Your Design Passport

12: You Are Not Starting From Zero: 5 Mistakes International Architects Make in the U.S.

“You are not starting from zero.” And yet, that’s exactly how many internationally trained architects feel when they begin applying for jobs in the U.S.

11: Inside Architecture Hiring- What U.S. Firms Actually Look For (From a Recruiter - Rachel Davis)

“I found that I couldn’t bear sitting at a desk any longer… I really needed that people connection. Every time I stepped into a client meeting, I was excited. But then I’d leave the meeting upset that I had to go back to my desk.” Rachel Davis   In This Episode, You’ll Learn • What architecture recruiters actually look for when reviewing candidates • The resume and portfolio mistakes architects commonly make • How international experience can become a strength, not a barrier • The role networking really plays in architecture hiring • How to navigate visas, relocation, and U.S. hiring culture   If you’re navigating the U.S. job market — or simply rethinking what your architecture career could look like — this episode is for you. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. And if this conversation resonates, share it with another architect navigating their next chapter.

10: Am I About to Undo My Entire Career? Moving from Australia to the U.S. as an Architect

Am I about to undo my entire career? That was the question I couldn’t shake when I started the process of moving from Australia to the United States as an architect.

9: Finding Home in Australia: Real Estate, Identity & Starting Again with Bonnie Worth

When you move countries, you don’t just change where you live — you leave an entire version of your life behind and step into uncertainty. In this episode of Your Design Passport, we talk about what it really means to find home in Australia — emotionally, practically, and personally.   My guest today is Bonnie Worth, a real estate expert and principal who has helped countless newcomers navigate renting and buying in Australia — including my own family when we first arrived.

8: Designing Your Own Study-Abroad Path in Architecture (US → Australia) with Emily Perna

No one had done it before — so Emily Perna decided to figure it out herself. When her architecture school didn’t have an existing exchange program in Australia, Emily built her own path, structured her own curriculum, and spent five months studying architecture at the University of Sydney.