Coaches On The Couch

Louise and Rachel are joined by Jo Bacon, managing partner of Allies and Morrison, who reflects on what the practice achieved during 2020 despite having to clear the 330 desks in their “mothership” London office and looks forward to a future of flexible working.

From our first ‘Made Visible’ event, Louise and Rachel explore, with their panel of speakers from Grimshaw, Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios, Gbolade Design Studio, Hawkins\Brown and Place Careers, the new demands placed on leaders when uncertainty and agile working have been through a step change.

For this final episode of 2020, Louise and Rachel chat with Domi Oliver and Alexis Butterfield of architects Pollard Thomas Edwards, about how the practice has evolved and grown over five decades and in what ways it has changed forever as a result of this momentous year.

Rachel and Louise get back to the basics of good communication as they are joined on the virtual coach by Charlotte Morphet of Women In Planning and Catherine Greig of make:good, to discuss the role of listening and empathy in design, planning and leadership.

Louise and Rachel talk succession with Allan Dunsmore, a director of award-winning civil and structural engineering design practice Conisbee. Conisbee’s approach ensures that technical and people skills have equal value, and we talk about how important it is to understand people’s individual motivations and play to their strengths.

Five key leadership myths are busted, as Rachel and Louise take time out and put their feet up on their respective virtual couches to reflect on some common assumptions made about leaders and leadership.

Hari Phillips, Tim Bell and Melissa Dowling of Bell Phillips Architects join Rachel and Louise on the virtual couch to discuss the Power of Three, and what it’s like to start a practice when you have barely finished your Part 3. They also reflect on what they would do differently if they were doing it all over again.

As we head into a new national lockdown, Matt Mason, a partner at real estate company Crosstree, joins Rachel and Louise on the virtual coach to reflect on the peak experience of leading the team on London’s Standard Hotel and talk about how celebrating small wins and finding new ways to create team camaraderie are going to be important this winter.

Louise and Rachel are joined by Upinder Bahra, an architectural assistant Part 1 and level 7 apprentice with Hawkins Brown, and Harbinder Birdi, head of infrastructure and transport sector at the practice. We discuss the apprenticeship approach to training architects, including balancing work, training and time to chill on the couch; and the challenges of remote working when “collectivism” is key...

Joining Louise and Rachel on the virtual couch this week are Yemi Aladerun and David Ogunmuyiwa. We chat about what, and who, motivates and inspires them; the importance of reverse mentoring and why architecture remains the least diverse of the “old professions.” Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership coaches. They design and deliver be...

Welcome back to the second series of Coaches On The Coach with Rachel and Louise. In this first episode, they are joined on the virtual couch by Joe Morris of Morris+Company to explore the importance of meaning, purpose, and veganism; and how to create a studio environment where “the best idea wins”. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadersh...

In a departure from the usual format, co-hosts Rachel and Louise reflect on the themes that have emerged from their couch conversations with leaders from across the built environment sector during the first series of Coaches On The Couch. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership coaches. They design and deliver bespoke leadership developm...

How do you open an office in a new city without either a business plan or a clear strategy? Coaches On The Couch goes international, as Louise and Rachel are joined by Hutchinson and Partner’s Ross Hutchinson in London, and Jorn Rabach in Berlin, to chat about curiosity, courage and organisational resilience. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and...

In this episode, Rachel and Louise explore leadership styles and the importance of flexing between them with Bradley Webster, equity partner of multidisciplinary consultancy Baily Garner. In two interviews, one recorded during lockdown and one just after, the conversation covers this, and also what’s required of leadership now that everyone’s lives are different. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted...

The good, the bad and the bonkers of everyday office life. Leanne Tritton, Managing Director of ING Media, joins Rachel and Louise from her office couch to discuss the challenges of getting her team out of their bedrooms and back into the office, and why it was so important to her (and for them), that she bit that bullet. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who...

Nick Searl, Joint Managing Partner of Argent, joins Rachel and Louise from the couch in the reception area of the gasholder building in King’s Cross. They discuss how realistic optimism is a key  leadership quality which can gather people around a particular ambition or vision and encourage and inspire them to exceed even their own expectations. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rod...

Joining Rachel and Louise for this episode of Coaches On The Couch are Leah Stuart and Andrew Ruck of Civic Engineers. The conversation explores authentic leadership and its importance and impact within an organisation committed to environmentalism and tackling climate change. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership coaches. They design...

Louise and Rachel are joined on their virtual coach by Kirsten Lees and Katie Atkinson of Grimshaw, to discuss soft-skills training, Grimshaw’s approach to diversity and how a practice used to working remotely and across time zones is using its most recent experience to rethink the role of the office. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leaders...

In this third episode of Coaches On The Couch, Rachel and Louise are joined by John McRae and Colin McColl of architectural practice Orms, to discuss the leadership challenges of becoming an EOT and explore how the business of architecture needs to reposition itself to thrive in the 'new normal'. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership c...

Welcome to the second episode of the Coaches on the Couch podcast, in which Louise and Rachel explore purpose, personal impact and unconscious bias with their guest Priya Shah, founder of BAME in Property. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership coaches. They design and deliver bespoke leadership development programmes and coaching for a...

Welcome to the first ever Coaches on the Couch podcast, in which Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore talk to Martyn Evans, Creative Director of development and investment company U+I, about the challenges of nurturing company culture and creativity during the time of Covid-19. Coaches On The Couch is co-hosted by Louise Rodgers and Rachel Birchmore who are exec and leadership coaches. They design...

Coaches On The Couch is the podcast from the coaches behind Step Up (stepuplondon.com) the leadership development programme for architects and built environment consultancies. Co-hosts Rachel Birchmore and Louise Rodgers bring their experience and knowledge of the sector and coaching insights to explore the world of work and progressive leadership through conversations with special guests.