugural Global Rising Leadership Program that Global Cleveland created in 2020 and contributes to the grassroots organization of OPAWL (Ohio Progressive Asian Women Leadership). Jenika was featured  in Cleveland Magazine’s Most Interesting People 2022  And Crain’s Cleveland Notable Immigrant in 2022. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring new culinary adventures along with cooking Filipino food favorites to share!

Where to find Jenika:

www.jenikagonzales.com 

@jenikagonzales

@jenikaeatsmeat

Features:

Jenika featured in Spectrum News

Jenika Featured in Cleveland Magazine

Lost Years

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE.

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Jing Lauengco– brand strategist, chief optimist, and female founder of Jing Inc. and Other Brown Girl.

To celebrate October Filipino Heritage Month, Aya shares an uplifting conversation with fellow Filipina-Clevelander Jing Lauengco about their inspiring journeys as creative entrepreneurs, how their Filipino heritage influenced who they are, and how their shared passion for creativity and empowering women brought them together. In this episode, Jing also shared her tips for closing major deals with clients and emphasized the importance of handling business by sharing and serving rather than just selling. 

As Jing discusses her businesses and personal projects, she also delved into how her early years as a female caricature artist at Cedar Point have made her appreciate the value of human connection and how her battle with cancer taught her to live life more passionately.

About the guest:

As a young Manila-born Filipina with a colorful imagination growing up in Ohio, Jing Lauengco saw the power of words, cross-cultural connections, and creative storytelling at an early age. Jing’s passion for Diversity, Design, and Digital Storytelling grew as an award-winning Brand Strategist, Chief Optimist, and Female Founder of Jing Inc., her design and business consultancy; Other Brown Girl (OBG), her social impact blog for modern, multicultural women and next-gen OtherBrownGIrl leaders and entrepreneurs; and her podcast, Next Thing with Jing, exploring next chapters, new adventures, and real life-work life comebacks.

 

Entrepreneur, former Design Firm Founder, and Ad Agency Partner, Jing is currently completing a non-fiction book about traveling to the Philippines to trace her family roots while taking a tour through breast cancer. 

 

Jing serves on Literary Cleveland’s Board of Trustees shaping DEI Community Programming, and OPAWL – Ohio Progressive Asian Women Leadership, a female-led social justice coalition building intersectional feminist advocacy. 

 

Featured in Cleveland Magazine’s 10 Women Who Inspire Us in Cleveland, Cleveland’s Most Interesting People – Creative Thinker, StoryClub Cleveland, and ideastream’s The Sound of Ideas, Jing teaches women and girls how to find their voice and design positive, self-empowering identities in their own words and own way. 

 

Jing’s living the dream and inspiring the next generation of modern women, creative entrepreneurs.

 

Where to find Jing:

https://www.jinginc.com/

https://www.otherbrowngirl.com/

Next Thing With Jing Podcast

Jing Lauengco LinkedIn

Jing Lauengco Instagram

 

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE.

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Liza Morales, Principal of Ecotecture Design Studio, CEO of Philippine Geogreen Inc., and co-founder of Tali Handmade.

In this episode, Aya and her good friend Liza Morales walk us through their experiences as women working in the architecture and design industry, from their time at Columbia University to their early New York lifestyles. Liza also delves into her passion for producing sustainable designs as well as the concept of future-proofing and how it should always go hand in hand with sustainability. She also reveals her secret for managing multimillion-dollar businesses while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

 

Liza is the Principal and Design Director of Ecotecture Design Studio. Her firm specializes in sustainable architecture.  She was one of the first Filipino Leed Certified Architects. She is the CEO of Philippine Geogreen a Leading distributor of Sustainable  Products in the Philippines. She is also the co-founder of Tali, a social enterprise, that produces handbags and home accessories. She employs and provides a livelihood for women in impoverished rural communities.

 

Liza is a serial entrepreneur who has been featured in Asia’s biggest publications including a 45-minute segment in CNN’s Leading Women dedicated to her accomplishments as a female entrepreneur. She is also an active member of the Entrepreneurs Organization in the Philippines.

 

www.philgeogreen.com

www.ecotecturedesign.com

Lisa Morales LinkedIn 

Ecotecture Instagram

Philgeogreen Instagram

Tali Handmade bags

 

Tune in to this episode to know more about sustainability, future-proofing, and work-life balance from Liza!

 

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE.

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Sandra Madison, CEO & Chairperson of Robert P. Madison International, Inc.

In this episode, Aya shares an inspiring conversation with fellow Clevelander Sandra Madison on leadership and growth in the context of being an architect and the CEO of a renowned firm. Sandra also talks about her path to becoming a CEO, how self-confidence helped her conquer the hurdles she faced as a woman of color beginning her career in architecture, and how this ultimately helped her become the powerhouse woman she is today.

Tune in to this episode to learn and be part of their discussion!

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Sonya Haffey, principal of V Starr Interior.

In this episode, Aya and Sonya explore the factors that contribute to the effective operation of V Starr and delve into what makes it function like a well-oiled machine. The two also discussed Sonya’s early career life, how she transitioned from a pre-med student to a design student, and how she manages her roles as a principal of a thriving interior design firm and a mother of four.

Catch this episode to be part of their conversation!

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Jing Johnson of Prism Renderings. Jing Johnson started Prism Renderings in 2005 to help clients leverage their project imagery as a business tool. They work with architects, developers, investors, facility owners, and brokers to provide 3D renderings, 360 panoramic renderings, and multi-media animations showing projects from a variety of views at any stage of development.

To learn more about Jing’s work, visit https://www.prismrenderings.com/

If you’d like to be a guest on Architect My Life, click HERE

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