Architecture Social

Stephen Drew joins the Disrupt Symposium to discuss building inclusive, diverse and talented teams in architecture, covering recruitment, retention, team building, inclusive work environments, women in architecture and the wider AEC industry.

Show Notes

Inclusive, diverse and talented teams do not happen by accident. Recruitment, retention, culture and leadership all shape who joins and who stays.

Stephen Drew joins the Disrupt Symposium to discuss building inclusive, diverse and talented teams in architecture, covering recruitment, retention, team building, inclusive work environments, women in architecture and the wider AEC industry.

The conversation covers:

  • Why recruitment and retention need to be part of inclusion work
  • How team culture affects who stays in a practice
  • Why equity, diversity and inclusion cannot stay as buzzwords
  • What barriers women in architecture continue to face
  • How architecture practices can build more inclusive environments

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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wS3zxGLHfuE

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/inclusive-architecture-teams-disrupt-symposium/

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https://architecturesocial.com/

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https://archademia.com/architecture-social/

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Chapters

  • 00:00 Introduction to building inclusive and diverse teams
  • 05:00 Why architecture is a people business
  • 10:00 Recruitment and best practice
  • 15:00 Team retention and team building
  • 20:00 Fostering inclusive work environments
  • 25:00 Women in architecture and wider industry barriers
  • 30:00 Equity, diversity and inclusion beyond buzzwords
  • 35:00 The state of the AEC industry
  • 40:00 Practical ideas for architecture practices
  • 45:00 Roundtable discussion and questions
  • 50:00 Building better team cultures
  • 55:00 Closing reflections from the symposium

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.