Following a Founder: Designing Your Path to Leadership in a Growing Firm - 1.25 PDH (LA CES/non-HSW)

Recorded On: 10/06/2024

Firms can and should be designed to support the vision of a founder. But what happens when the firm grows and new leaders emerge? Explore how rising leaders at TEN x TEN and Fletcher Studio have charted their paths and positively influenced the evolution of both firms.

Learning objectives:

Learn how to identify and optimize growth opportunities.
Identify your strengths and where you can best support firm growth.
Assess whether a firm is the right fit for you and your career goals.
Demonstrate your value to firm leaders by taking ownership of important tasks.

Erin Murphy, AIA

Sr. Management Consultant

CVG

Erin is a collaborative leader with a passion for helping landscape architects succeed. She brings broad experience in leadership and staff development, project management, and strategic planning to her Senior Management Consultant role. Before joining CVG, Erin spent a decade at the AIA where she advocated for emerging and mid-career architects. Erin also contributed to the AIA’s Guides for Equitable Practice, an in-depth resource for architecture firms to advance equitable and inclusive policies and behaviors within their businesses. Erin spent the first half of her nearly 20-year career as a practicing architect in New York City and Washington, DC.

Lauren Ewald, ASLA, PLA

Studio Director

Fletcher Studio

Lauren is the Studio Director for Fletcher Studio and has acted as the design lead for a range of projects, including public parks, office campuses, commercial districts, and the studio’s award-winning work for the nation's first spreading forest cemetery. Day-to-day, Lauren directs team operations, staffing and workflows. Lauren is building her platform with larger advocacy goals in-mind. She started advocating for meaningful community engagement processes during college at Kansas State, where she graduated with an MLA. Lauren has volunteered for various environmental, political, and community programs since childhood, and is most inspired when design work often aligns with these causes.

Erica J. Christenson, ASLA

Managing Director

TEN x TEN

Erica Christenson is a Managing Director for TEN x TEN, and is a registered landscape architect, ASLA member and SITES AP. In her firm leadership role, she is responsible for supporting staff development, office operations and mentorship through transparent and equitable systems. Additionally, she regularly collaborates with Directors and Principals on firm-wide technical standards, project management strategy, marketing endeavors, and staff development.

She has over 16 years of experience designing and managing landscape projects and has been supporting TEN x TENs projects most often as a Senior Project Leader and Technical Expert.