Smarter by Design

In this episode of Smarter by Design, I’m joined by Laura Knauss, President and Chief Practice Officer at Lionakis, and Kristina Williams, Director of Design Technology at Lionakis, for a conversation about how their firm is modernizing learning to scale quality and consistency across their practice.At the heart of that shift is a deep respect for the apprenticeship model. For generations, one-on-one mentorship has been the foundation of how architects and engineers learned their craft—and it remains essential today. But as firms grow, diversify, and take on increasingly complex work, Lionakis has recognized that apprenticeship alone isn’t enough to provide the consistent, firmwide foundation that today’s environment demands.In response, Lionakis is repositioning apprenticeship by building a more intentional and scalable learning system that ensures every team member starts from a shared baseline, while still allowing mentorship to do what it does best: helping people apply that knowledge in the context of real projects.We explore two major shifts behind that transformation.First, the evolution of Lionakis’s Design Technology Boot Camp. What began as long, lecture-heavy training sessions has been reimagined into a more modular, learner-centered experience built around short, focused video lessons, hands-on exercises, and live, collaborative sessions. Along the way, Kristina shares what they’ve learned about attention, retention, and how to design learning that actually sticks.Second, we look at how those same principles are being applied beyond Boot Camp to reshape how the firm teaches practice itself. From specifications and building envelope design to programming and coordination, Lionakis is moving away from ad hoc training toward a more strategic learning roadmap that captures core project knowledge, standardizes how it’s taught, and makes it accessible across the entire firm.The goal is both simple and ambitious: to create a shared foundation that allows any team member, in any office, to step into any project and contribute with confidence, consistency, and clarity.What emerges is a picture of a firm learning how to operate as a modern learning organization—where knowledge, learning, and practice are tightly connected, and where investment in learning is directly tied to the quality of the work.If you’re thinking about how to scale expertise, support the next generation of talent, or move beyond training as a one-time event, this conversation offers a clear and compelling path forward.GuestsLaura Knauss, President and Chief Practice Officer, LionakisLaura Knauss, AIA has been a member of Lionakis since 1990 where she has built a career designing educational facilities throughout California. As President, she is responsible for developing the firm’s position for its five California offices, leading strategy and directing practice initiatives. Currently, Laura is the Vice-President of Government Relations for AIA California where she facilitates advocacy position on behalf of the profession. Additionally, she serves as a member of the Board of Regents for the California Architectural Foundation (CAF).Kristina Williams, Director of Design Technology, LionakisKristina Williams is the Director of Design Technology at Lionakis, where she focuses on integrating design technology and knowledge management to better connect people, ideas, and information. She began her career at Lionakis as a Revit Specialist and brings 17 years of experience in design technology. Over that time, she has continuously refined how she teaches and supports teams, shaping her approach to how knowledge is shared, adopted, and applied across the firm.She has carried this perspective into her current role leading knowledge management efforts, where she works to improve how information flows and how teams learn from one another. Her work centers on helping teams simplify complexity, strengthen operational clarity, and create the conditions for stronger collaboration.CreditsHost: Christopher ParsonsExecutive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher ParsonsEditor: Coe HoeksemaTheme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The ParentsChapters(00:00) Welcome and Episode Recap(03:44) Adapting Learning to the Speed of Change(05:46) The Lionakis Way: A Consistent Approach(10:15) What Was Broken in Previous Training Models(12:27) Lessons from 14 Years of Teaching Revit(17:54) Bootcamp Evolution: From Lectures to Exercises(24:34 )Empowering Emerging Professionals(26:55) Bootcamp Redesign Watch Party(31:38) Practice Bootcamp Rollout(37:25) Making Videos Easier(42:44) Breakout Rooms Build Culture and Confidence(45:10) Emphasizing the Importance of Video + Live Trainings(47:38) "Reboarding" for Consistency(49:08) Cascading Opportunities for Reinforcement(51:33) Foundational vs Just in Time Learning(53:32) Onboarding and Ubiquitous Resources(57:28) Repurposing Long Recordings(59:26) Designing for Retrieval(01:02:49) Short Videos vs Context(01:05:53) From Ad Hoc to Curriculum(01:08:50) Investing in KM and L&D Teams(01:16:06) Adding a Learning Coordinator(01:21:24) The Power of a Supportive Executive Sponsor(01:23:05) Theme Song Backstory

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, I’m joined by Christopher Myers, Peetz Family Professor of Leadership and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at Johns Hopkins University, for a wide-ranging conversation about expertise, learning, and how AI is reshaping knowledge-intensive organizations like healthcare providers and AEC firms.Christopher studies how professionals learn from experience and from one another. Together, we explore what happens when AI becomes extraordinarily good at synthesizing information but still struggles with judgment, context, and tacit nuance. In fields like healthcare, architecture, and engineering—where decisions carry real liability and long feedback loops—the distinction between synthesis and judgment matters deeply.We examine a growing paradox: In the near future AI may be able to perform much of the “junior work” that once served as the apprenticeship path to becoming an expert. If AI creates the slide decks, drafts the notes, checks the drawings, and summarizes the literature, how do emerging professionals gain the reps, exposure, and judgment that traditionally came from doing those tasks? And if organizations eliminate junior roles in pursuit of efficiency, what happens to the future pipeline of senior expertise?The conversation also explores how expertise actually forms. Christopher shares his research on vicarious learning—how professionals learn from stories, informal conversations, and communities of practice—and why hybrid work may be compressing or eroding some of those learning opportunities. We discuss why informal knowledge sharing sometimes outperforms formal systems, and how simulation and AI-powered scenarios may offer new ways to scale apprenticeship in the future.At the center of the episode is a deeper question: What will it mean to be an expert in 2030? As AI raises the “standard of care” across industries, leaders must rethink not only how work gets done, but how judgment, responsibility, and organizational intelligence are developed over time.If you’re leading an AEC firm and wondering how AI will affect your talent pipeline, apprenticeship model, or long-term expertise, this conversation offers a thoughtful and research-backed perspective on what may lie ahead.GuestChristopher Myers, Peetz Family Professor of Leadership and Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at Johns Hopkins UniversityChristopher G. Myers, PhD is the inaugural Peetz Family Professor of Leadership, Professor of Management and (jointly) of Medicine and Public Health, and the founding Faculty Director of the Center for Innovative Leadership at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. His research and teaching focus on individual learning, leadership development, and innovation, with particular attention to how people learn vicariously and share knowledge in health care organizations and other knowledge-intensive work environments. Chris’s research has been published in premier academic journals in the fields of management and medicine and he has received a variety of awards and honors for his work, including being named by Poets & Quants as one of the top 40 business school professors under 40 world-wide. Prior to joining Johns Hopkins University, Chris was on the faculty of the Harvard Business School and received his PhD from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.CreditsHost: Christopher ParsonsExecutive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher ParsonsEditor: Coe HoeksemaTheme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The ParentsEpisode ResourcesResearch and Publications by Christopher MyersInformal Peer Interaction and Practice Type as Predictors of Physician Performance on Maintenance of Certification Examinations, Valentine et al. (JAMA Surgery, 2014)Chapters(00:00) Introduction(02:42) Predictions for Knowledge & Learning Organizations in 2030(05:45) AI’s Strength in Synthesis and Limits in Creativity(10:11) Human Judgement, Context, and the Missing AI Feedback Loop(14:23) Beyond Synthesis: When You Still Need Dialogue and Pushback(17:12) How AI Changes Standard of Care Expectations in Healthcare(22:33) Why Medical Education Still Tests “Old” Expertise(26:03) How Clinicians Actually Learn: ChatGPT, Google, and YouTube(28:07) Why “Regular YouTube” Sometimes Beats Internal KM Systems(31:52) Thought Leadership Incentives: Why Experts Share Publicly(34:09) Facebook Community of Practice for Robotic Surgeons(39:07) The Power of Informal + Formal Learning(40:44) The Power of Vicarious Learning(44:21) Serendipity vs Orchestration in Learning Design(45:41) The Role of AI in Vicarious Learning(50:13) Developing Experts Through Simulation(56:15) The Negative Impact of Hybrid Work on Workplace Relationships(01:01:39) The Broken Deal: Juniors, Menial Work, and Developing Experts(01:05:34) The AI–Expertise Paradox and the Weakening Pipeline(01:10:57) Retention as a Knowledge Management Strategy(01:13:55) When Apprenticeship Breaks: Shifting the Training Models(01:19:59) Why Leaders Embrace AI Despite the Risks(01:23:04) Perspectives on Learning in a Remote Work Environment(01:25:41) The Normalization of Remote Work(01:30:35) Matching the Modality: On-Demand vs In-Person Learning(01:33:06) Closing

In this episode of the Smarter by Design podcast, I’m joined by Ellen Bensky, CEO of Turner Fleischer, and Nicole Chavas, President and COO of Greenprint Partners, for a wide-ranging conversation about what it takes to level up as a learning organization in the AEC industry.As both firms evolve beyond primarily live and synchronous training models, Ellen and Nicole share how they’re building systems to deliver the right knowledge, to the right people, at the right time—while reducing overload and lifting the burden from learning leaders to serve as “air traffic controllers.”We explore how integrating their learning management systems with their intranets and AI Search is helping their teams access critical information in the flow of work, as well as how that shift is also encouraging more subject matter experts to contribute knowledge, knowing it will reach the right audience at the right moment.We also dive into the mindset shifts required to scale learning effectively. From navigating the balance between live and on-demand learning, to designing hybrid programs that combine asynchronous content with meaningful human interaction, Ellen and Nicole show how their teams are rethinking training as a design problem—one centered on empathy, access, and adaptability.This episode is a candid, behind-the-scenes look at how two growing firms are building learning organizations that reflect the pace of modern practice, the needs of emerging professionals, and the realities of day-to-day AEC work.If you’re grappling with learning at scale, looking to reduce information overload, or wondering how to balance video, in-person, and AI-powered tools, this conversation offers fresh insight and practical ideas.GuestsEllen Bensky | Principal, CEO, CFO, Turner FleischerEllen Bensky is a transformative leader at Turner Fleischer, guiding the Toronto-based firm’s growth into a dynamic Studio specializing in Architecture, Interior Design, and Experiential Graphic Design. Her unique 35-year journey as a non-architect to becoming Principal, CEO, and CFO is a testament to her exceptional leadership and vision. Her innovative approach has redefined the traditional business model of the industry, emphasizing that operational teams are the foundation of a successful AEC practice rather than an overhead burden, allowing designers to focus on design. She has strengthened the Studio’s technological capabilities by developing a Digital Practice team with deep expertise, integrating advanced tools and systems to digitize both the practice and their projects.She is dedicated to driving social change, embedding a culture of community engagement within the studio. Weaving social impact into the fabric of the studio’s culture, she empowers Studio members to give back to the communities they live and build in, in meaningful ways. Ellen is deeply passionate about education and lifelong learning. She established TF Academy to support continuous growth and development for all studio members. Her unwavering dedication to sharing knowledge and lessons learned inspires her to speak globally and challenge the industry’s status quo.Nicole Chavas | President and COO, Greenprint PartnersNicole is President & COO of Greenprint Partners, a Chicago-based urban planning, civil engineering and landscape architecture firm. In leading all aspects of firm operations, she brings a passion for rallying resources, talent and partnerships to scale sustainable infrastructure—a passion that has informed her approach to team leadership and company growth since 2014.Nicole's love of learning is inherent in every initiative she leads. Whether it’s spearheading a proposal, accelerating adoption of a new knowledge management system or recruiting and onboarding employees, she is committed to transparency, collaboration and continuous learning every step of the way. She is inspired by the knowledge and interests of every Greenprint team member and seeks to foster a flexible, inclusive and mission-oriented company culture that supports the personal and professional growth of all employees.Episode Resources📗 The Living Company by Arie De Geus📺 The Hidden Benefits of Developing a Teaching Organization (Ellen Bensky | KA Connect 2019)CreditsHost: Christopher ParsonsExecutive Producers: Denise Parsons, Christopher ParsonsEditor: Coe HoeksemaTheme Song: “We Took the BART” — Written and Performed by The ParentsChapters(00:00) Introduction(03:18) Synthesis LMS Beta Insights(05:30) Drivers for Implementing an LMS(06:46) Building Intentional Learning Paths: Onboarding(09:05) Creating Quality Training Content(10:45) Reducing Information Overload(13:06) Air Traffic Control vs Broadcasting(14:28) Synthesis Implementation at Greenprint(17:45) L&D + KM are Core Business Strategies at Turner Fleischer(23:24) The Value of SOPs + AI Search + Agents(28:26) Combining Asynchronous Content + Synchronous Connection(35:24) Navigating Organizational and Technological Change(38:49) Developing Learning Organizations by Design(42:58) KA Community: Developing LMS Best Practices Together(44:53) Leveling Up While Teaching

The Smarter by Design podcast explores how leading architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms are reimagining knowledge management, learning, and AI to build smarter, more adaptive practices.Hosted by Christopher Parsons, Founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, the show dives into the real stories behind how firms are scaling expertise, transforming culture, and creating modern learning organizations.At the heart of the show is a simple belief: AEC firms should spend as much time designing their businesses as they do designing buildings, bridges, and infrastructure. The systems we design for capturing, sharing, and distributing knowledge shape everything else we create.Through thoughtful conversations with AEC leaders, knowledge managers, and innovators, we explore how design, leadership, and technology intersect to shape the future of practice.If you’re curious about how AEC firms are learning faster, working smarter, and designing better ways to grow—this is your show.