Leading a Learning Organization: Lessons from Angela Watson | Shepley Bulfinch

Leading a Learning Organization: Lessons from Angela Watson | Shepley Bulfinch

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, I'm joined by Angela Watson, President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch, a nationally recognized architecture firm whose work spans healthcare, higher education, and civic design. Angela leads with a conviction she traces back to her time teaching at MIT: that real learning doesn't happen through lecture — it happens through doing, through struggle, and through the kind of exploration that only comes when people are given room to fail safely and try again. That belief didn't stay in the classroom. It became the foundation for how she thinks about leading a firm. Learning by doing is the foundation of how AEC professionals and firms develop. The problem is that great ideas stay trapped in pockets — one team figures something out, another team struggles with the same thing, and the knowledge never travels. Angela saw that dynamic playing out at Shepley Bulfinch as the firm grew into a national practice, work-sharing across five offices with project cycles too long and feedback loops too slow to rely on informal transfer alone. Becoming a learning organization became an operational necessity, but it turned out to be much harder than it looked. The conversation traces the full arc of what that effort has looked like in practice and what Angela has learned leading it. Why it's so hard for subject matter experts to codify and teach what they know. Why the traditional apprenticeship model is breaking down as plates get fuller and mentorship gets crowded out. What Shepley Bulfinch learned from building Birdfeeder, their internal peer-to-peer learning platform — what worked, what was too ambitious, and what the firm is rethinking now. And why the harder problem isn't building a course catalog — it's connecting learning to where someone actually wants to go in their career. The thread running underneath all of it is psychological safety. Angela talks about "Back to the Future," Shepley Bulfinch's reframe on lessons learned — a format designed to celebrate the imperfect and make it safe to share what went wrong. She reflects on what it took for her, as CEO, to model that vulnerability publicly, and why she believes culture is the soil in which any learning organization either takes root or doesn't. If you lead an AEC firm, manage a team, or are thinking seriously about how your organization develops its people, this episode is for you. Angela offers deep insight into what's worked, what hasn't, and what is still to be figured out on Shepley Bulfinch's journey to becoming a learning organization. GUEST Angela Watson, FAIA, LEED AP, [https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelawatson/] President and CEO, Shepley Bulfinch [https://shepleybulfinch.com/] Angela Watson is the second consecutive female President and CEO in the 152-year history of Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture and design firm with studios across the United States. She is a strong advocate for communication as the foundation of understanding clients, communities, and stakeholders, and she integrates research and practice to create spaces that positively impact people and their environments. Angela's post-occupancy research and co-authored studies on the impact of light on occupant well-being reflect her dedication to understanding the relationship between space and behavior. Her design process bridges teaching and practice through a collaborative design process that inspires innovation adaptable to a changing world. Beyond Shepley Bulfinch, Angela serves on the University of Arizona’s CAPLA Futures Council and the Texas A&M College of Architecture Dean’s Advisory Board. She also serves on the Board of the Design Futures Council, and as Chair of the Board for Shepley Bulfinch. Born in Germany, she studied at Universität Karlsruhe and earned an MArch from MIT, where she later taught Design. CREDITS Host: Christopher Parsons Executive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher Parsons Editor: Coe Hoeksema Theme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The Parents EPISODE RESOURCES Why Your New Engineers Look Lost for Six Months [https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-your-new-engineers-look-lost-six-months-nick-heim-pe-df4bc/]: LinkedIn article by Nick Heim Amy Edmondson: A Harvard Business School professor and author whose research on psychological safety demonstrates how creating environments where people feel safe to take interpersonal risks—admitting mistakes, asking questions, and challenging ideas—is foundational to organizational learning and innovation. Desirable Difficulty: Robert Bjork's learning framework showing that challenges that slow initial performance—like spacing practice over time, mixing related concepts together, and retrieving information from memory through testing—produce superior long-term retention and transfer compared to easier, more familiar learning methods. CHAPTERS (0:00:00) Welcome and Guest Introduction (0:02:41) Why Focus on Learning Now (0:04:23) Learning to Teach at MIT (0:08:09) Delegating and Letting Go (0:10:05) Why Pockets of Learning Aren't Enough (0:12:32) Balancing Standardization and Flexibility (0:17:03) National Practice and Work Sharing (0:19:11) Codifying Knowledge to Scale Learning (0:25:19) Helping Experts Learn to Teach (0:26:51) Just-in-Time Learning and AI (0:28:11) Core Curriculum vs. Enrichment (0:32:53) Apprenticeship Is Evolving (0:38:07) Stop or Slow: Rethinking Capacity (0:45:26) Strategic Plan and Birdfeeder Origins (0:52:58) Connecting Learning to Career Goals (0:57:40) Communication as a Foundational Skill (1:00:35) Birdfeeder 2.0: What Changes? (1:06:08) Learner Motivation and Fulfillment (1:14:06) Psychological Safety and Back to the Future (1:17:43) Modeling Vulnerability

Designing Learning That Actually
Improves Performance | Clark Quinn of Quinnovation

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, I’m joined by Clark Quinn, a cognitive scientist who has spent his career translating decades of learning research into practical guidance for organizations. He is the founder of Quinnovation and co-director of the L&D Accelerator. His work is grounded in a simple conviction: most organizations are leaving enormous potential on the table — not for lack of effort or care, but because the science of how people actually learn has rarely made it into the room where learning decisions get made. In most AEC firms, learning and development didn’t start with a formal strategy. It emerged organically. Executives responsible for talent came up through practice. L&D leaders stepped into their roles because they wanted to make their firms better, not because they were trained in the discipline. Subject matter experts shared what they know without ever having been taught how to teach. As a result, most learning organizations in the AEC industry were largely built by accident rather than by design. And in that gap lies a significant opportunity: to create learning that doesn’t just inform, but actually improves capability and performance. That is what this conversation is about. Clark walks us through the science that most accidental L&D leaders never had access to. He explains why training so often stops at information transfer, what it really takes to design for performance rather than content delivery, and what the research says about learning design that actually moves the needle. We explore the shift from content-heavy training to practice-led learning, how to identify the root causes behind critical performance gaps before reaching for a training solution, and how to determine whether learning is even the right intervention. We also step back and look at what a true learning ecosystem requires: not just courses, but performance support, job aids, communities of practice, mentoring, and the cultural conditions where learning compounds over time. Where knowledge is shared openly. Where failure is discussed. And where leadership sets the tone. Finally, we go deep on one of the most important dynamics in any AEC firm: how to effectively work with busy and highly billable subject matter experts by drawing out what they know, pairing them with skilled learning designers, and building a coaching culture that makes expertise transferable at scale. If you lead an AEC firm, build learning programs, or teach others what you know—and you’ve largely been figuring it out as you go—this conversation offers a foundation for doing it smarter. By design. GUEST Clark Quinn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/quinnovator/], Executive Director of Quinnovation [https://quinnovation.com/] Clark Quinn, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of Quinnovation, learning science advisor to Elevator 9, and Co-Director of the Learning Development Accelerator. With more than four decades of experience at the cutting edge of learning, Dr. Quinn is an internationally known speaker, consultant, and author of seven books. He combines a deep knowledge of cognitive science and broad experience with technology into strategic design solutions that achieve innovative yet practical outcomes for corporations, higher-education, not-for-profit, and government organizations. CREDITS Host: Christopher Parsons Executive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher Parsons Editor: Coe Hoeksema Theme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The Parents RESOURCES For a full list of episode references and resources, see: https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/blog/designing-learning-that-actually-improves-performance-clark-quinn [www.knowledge-architecture.com/blog/designing-learning-that-actually-improves-performance-clark-quinn] CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction (03:26) Clark Quinn's Journey into Learning Science (06:00) The Biggest Surprise About How People Learn (09:21) Why School Is a Bad Model for Organizational Learning (13:41) People Don't Know How to Learn or Teach (17:15) How Effective Self-Directed Learners Operate (22:03) The Performance Ecosystem: Courses, Job Aids, and Community (28:23) Building a Learning Culture (33:50) L&D's Role in Facilitating Innovation (39:51) Accidental vs Intentional Learning Organizations (47:13) Diagnosing Performance Gaps Before Reaching for Training (53:04) Why L&D Still Gets Course Design Wrong (55:10) What Good Course Design Actually Looks Like (01:01:32) What Experts Need in Order to Teach Well (01:08:29) Working Effectively with Subject Matter Experts (01:19:34) Partnering Experts with Learning Designers (01:27:17) Resources for Becoming a Better L&D Professional (01:29:19) The Learning Development Accelerator (LDA) (01:33:05) Bridging the Gap Between Training and the Workplace (01:38:33) Closing and Where to Find Clark Quinn

Modernizing Learning to Scale Quality at Lionakis | Laura Knauss and Kristina Williams

In this episode of Smarter by Design, I’m joined by Laura Knauss, President and Chief Practice Officer at Lionakis, and Kristina Williams, Director of Design Technology at Lionakis, for a conversation about how their firm is modernizing learning to scale quality and consistency across their practice. At the heart of that shift is a deep respect for the apprenticeship model. For generations, one-on-one mentorship has been the foundation of how architects and engineers learned their craft—and it remains essential today. But as firms grow, diversify, and take on increasingly complex work, Lionakis has recognized that apprenticeship alone isn’t enough to provide the consistent, firmwide foundation that today’s environment demands. In response, Lionakis is repositioning apprenticeship by building a more intentional and scalable learning system that ensures every team member starts from a shared baseline, while still allowing mentorship to do what it does best: helping people apply that knowledge in the context of real projects. We explore two major shifts behind that transformation. First, the evolution of Lionakis’s Design Technology Boot Camp. What began as long, lecture-heavy training sessions has been reimagined into a more modular, learner-centered experience built around short, focused video lessons, hands-on exercises, and live, collaborative sessions. Along the way, Kristina shares what they’ve learned about attention, retention, and how to design learning that actually sticks. Second, we look at how those same principles are being applied beyond Boot Camp to reshape how the firm teaches practice itself. From specifications and building envelope design to programming and coordination, Lionakis is moving away from ad hoc training toward a more strategic learning roadmap that captures core project knowledge, standardizes how it’s taught, and makes it accessible across the entire firm. The goal is both simple and ambitious: to create a shared foundation that allows any team member, in any office, to step into any project and contribute with confidence, consistency, and clarity. What emerges is a picture of a firm learning how to operate as a modern learning organization—where knowledge, learning, and practice are tightly connected, and where investment in learning is directly tied to the quality of the work. If you’re thinking about how to scale expertise, support the next generation of talent, or move beyond training as a one-time event, this conversation offers a clear and compelling path forward. GUESTS Laura Knauss [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-knauss-70b52715/], President and Chief Practice Officer, Lionakis [https://www.lionakis.com/] Laura Knauss, AIA has been a member of Lionakis since 1990 where she has built a career designing educational facilities throughout California. As President, she is responsible for developing the firm’s position for its five California offices, leading strategy and directing practice initiatives. Currently, Laura is the Vice-President of Government Relations for AIA California where she facilitates advocacy position on behalf of the profession. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Board of Regents for the California Architectural Foundation (CAF). Kristina Williams [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinawilliams22/], Director of Design Technology, Lionakis [https://www.lionakis.com/] Kristina Williams is the Director of Design Technology at Lionakis, where she focuses on integrating design technology and knowledge management to better connect people, ideas, and information. She began her career at Lionakis as a Revit Specialist and brings 17 years of experience in design technology. Over that time, she has continuously refined how she teaches and supports teams, shaping her approach to how knowledge is shared, adopted, and applied across the firm. She has carried this perspective into her current role leading knowledge management efforts, where she works to improve how information flows and how teams learn from one another. Her work centers on helping teams simplify complexity, strengthen operational clarity, and create the conditions for stronger collaboration. CREDITS Host: Christopher Parsons Executive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher Parsons Editor: Coe Hoeksema Theme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The Parents CHAPTERS (00:00) Welcome and Episode Recap (03:44) Adapting Learning to the Speed of Change (05:46) The Lionakis Way: A Consistent Approach (10:15) What Was Broken in Previous Training Models (12:27) Lessons from 14 Years of Teaching Revit (17:54) Bootcamp Evolution: From Lectures to Exercises (24:34 )Empowering Emerging Professionals (26:55) Bootcamp Redesign Watch Party (31:38) Practice Bootcamp Rollout (37:25) Making Videos Easier (42:44) Breakout Rooms Build Culture and Confidence (45:10) Emphasizing the Importance of Video + Live Trainings (47:38) "Reboarding" for Consistency (49:08) Cascading Opportunities for Reinforcement (51:33) Foundational vs Just in Time Learning (53:32) Onboarding and Ubiquitous Resources (57:28) Repurposing Long Recordings (59:26) Designing for Retrieval (01:02:49) Short Videos vs Context (01:05:53) From Ad Hoc to Curriculum (01:08:50) Investing in KM and L&D Teams (01:16:06) Adding a Learning Coordinator (01:21:24) The Power of a Supportive Executive Sponsor (01:23:05) Theme Song Backstory

Maximizing the Value of Learning & Development Investments | Chris and Susan of Knowledge Architecture

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, Susan Strom and I discuss The Modern Learning Organization Pipeline [https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/blog/the-modern-learning-organization-pipeline-for-aec-firms]—a framework for helping AEC firms prioritize and maximize the return on their learning and development investments. For decades, most AEC learning programs have relied on familiar formats: lunch-and-learns, live training sessions, and recorded presentations. But a new generation of tools—AI search, modern intranets, modular learning systems, and knowledge agents—is dramatically increasing the potential ROI of learning assets. When knowledge can be searched instantly, accessed on demand, and revisited whenever someone needs it, learning assets become far more valuable than they used to be. That shift creates a new challenge: how do firms decide where to invest their time and energy? You can’t manage all the knowledge in your firm. So the real question becomes: which knowledge and learning investments produce the greatest return? In this conversation, Susan and I walk through how to identify, prioritize, and design high-impact learning experiences in AEC firms using the Modern Learning Organization Pipeline. Along the way, we explore: * Why AEC firms need to evolve into modern learning organizations * How firms can maximize the value of learning and development investments * The DESIRE framework, a practical tool for prioritizing learning opportunities * Why learning experiences should increasingly be treated like products * How firms are modernizing learning experiences for the AI era * How learning content can become searchable organizational knowledge * Why learner involvement and piloting are essential to good learning design * The rise of dedicated knowledge and learning roles inside AEC firms Underlying the discussion is a broader idea: the industry is entering a platform shift in how knowledge, learning, and expertise are developed and distributed. As AI-powered knowledge and learning platforms like Synthesis make knowledge more accessible and reusable, the potential return on learning investments is rising dramatically. The challenge for firms is where to invest their time and energy to create the greatest impact. If you’re leading an AEC firm and wondering where to invest in learning, knowledge, and capability building, this episode introduces a practical framework for prioritizing the opportunities that will matter most. EPISODE RESOURCES The Modern Learning Organization Pipeline: https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/blog/the-modern-learning-organization-pipeline-for-aec-firms GUESTS Christopher Parsons [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopherjparsons/], Founder & CEO, Knowledge Architecture [https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/] As Founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, Christopher is responsible for product design, marketing strategy, and organizational health. He is the host of the Smarter by Design podcast and the author of Smarter by Design, a bi-weekly newsletter exploring how leading AEC firms manage information, share knowledge, and build learning organizations. He is also the executive producer of KA Connect, Knowledge Architecture’s annual knowledge and learning management conference for the AEC industry. Christopher has been a technology leader in the AEC industry since 2002, including serving as Chief Information Officer for Steinberg Architects and as Information Technology Director for SMWM (now Perkins+Will). Susan Strom [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susankstrom/], Chief Client Officer, Knowledge Architecture [https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/] As our Chief Client Officer, Susan ensures our clients have the resources they need to be successful. Those resources include best practices, training, documentation, and a team of Knowledge Architecture experts who guide our clients every step of the way. During her time at Knowledge Architecture, Susan has led nearly 200 AEC intranet implementations, produced dozens of intranet case studies, and been instrumental in building our client community and client success program. Her previous roles in human resources, construction management, and engineering systems at Mazzetti and Gilbane Building Company allow her to draw upon a broad range of industry experiences to help our clients succeed. CREDITS Host: Christopher Parsons Executive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher Parsons Editor: Coe Hoeksema Theme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The Parents CHAPTERS (00:00) Episode Introduction (03:00) Why Become a Modern Learning Organization (07:17) Where Marketing and Learning Strategies Converge (09:38) The Modern Learning Organization Pipeline (15:25) DESIRE: A Framework for Prioritizing Learning Investments (21:02) Why Demand and Enthusiasm Matter (24:36) Slow Down to Go Fast: Plan First (28:55) Defining Quality in Learning Design (33:28) How Hybrid Learning Compounds Value (37:42) Design for Retrieval, Not Just Delivery (40:04) From Linear to Just-in-Time Learning (43:29) Why Firms Invest in Learning Roles (50:12) Build a Solid Knowledge Foundation for People + AI (55:39) Involve Learners in the Design Process (01:01:25) Treat Learning Like a Product (01:07:02) Measure Activity, Experience, and Outcomes (01:11:51) Balance Strategy with Progress (01:13:36) Closing

What Will It Mean to Be An Expert in 2030? | Chris Myers of Johns Hopkins University

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, I’m joined by Christopher Myers, Peetz Family Professor of Leadership and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at Johns Hopkins University, for a wide-ranging conversation about expertise, learning, and how AI is reshaping knowledge-intensive organizations like healthcare providers and AEC firms. Christopher studies how professionals learn from experience and from one another. Together, we explore what happens when AI becomes extraordinarily good at synthesizing information but still struggles with judgment, context, and tacit nuance. In fields like healthcare, architecture, and engineering—where decisions carry real liability and long feedback loops—the distinction between synthesis and judgment matters deeply. We examine a growing paradox: In the near future AI may be able to perform much of the “junior work” that once served as the apprenticeship path to becoming an expert. If AI creates the slide decks, drafts the notes, checks the drawings, and summarizes the literature, how do emerging professionals gain the reps, exposure, and judgment that traditionally came from doing those tasks? And if organizations eliminate junior roles in pursuit of efficiency, what happens to the future pipeline of senior expertise? The conversation also explores how expertise actually forms. Christopher shares his research on vicarious learning—how professionals learn from stories, informal conversations, and communities of practice—and why hybrid work may be compressing or eroding some of those learning opportunities. We discuss why informal knowledge sharing sometimes outperforms formal systems, and how simulation and AI-powered scenarios may offer new ways to scale apprenticeship in the future. At the center of the episode is a deeper question: What will it mean to be an expert in 2030? As AI raises the “standard of care” across industries, leaders must rethink not only how work gets done, but how judgment, responsibility, and organizational intelligence are developed over time. If you’re leading an AEC firm and wondering how AI will affect your talent pipeline, apprenticeship model, or long-term expertise, this conversation offers a thoughtful and research-backed perspective on what may lie ahead. GUEST Christopher Myers [https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophergmyers-phd/], Peetz Family Professor of Leadership and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at Johns Hopkins University [https://cil.carey.jhu.edu] Christopher G. Myers, PhD is the inaugural Peetz Family Professor of Leadership, Professor of Management and (jointly) of Medicine and Public Health, and the founding Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. His research and teaching focus on individual learning, leadership development, and innovation, with particular attention to how people learn vicariously and share knowledge in health care organizations and other knowledge-intensive work environments. Chris’s research has been published in premier academic journals in the fields of management and medicine and he has received a variety of awards and honors for his work, including being named by Poets & Quants as one of the top 40 business school professors under 40 world-wide. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins University, Chris was on the faculty of the Harvard Business School and received his PhD from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. CREDITS Host: Christopher Parsons Executive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher Parsons Editor: Coe Hoeksema Theme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The Parents EPISODE RESOURCES Research and Publications by Christopher Myers [https://christophergmyers.phd/publications ] Informal Peer Interaction and Practice Type as Predictors of Physician Performance on Maintenance of Certification Examinations [https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=46481 ], Valentine et al. (JAMA Surgery, 2014) CHAPTERS (00:00) Introduction (02:42) Predictions for Knowledge & Learning Organizations in 2030 (05:45) AI’s Strength in Synthesis and Limits in Creativity (10:11) Human Judgement, Context, and the Missing AI Feedback Loop (14:23) Beyond Synthesis: When You Still Need Dialogue and Pushback (17:12) How AI Changes Standard of Care Expectations in Healthcare (22:33) Why Medical Education Still Tests “Old” Expertise (26:03) How Clinicians Actually Learn: ChatGPT, Google, and YouTube (28:07) Why “Regular YouTube” Sometimes Beats Internal KM Systems (31:52) Thought Leadership Incentives: Why Experts Share Publicly (34:09) Facebook Community of Practice for Robotic Surgeons (39:07) The Power of Informal + Formal Learning (40:44) The Power of Vicarious Learning (44:21) Serendipity vs Orchestration in Learning Design (45:41) The Role of AI in Vicarious Learning (50:13) Developing Experts Through Simulation (56:15) The Negative Impact of Hybrid Work on Workplace Relationships (01:01:39) The Broken Deal: Juniors, Menial Work, and Developing Experts (01:05:34) The AI–Expertise Paradox and the Weakening Pipeline (01:10:57) Retention as a Knowledge Management Strategy (01:13:55) When Apprenticeship Breaks: Shifting the Training Models (01:19:59) Why Leaders Embrace AI Despite the Risks (01:23:04) Perspectives on Learning in a Remote Work Environment (01:25:41) The Normalization of Remote Work (01:30:35) Matching the Modality: On-Demand vs In-Person Learning (01:33:06) Closing