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Stephen Drew speaks with Katya Veleva about inclusion, equity and diversity in construction, her route from architecture and BIM into coaching, being gay in the architecture industry, workplace language, culture and personal development.
Show Notes
Inclusion, equity and diversity in construction only matter if they change how people experience work.
Stephen Drew speaks with Katya Veleva about inclusion, equity and diversity in construction, her route from architecture and BIM into coaching, being gay in the architecture industry, workplace language, culture and personal development.
The conversation covers:
- How Katya Veleva moved from architecture and BIM into inclusion work
- Why workplace language and behaviour matter more than policy wording alone
- What being truly inclusive can mean in architecture and construction
- How coaching supports personal and professional development
- Why inclusion affects recruitment quality, retention and trust
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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9HUonhfCk
📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/inclusion-equity-diversity-katya-veleva/
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Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to inclusion, equity and diversity
- 05:00 Katya Veleva's route from architecture and BIM
- 12:00 Coaching, mentoring and workplace language
- 20:00 Being gay in the architecture industry
- 30:00 What true inclusion means in practice
- 40:00 Organisational culture, recruitment and retention
- 50:00 Personal and professional journeys
- 60:00 Success stories and difficult conversations
- 70:00 Blush Cloud, podcasting and wider work
- 78:00 Final reflections on inclusive workplaces
Creators and Guests
Host
Stephen Drew
Hello! I’m Stephen Drew, Founder of the Architecture Social—an online community and resource hub dedicated to helping professionals in Architecture, Design, Development, and Real Estate advance their careers. I’m here to connect you with insights, tools, and opportunities that lead to meaningful growth, whether you’re just starting out or ready to take that next big step.
What is Architecture Social?
It is hard to get a job in architecture. We exist to help you get there. Hosted by Stephen Drew, Architecture Social is the unfiltered guide to the UK Built Environment. We decode the realities of the industry, provide actionable cheat codes for your career, and bridge the communication gap between the drafting board and the boardroom.
Whether you are a Part I assistant trying to survive your first role, a Part III architect managing complex procurement, or a Practice Director fighting tight margins and adapting to the Building Safety Act, this podcast is your central node of intelligence. We strip away the aesthetic gatekeeping and toxic positivity to talk about the actual mechanics of the business.
Expect honest conversations about salary realities, portfolio strategies, hiring economics, and the true experiences of the people actively shaping the profession.
No fluff, just the reality of practice.