06: Bringing in an Investor

In this episode, Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA discusses the introduction of investors into HOK, and he touches on the right and wrong ways to grow your firm.Patrick is also joined by Bob Pratzel, former CFO of HOK, who shares some of his financial concepts and his perspective as the CFO of the firm during this period of rapid growth and transition.Bill Valentine, former CEO of HOK, returns to provide insight into HOK steeping forward as a leader in sustainability.Patrick tells the story of one last important hire that Gyo made just before he retired.Patrick shares his lessons for listeners to take away from this episode:There are three ways to raise capital There are Right and wrong ways to growShift leaders to consulting roles if they're not ready to retireTo read along and see illustrations and personal photos that accompany this series, get Patrick’s book, Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm. You can buy the book at gablmedia.com/buildsmartbook/ and find out more information at macleamy.com Mentioned in this episode:SpacesCoDesign

Om Podcasten

BUILD SMART is a narrative podcast that features Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, architect, and former CEO of global firm HOK. With host Mark R. LePage, AIA, NCARB, MacLeamy shares stories and lessons from his 50-year career, rising from an HOK junior designer to the company CEO, a tenure that parallels HOK’s growth from 150 employees in St. Louis to a staff of more than 1,900 in 27 offices on three continents. MacLeamy highlights innovative solutions and tough decisions that sustained HOK through multiple economic swings, culminating in it becoming one of the world’s Top 10 architecture and engineering firms. HOK was structured for long-term success — BUILD SMART will share these lessons to help architects and creative-services firms build for long-term success as they design a world-class firm.