# 224: The Architecture of Systems: Building a Self-Running Firm

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/practice-disrupted-by-practice-of-architecture-804792/224-the-architecture-of-systems-building-a-self-running-firm
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/practice-disrupted-by-practice-of-architecture-804792/224-the-architecture-of-systems-building-a-self-running-firm.md
Podcast: [Practice Disrupted by Practice of Architecture](https://stenobird.com/podcast/practice-disrupted-by-practice-of-architecture-804792)
Published: 2026-02-26T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://practiceofarchitecture.com/podcast/
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/64048fb0-fd3f-4cbf-ab52-4536fc406e22.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/practice-disrupted-by-practice-of-architecture-804792/episodes/224-the-architecture-of-systems-building-a-self-running-firm
Duration seconds: 3657

## Resource

How can better business systems protect your firm's profitability, and your sanity? In this episode of Practice Disrupted , Evelyn Lee is joined by Darguin Fortuna , founding principal of Flow Design Architects and chair of the AIA Small Firm Exchange. Darguin shares his incredible journey from moving to the United States from the Dominican Republic in 2010, learning English while working night shifts at Wendy's, to passing all six ARE exams in just over a year and earning his license the same day his daughter was born. Darguin's frustration with traditional architecture practice didn't stem solely from long hours; it also stemmed from the lack of transparency around business operations, the constant scope creep, and the inability to establish a healthy work-life balance. Determined to build something different, he and his partner, Marcos Severino, founded Flow with rigorous systems designed to protect profitability and empower their staff. They share how they categorize their services into three distinct levels, Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian, charge for initial consultations, and use a fictional office manager to handle difficult financial conversations. "Every line is a source of good, and it's worth money. If I draw a map to a treasure that has billions of dollars of gold, how much is that map worth? You can't get the gold without the map." - Darguin Fortuna This episode is a masterclass in treating an architecture firm as a business first. Darguin explains his obsessive focus on process, from recording client meetings and creating standard email templates to building a vast library of internal training videos that enable the firm to run autonomously. Whether you are a firm owner struggling with profitability or a young architect looking to carve your own path, Dargu…

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