Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode of Business of Architecture, Rion Willard sits down with Dominic McAndrew, Head of Architecture and Design at CBRE Design Collective for the UK and Ireland. What’s it like to run a high-performing design team inside one of the world’s largest real estate companies? Dominic shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at how he’s growing a profitable practice—without following the traditional path of starting his own firm.
You’ll hear how his team doubled revenue, secured a more diverse client mix, and gained leadership traction—all while staying embedded within a global corporate machine. But this isn’t about selling out. It’s about showing up differently, playing smarter, and tapping into a deeper well of opportunity most architects miss.
Tune in to discover:
Why being small inside something big might be your best bet
The one internal shift that sparked team-wide growth
How to lead with value—even when the client holds all the cards
To learn more about Dominic, visit his website: cbre.com/services/design-and-build/design
00:00 Intro
02:14 From Drowning on Day 2 to Running a $20B Firm's Design Team
06:45 Why Being Inside a $30 Billion Company Feels Like a Small Practice
10:22 How a Scrappy Team Doubled Revenue in 9 Months
15:08 The Vertically Integrated Model That Changes Everything for Clients
19:33 Why Cutting Your Fees Is "Fundamentally Stupid"
23:47 The Hidden Advantage: Walking to Get $50M in Financing Instantly
28:15 How CBRE Landed Airport Work Nobody Saw Coming
32:04 The P&L Revelation That Made Us Masters of Our Own Destiny
36:19 Why Your Own Organization Doesn't Know You Exist
40:52 From 3 People to a Rapidly Profitable UK Business in Under a Year
44:10 The Timesheet Wake-Up Call That Transformed the Business
48:33 Why Project Managers Running Design Firms Is a Broken Model
51:20 60–70% Client Retention: The Number That Should Embarrass Most Firms
53:05 Stop Being the Workhorse — Get the Free Rockstar Hiring Guide
End chaos in your firm—300+ peers use this framework. Free video here: businessofarchitecture.com/framework
In this episode of Business of Architecture, Rion Willard sits down with Dominic McAndrew, Head of Architecture and Design at CBRE Design Collective for the UK and Ireland. What’s it like to run a high-performing design team inside one of the world’s largest real estate companies? Dominic shares a rare behind-the-scenes look at how he’s growing a profitable practice—without following the traditional path of starting his own firm.
You’ll hear how his team doubled revenue, secured a more diverse client mix, and gained leadership traction—all while staying embedded within a global corporate machine. But this isn’t about selling out. It’s about showing up differently, playing smarter, and tapping into a deeper well of opportunity most architects miss.
Tune in to discover:
Why being small inside something big might be your best bet
The one internal shift that sparked team-wide growth
How to lead with value—even when the client holds all the cards
To learn more about Dominic, visit his website: cbre.com/services/design-and-build/design
00:00 Intro
02:14 From Drowning on Day 2 to Running a $20B Firm's Design Team
06:45 Why Being Inside a $30 Billion Company Feels Like a Small Practice
10:22 How a Scrappy Team Doubled Revenue in 9 Months
15:08 The Vertically Integrated Model That Changes Everything for Clients
19:33 Why Cutting Your Fees Is "Fundamentally Stupid"
23:47 The Hidden Advantage: Walking to Get $50M in Financing Instantly
28:15 How CBRE Landed Airport Work Nobody Saw Coming
32:04 The P&L Revelation That Made Us Masters of Our Own Destiny
36:19 Why Your Own Organization Doesn't Know You Exist
40:52 From 3 People to a Rapidly Profitable UK Business in Under a Year
44:10 The Timesheet Wake-Up Call That Transformed the Business
48:33 Why Project Managers Running Design Firms Is a Broken Model
51:20 60–70% Client Retention: The Number That Should Embarrass Most Firms
53:05 Stop Being the Workhorse — Get the Free Rockstar Hiring Guide
