Episode
225: Small Firm, Big Commitment: Rethinking How Architecture Invests in Diverse Talent
- Published
- Mar 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2828
- Processing state
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- https://practiceofarchitecture.com/podcast/
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Summary
What does it look like when a firm stops just talking about diversity and starts building a tangible pathway for the next generation of architects? In this episode of Practice Disrupted, Evelyn Lee is joined by Leah Alissa Bayer , founding principal of Architects Fora, and Gabriella Vaz de Freitas , the firm’s Technology Lead and a former recipient of the "FORAship." Leah shares how her fully remote, women-owned firm moved beyond industry-wide conversations about the "pipeline problem" to create a structured, year-long scholarship and internship program. Gabriella, who moved from São Paulo to California, provides a firsthand account of how the program’s financial support and intentional mentorship allowed her to transition from a student to a leader in AI-enabled design and firm technology. The conversation explores the mechanics of the FORAship, an immersive experience designed specifically for underrepresented students. Unlike traditional internships, this program integrates students into business management conversations and specialty research, ensuring they have a seat at the table from day one. Leah discusses the strategic advantage of investing in international students and entry-level talent, while Gabriella explains how she leveraged her role to spearhead the firm’s adoption of generative design tools and new visualization workflows. "Our profession is only as strong as those that are coming into it after us. And it's our job to make the space and support system for that to happen." - Leah Alissa Bayer Beyond the logistics of the scholarship, the episode delves into the benefits of a fully remote practice for mentorship and firm culture. Leah shares her "five-year goal" of creating a cohort of small firms to rotate internships, making the process more manageabl…