Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Erica Spayd— President of Prose Architecture.

In this episode, Aya and Erica explore the power of storytelling in architecture. Erica shares her unique approach, incorporating creative storytelling and design thinking into her practice. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes how design thinking methodologies improve decision-making, creativity, and leadership within architectural firms.

Erica also discusses the intersection of efficient processes, autonomy, and intentional firm scaling in the architectural business. Discover the transformative power of design thinking for architects and their teams. Listen to this conversation to know more!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Erica Spayd is the President of Prose Architecture, a firm focused on telling brand stories through design. She previously designed stores in-house for J. Crew, Madewell, and most recently Warby Parker, where she and her team designed and built over 120 stores over a four year span. Eager to help new brands leave their brick-and-mortar mark, and with a desire for greater flexibility and better work-life harmony, Erica launched Prose in 2023. Erica lives in New Jersey and loves a good shopping mall. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with her family, and eating ice cream. Her kids think you should know that her favorite construction vehicle is a concrete truck.

Find out more about Erica at www.prosearchitecture.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Lee Noel Chase— Architectural Designer and Principal of Chase Design Services.

In this episode, Aya and Lee engage in an uplifting discussion exploring Lee’s unique approach to residential design by incorporating emotional connections, personal experiences, and understanding clients’ needs. Lee delves into the nitty-gritty of building genuine relationships and establishing rapport with clients, resulting in a meaningful, intimate, and story-driven design.

Lee also opens up about the challenges she faced as a woman in the industry, highlighting her personal growth and the importance of maintaining authenticity and individuality. She discusses her empowering “Just Do It!” approach, which helped her overcome her limiting beliefs and scale her firm.

Don’t miss out on Lee’s secret to 5x business growth—stay tuned until the end!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Lee Noel Chase is an Artisan-architect who pioneers a heart-centered approach to designing houses and homes. With over 25 years of experience, Lee specializes in creating compelling custom high-end residential architecture. Her design work seamlessly integrates the emotional desires of homeowners with their living spaces. Lee’s expertise has earned them numerous accolades, including Historic Preservation Awards. She is also known for their meticulous bench-fabrication of museum-quality architectural details for historic buildings across the country. 

Throughout her career, Lee has successfully managed teams of skilled artisans at three elite construction companies. Currently, Lee resides outside of Boston with her high school-age son. Both Lee and her son share a passion for drawing and creating artistic works..

Find out more about Lee Noel at www.chasedesignservices.com or connect with her via Instagram – @leenoelchase. 

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Smita Sahoo— Owner, Founder, and Creative Director of āśaya | DESIGN.

In this episode, Aya and Smita discuss the intricacies of the business side of design and how creative thinking impacts overall business success. Smita goes into detail about her company’s focus on emotions and thoughtfulness and highlights the importance of building strong networks and forming ethical partnerships, recognizing them as pivotal catalysts for success in the ever-evolving design industry. 

She also shares her vision for the future, which includes collaborations in India and working with NGOs for rural development, women’s education, and employment. Make sure you listen all the way through to learn more about the intersection of design and business!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Smita Sahoo is Owner, Founder, and Creative Director of āśaya | DESIGN, a Chicago-based luxury interior design and architecture firm, with nearly 20 years of expertise in multifamily residential, commercial and hospitality design. Smita’s passion lies in crafting spaces that foster deep emotional connections, starting with compelling design concepts tailored to her clients’ goals. 

Drawing from a diverse background in architecture, interior design, environmental psychology, and sustainability, her unique creations blend Western design innovations with timeless elements of the East. Through her firm, Smita aims to create projects that positively impact clients’ brand equity while prioritizing economic, social, cultural, and environmental enrichment. 

Smita actively contributes to Insightful Chicago and the University of Florida’s Department of Interior Design’s Advocacy board, sharing insights on design thinking, industry trends, mentorship, and EDI. She also supports SHaD (She Has a Deal), an organization promoting women in hotel and commercial real estate ownership.

Find out more about Smita at www.asayadesign.com/founder or connect with her on Instagram via @asaya.design. 

 

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In this special episode, taken from Aya’s talk at the Women Architects Festival, she shares her early career journey and the valuable insights she gained along the way. The episode delves deep into the fundamental principles that helped shape her success, emphasizing the significance of resilience, authenticity, and the courage to take risks. Drawing from personal experiences, she imparts practical tips on how to level up in both business and architecture as a woman, including four key strategies:

1. Acquire Knowledge
2. Build Relationships
3. It’s not ‘How’ but ‘Who’ 
4. Structure and Process

Be sure to listen all the way through to catch Aya’s insightful answers from the engaging Q&A session. Discover her perspectives on investing in a business coach, finding the right collaborators, finding advisors to help you find your blind spots, and establishing healthy work-life boundaries.

Tune in to this episode to learn Aya’s practical advice that can help you take your career to the next level and unlock your own path to success!

 

ABOUT WOMEN ARCHITECTS FESTIVAL:

The Women Architects Festival was a dynamic event held in May 2022 that catered to the specific needs and interests of the women in the architecture community. It covered a wide range of topics, including career development, motherhood, business growth, and working on construction sites. By showcasing the remarkable achievements of women who paved the way, the festival offered a glimpse of what was possible in architecture and beyond.

Attendees gained valuable insights and actionable strategies to foster their professional growth and sustain successful careers in architecture. The event fostered meaningful connections and provided an opportunity to network with like-minded individuals committed to supporting one another. The festival offered a collection of actionable workshops by inspiring speakers and a community specially curated for women in architecture.

Produced by Joann Lui, a licensed architect, brand designer, and personal brand strategist, the Women Architects Festival is more than just a virtual conference; it’s a celebration of women in architecture, highlighting their successes and shared stories.

Find out more about the Women Architects Festival at www.womenarchitects.co or connect with Joann at www.joannlui.com.

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Sarah Wingo— Partner and Founding Principal of Wyn Design Co.

In this episode, Aya shares an engaging conversation with Sarah about the importance of mentorship, positive networking, and building relationships in the architecture industry. Sarah shares her experiences connecting with the community, mentoring the next generation of architects, and delves into the evolving nature of housing. As an entrepreneur, she also emphasizes the significance of having a partner and how this helped them overcome some pivotal moments in their business.

The episode also provides valuable insights into emotional intelligence and mentorship in leadership, work-life balance, and the importance of relationship-driven approaches in the architecture industry. Make sure to tune in for an engaging discussion on entrepreneurship and valuable tips for building lasting connections.

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Sarah Wingo, AIA, NCIDQ is a licensed architect and licensed interior designer. She started Wyn Design Company in mid-2020 to fill a hole in the market of residentially-informed commercial spaces and hospitality-informed residential spaces. The firm became a partnership in late 2022 with past-colleague and long-time friend Ashley Kirkland. The two have aspirations for continued growth in the residential and boutique commercial design industry. 

Sarah also teaches as an adjunct professor of interior architecture at The Corcoran (GWU) for both a Studio 4 course and Leadership in Design, a curriculum she designed to provide graduating students with the leadership skills needed to excel in the profession early in their careers. As a leadership skills advocate for all, especially students and emerging professionals, Sarah has served as AIAS National President, Chair of the AIA|DC Emerging Architects Committee, Chair of the DC Chapter of the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program and an incoming member of the Washington Architectural Foundation Board.  

Find out more about Sarah at www.wyndesignco.com or connect with her on Instagram – @wyndesignco.

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with EunHea Kim— Owner and Principal Interior Designer of Pen110 Studio.

In this episode, Aya and Eunhea share a laid-back conversation about their experiences as women working in the fast-paced field of architecture and design. Considered a seasoned retail store designer, Eunhea delves into her retail job experience in different brands and discusses the pros and cons of working for large companies. She recounts her previous hectic life, how she suffered from burnout, and why she eventually decided to leave the retail corporate world. Eunhea also goes into detail about the value of work-life balance and setting boundaries to manage multiple projects without compromising leisure.

As a bonus for this episode, Aya and Eunhea outlines their takeaways from the ILC Indie ConFab in Austin, Texas, and shared an exclusive overview of the event. Make sure you listen all the way through to get an inside scoop!

ABOUT THE GUEST:

EunHea Kim is an interior designer with 15+ years of experience, previously working in-house at world-renowned luxury brands. Having honed her knowledge in integrating design and construction with brand growth strategies at both regional and global levels, she has gone on to build an extensive portfolio in boutique commercial, private, and creative projects. Today, she leads Pen110 Studio since 2016 with an eye for artful curation and confident storytelling, a rich sense of history, culture, and community—and the je n’ai ce quoi of being very New York.

As a self-taught artist in drawing and illustration, she finds as much beauty in the great histories of the world as she does in the small intricacies of everyday life—through the exploration of her personal artwork.

Find out more about Eunhae at www.pen110.com or connect with her on Instagram – @pen110.studio

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Jazz Smollet— producer, author, cook, interior designer, and co-host of CleoTV’s Living by Design.

In this episode, Aya shares a candid conversation with multi-hyphenate female creative, Jazz, about motherhood, food, and the importance of storytelling in interior design. Jazz emphasizes how storytelling elevates a design and why she believes that getting to know her clients personally is the key to putting their vision into reality.

Described as an inherently crafty person, Jazz reveals more about her greatest influence growing up– her mom, and how her childhood nostalgia contributed to her modern yet practical design aesthetic. She also discusses the lifestyle series Living by Design, which she and her brother co-hosted, and how this show serves as a great platform to express their creativity and witness how design impacts people.

Known as a jack of all trades, Jazz gets asked quite frequently about how she handles multiple roles at once. Her secret? Listen to the entire episode to find out!

 

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Producer, author, cook, interior designer, and joy creator, Jazz Smollett is the ultimate millennial mom. Jazz serves as the lifestyle guru, designer, and cooking expert on Cleo TV’s Living By Design. Now airing in its third season, Jazz serves as both co-host and co-executive producer. 

Her first cookbook The Family Table: Recipes and Moments From A Nomadic Life, published by William Morrow Books for HarperCollins Publishing, includes more than 130 delicious, comforting recipes that pay tribute to the culture, past and present. She previously starred in Food Network’s limited series, Smollett Eats.

She has appeared on The Today Show, The Chew, The Rachael Ray Show, The Real, The Dish On Oz, and Home and Family sharing design and cooking tips, to name a few. She can also be seen sharing recipes, lifestyle tips, conversations, and mom hacks on her social channels.

Jazz collaborated with Will Packer and Universal Pictures as content producers for the social media campaign and home entertainment creative content for the feature film Little. She was tapped again by Universal to serve as a behind-the-scenes Content Producer for the Jordan Peele film, Candyman. Jazz has also served as Executive Producer and showrunner for Urban One Honors and has produced several award shows, tv specials, and unscripted television shows.

 

Find out more about Jazz at www.jazzsmollett.com or connect with her on Instagram – @jazzsmollett

 

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Your host, Aya Shlachter, talks with Andrea Steele— founder and principal of Andrea Steele Architecture.

 

In this episode, Aya shares an insightful conversation with Andrea on building and strengthening human connections through sustainable architecture. Andrea also discusses her exciting journey to establishing a firm in New York City, how sustainability extends beyond the conservation of natural resources, and why it’s essential for architects to challenge the norm and encourage greater accessibility in their projects.

 

Be sure to listen to the end of the episode to learn more about Andrea’s thoughts on the business side of architecture, the value of client relationships in achieving an immersive design process, and what she enjoys doing in her leisure.

ABOUT THE GUEST:

Andrea Steele has more than two decades of experience overseeing a wide range of complex urban design projects throughout the U.S. With a focus on institutional, cultural, and community-oriented architecture.

 

Before establishing Andrea Steele Architecture, a firm that grew out of TEN Arquitectos’ New York office, where she served as partner and principal for more than 8 years, Steele practiced independently as Andrea Steele Architect. 

 

She received her Master of Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design; has taught several architecture studios, including at Cornell University; and is the recipient of numerous awards, most recently a New York AIA honor award for the New York Public Library project on Manhattan’s 53rd Street. 

 

She lectures widely throughout the United States, is a frequent participant in academic juries, and serves as an advisor to the Urban Design Forum and Pioneer Works.

 

Find out more about Andrea Steele Architecture at www.asa-ten.com.

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“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.”

 

Effective and realistic planning promotes continuous growth and brings us closer to success. In this year’s special first episode, our very own Aya Shlachter will be speaking on how to set yourself up for success through planning. 

 

In this episode, Aya will be sharing some practical tips on how she managed to accomplish her objectives in the past year and remained on track with her goals both personally and professionally amidst the pandemic. She will also talk about how she prepares for a possible recession and what has already helped her survive them as an entrepreneur who has been through two of them.

 

Make sure to listen all the way through to know what’s in store for Architect My Life this year. Plan your 2023 with us and let’s kick this new year off on the right foot!

 

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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

 

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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