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Courses/Architecture/Practice / Business Management

Leading HOK: World-Class Design w/Patrick MacLeamy

Unlock the secrets of world-class design leadership from former HOK CEO Patrick MacLeamy, learning to cultivate talent, embrace innovation, and build lasting client relationships.

Created byAdam Mendlerworkspace_premium
4.7
(7 reviews)
BeginnerUpdated Dec 5, 2025
Leading HOK: World-Class Design w/Patrick MacLeamy

What You'll Learn

check_circleUnderstand HOK's founding principles and growth.
check_circleLearn the difference between managing and leading.
check_circleMaster effective client engagement strategies.
check_circleDiscover how to drive innovation in architecture.
check_circleExplore servant leadership philosophy in practice.

About This Course

Dive into "Leading HOK: World-Class Design w/Patrick MacLeamy" and uncover the secrets behind HOK's phenomenal success as a global architectural powerhouse. Join us as Patrick MacLeamy, former CEO of one of the world's most prominent architecture firms, shares invaluable insights from his fifty-year career, transforming HOK from a single-office entity to an international leader with 27 offices and 2,000 employees.

This course transcends the typical architectural discourse, offering universal leadership and business principles applicable across industries. Discover how focusing on people, fostering innovation, and building authentic client relationships are paramount to achieving world-class results. Patrick shares the profound lessons he learned, from the critical distinction between managing and leading to the strategic importance of marketing and financial acumen in a creative field. You'll gain a unique perspective on navigating organizational growth, cultivating talent, and embracing technological change to stay at the forefront of your industry.

Key learning outcomes include:

  • Understanding the foundational principles for building a successful, people-centric organization.
  • Differentiating between effective management and transformative leadership, particularly in creative environments.
  • Mastering the art of client engagement, moving beyond mere transactions to become a trusted advisor.
  • Learning to embrace technological advancements and strategic partnerships to manage complexity and drive innovation.
  • Gaining insights into the financial and operational strategies essential for sustained growth and success.

Patrick illustrates these principles with compelling real-world examples, including the groundbreaking LaGuardia Airport redevelopment, showcasing how bold thinking and deep client understanding can turn monumental challenges into iconic achievements. This course is an essential journey for anyone aspiring to lead with impact, foster a culture of excellence, and deliver truly world-class results.

Your Instructors

Adam Mendler
Adam Mendler

Motivational & Leadership Speaker

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star1,622 reviews

Adam Mendler is a nationally recognized authority on leadership, renowned for his unique ability to deliver perspective-shifting insights shaped by interviewing more than 500 of America’s most successful leaders. The creator and host of the top-rated business and leadership podcast Thirty Minute Mentors, Adam regularly elicits insights from America's top CEOs, founders, athletes, celebrities, and political and military leaders. A keynote speaker to businesses, universities, and non-profit organizations, Adam has written extensively on business and leadership, having authored more than 70 articles published in major media outlets including Forbes, Inc., and HuffPost. A Los Angeles native and lifelong Angels fan, Adam teaches graduate-level courses on leadership at UCLA, serves on the board of UCLA’s Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science program, is an emeritus member of USC’s Board of Governors, and is an advisor to numerous companies and leaders.

Patrick  MacLeamy
Patrick MacLeamy

Chairman of buildingSMART International, former CEO of HOK, Author

Architect Patrick MacLeamy, FAIA, is Chairman of buildingSMART International, former CEO of HOK and author of Designing a World-Class Architecture Firm: The People, Stories and Strategies Behind HOK. Patrick practiced architecture for 50 years at HOK, one of the top 10 largest architecture/engineering firms in the world. He began there as a “junior designer” and worked his way up, serving as HOK’s CEO and Chairman from 2003-2017. As CEO, Patrick led HOK’s transformation from a firm that struggled to pay its bills and was close to breaking apart, to one that is consistently profitable, with a company culture where people help each other to succeed. Since stepping down in a planned succession, Patrick has been writing a book about the history of HOK and lessons learned along the way that can benefit other architects and creative services professionals. In April 2020, Wiley and Sons will publish the book, which shares a lifetime of architecture and leadership stories and lessons. Patrick is also a founder and the chairman of buildingSMART International, an organization dedicated to developing global digital standards for data exchange in the building and infrastructure industries — standards sorely needed so software programs used by architects, engineers, contractors and owners can “talk” to each other, help catch mistakes and push the envelope of sustainable design. Patrick is best known for what some call the “MacLeamy Curve”, one of the most commonly cited concepts for researchers touting the benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM). It advocates assigning ample resources and using BIM to test designs early, because it’s cheaper to discover mistakes and make changes when the project is on a computer than when it is under construction.

Credit Information

What Students Are Saying

4.7
Student's Choice
7 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 327+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 29 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.