Sarah Lebner - Drive and Persistence - Practising Architecture and Building Communities

Show Notes

Sarah Lebner's work matters because it connects architecture practice with practical early-career support. That is more useful than inspiration on its own.

Stephen Drew speaks with Sarah Lebner about practising architecture, building The Architect Project and My First Architecture Job, community, motherhood, persistence and the journey behind her National Emerging Architect Prize recognition in Australia.

The conversation covers:

• Practising architecture while building useful community resources
• How The Architect Project and My First Architecture Job supported early-career professionals
• Why drive and persistence matter during messy stages of growth
• How motherhood, professional ambition and community work intersect
• What candidates can learn from turning experience into practical support

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▶️ Watch this episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPOd_-IV27E

📝 Read the full write-up, with the key takeaways:
https://architecturesocial.com/podcast/sarah-lebner-drive-and-persistence-practising-architecture-and-building-communities/

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.

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Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Sarah Lebner
• 04:00 Building Architecture Social and The Architect Project
• 10:00 Practising architecture while building community
• 17:00 Drive, persistence and personal motivation
• 24:00 Motherhood, life and professional ambition
• 31:00 My First Architecture Job and early-career support
• 38:00 Winning the National Emerging Architect Prize
• 44:00 Lessons from creating useful resources
• 48:00 Final reflections on community and persistence

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.