13: Buying Our Freedom

Under Patrick’s leadership, HOK is the process of turning around the business of the firm. In today’s episode, HOK is now in a position to buy back their freedom. Patrick details the steps he took to finally address each of the three crises that threatened the firms existence. Carl Galioto, President of HOK, managing principal of the New York and Philadelphia studios, explains the concept of "shortening your lines" to improve the function of the firm.Susan Williams, managing principal of HOK’s Washington, D.C. shares her perspective of Patrick's contributions and how she has continued and built upon his work. Patrick shares his lessons for listeners to take away from this episode:Cash is King,As a strategic resource, and as freedomNegotiating tips,Negotiate the big picture first, then work out the details,Conduct sensitive negotiations on neutral turfFind and groom new leaders from inside your firm.To 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:CoDesignSpaces

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.