Learning to Adapt and Flow with Damon Bowen-Ashwin

Show Notes

Career change is sometimes planned, and sometimes life forces the issue. This conversation is about resilience, purpose and learning to adapt when the path changes.

Stephen Drew speaks with Damon Bowen-Ashwin about adapting and flowing through change, moving from design and construction recruitment into life coaching, health, purpose, resilience and making difficult life transitions with intent.

The conversation covers:

• How Damon moved from recruitment towards life coaching
• How health challenges can change priorities
• Why resilience and mindset matter during transition
• What professionals can learn from adapting under pressure
• How to think about purpose when a career path changes

____

▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kADo-cadr-c

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/learning-to-adapt-and-flow-ft-damon-bowen-ashwin/

Architecture Social is where architects and designers find honest career advice, insight from practice, and live roles worth applying for:
https://architecturesocial.com/

The fastest way to get hired is to be better at the things practices actually ask for. Revit, Rhino, rendering, BIM, portfolio work. Our learning partner ArchAdemia is built by architects, for architects:
https://archademia.com/architecture-social/

Use code ARCHSOCIAL10 for a discount on monthly or annual membership.

____

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to learning to adapt and flow
• 04:52 Damon Bowen-Ashwin's background in recruitment
• 09:53 A brain tumour diagnosis and life change
• 14:53 Moving towards life coaching and purpose
• 19:52 Radiotherapy, chemotherapy and resilience
• 24:53 Why mindset matters during difficult transitions
• 29:52 Changing careers and finding meaning
• 34:52 What architecture and design professionals can learn
• 39:52 How to respond when life changes unexpectedly
• 44:53 Practical reflections on adapting
• 49:52 Final thoughts on purpose and flow

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?

Architecture has always been social. Careers should be too.

Hosted by Stephen Drew, the Architecture Social podcast brings you honest conversations from across the UK built environment. Architects, practice leaders and the people shaping the profession talk openly about their careers, their work and how practice really runs.

Expect straight talk on salaries, portfolios, hiring, progression and running a practice, from Part 1 students looking for their first role to directors building their teams.

Architecture Social is more than jobs and hiring. It's a place to share work, discover opportunities, hear honest conversations and build connections across the industry.

This is Architecture Social. Come and be part of it.