Leadership & Practice Development for Architects and Designers to EXPOSE their full potential

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Transforming your practice for impact that lasts

Making A Mark helps architects and firms build robust and successful practices through in-person mentoring, coaching sessions, and workshops. Learn about the importance of firm vulnerability and develop strategies to encourage a collaborative culture and sustainable leadership.

Focusing on strategies to lead and grow with confidence

Whether you are an individual navigating a career shift or a firm ready for a clear leadership development path, the Making A Mark curriculum is tailored to your needs. Create a thriving workplace with a program focused on optimizing soft skills and cultivating leadership potential.

How we do it:

Start with the client's "Why"

Understanding your core motivations and goals is the foundation of effective leadership development.

Review workplace culture/staff

Assess current team dynamics, communication patterns, and organizational culture to identify growth opportunities.

Discuss long-term goals

Define clear objectives for personal and organizational growth that align with your vision for success.

Create effective business strategy

Develop actionable plans that transform insights into measurable improvements for your practice.

Attendees will be provided with strategies and techniques to help combat firm vulnerability, improve staff and firm morale, improve soft skills, engage trust, and strive towards a more harmonious and collaborative environment.

Working with us

Grow your career with clarity and confidence. Whether you are an emerging professional, leading principal, or owner, every MAM session is tailored to your personal and professional development journey. Build a refined set of soft skills and an advanced understanding of practice operations and leadership management through specialized 1-on-1 or group sessions.

Expose

In-depth sessions for individuals and firms at any stage

Emerge

Unique format sessions for early-career professionals

Expand

Coaching sessions in 1-on-1 or group format for senior staff

Empower

Executive-level coaching for leading principals, owners, and sole practitioners

Expose

The Expose program is a set of sessions focused on recognizing vulnerabilities in projects, as well as learning, coping, and repairing tools. These in-depth sessions are for individuals and organizations interested in leading vulnerable and complex projects.

Program includes:

Internal issues:

  • Inexperience
  • Lack of trust
  • Poor leadership
  • Undefined WHY
  • Inaccurate expected outcomes

External issues:

  • Client concerns
  • Consultant issues
  • Poor team communication
  • AHJ challenges

Emerge

Emerge is a set of 1-on-1 or group sessions centered on early stage, non-licensed staff with 2-10 years experience. We will focus on developing the soft skills needed to increase confidence and abilities, to excel through advancements, and manage increased responsibilities. Initial agendas will be based on participants' professional and personal goals.

Emerge sessions address the concerns of the emerging professional:

Personal & professional development:

  • Communication skills
  • Confidence
  • Interpersonal relationship skills
  • Time management habits
  • Learn how to ask questions and why

Career growth tools to enhance:

  • Development plans: ARCs, volunteering, outside study
  • Professional goals
  • Skills assessments
  • Work-life balance
  • Confidence in delegation

Leadership support for:

  • Skills development
  • Staff management
  • Role transitioning

Post hoc support:

  • Sessions and training review
  • Personal action plan refinement

Outcomes of the Emerge program include:

Expand

Expand coaching sessions are conducted in a 1-on-1 or group format, and they are designed for senior staff with 8-30 years of experience. Participants, including newly promoted staff and those seeking promotion, will explore soft skills and what it means to be a leader.

Initial meetings will discover and clarify objectives and goals. Coaching sessions are then tailored to meet specific staff or practice needs.

The outcomes of Expand will be similar to those of the Emerge sessions.

Empower

Empower is a structured, executive-level, coaching program for practice owners, executive level architects, sole practitioners focused on helping you create a clear vision for your company.

By spotlighting practice comprehension and soft skills, Empower coaching sessions help you and your team stay on the path towards your long term goal. We will address the skills and issues affecting your practice and ensure a flourishing business.

Empower Program highlights:

Outcomes of Expand coaching sessions:

Making A Mark provides the time and space needed to view the practice, its staff, and leadership perspectives holistically to help your team excel personally and professionally.

Let's Make A Mark!

Podcast

Latest Episode

Gain insights into our most effective curriculum and coaching solutions on the Making A Mark podcast.

On the podcast, we share views on topics in architecture and interview diverse voices in the industry, as they share inspiring perspectives, stories, and tips on growth and leadership.

About

Hello, I'm Mark Steppan!

As founder and CEO of Making A Mark, I specialize in leadership strategy and tactics for architects and designers. Helping architects to be better is my passion, and I am focused on improving architectural & design practices through growth in personal leadership skills and an advanced understanding of practice operations.

As a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Construction Specifications Institute, and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB), I have worked on a myriad of projects across the country leading a wide range of teams and organizations.

  • Developed and presented a webinar on Leading Vulnerable & Complex Projects to AIACA, AIAFlorida, and AIANYS
  • Published multiple articles on "Leading Vulnerable & Complex Projects," available on AIAEB and AIACA websites
  • Presented webinar at the AIA23 Conference on architecture in San Francisco
  • Authored or updated multiple versions of office documentation and accessibility standards for past firms
  • Created a Risk Management Policy, along with QA/QC Policies and Guidelines

My goal is to help architects and designers build successful practices, by giving them the tools and strategies to evolve into effective leaders and create a productive work environment.

Why Coaching

From leading the PPF to providing guidance on the AIAEB Board, I have always focused on mentoring to help other architects grow in the profession. The founding principles behind Making A Mark developed from this passion for mentoring, teaching, and coaching.

Benefits of Coaching

  • 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence
  • Over 70% benefit from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills
  • 86% of companies report that they recouped their investment on coaching

Source: Institute of Coaching

Mark Steppan

"I highly recommend Mark's Leadership Series for firms that are interested in furthering the leadership skills of both its current and emerging leaders."

- Howai Lai

"Approachable, achievable, and results-driven - There is nothing like the one-on-one experience that comes with human interaction with Mark as facilitator."

- Yolanda Santiago

"Highly recommended for any design professional looking to elevate their management skills."

- Hamid Tabatabaei

Get in Touch

Ready to transform your practice and develop your leadership potential? Let's start a conversation about how Making A Mark can help you achieve your goals.

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