Ryan Farias + Brian Lawlor
SMMA
Talk Description
We all have a higher gear by which we can perform. Almost universally, we would all prefer to be working at that level at all times. But, do we all recognize higher gear performance when it is occurring? And, what is it about high gear performers that really stands out?
At SMMA, we believe that ethnography can help our firm recognize and articulate the behaviors, choices, and intentions of our most valued higher gear people and teams. Through trained ethnographers, we are interested in confronting our talent predicament by providing our people with more implicit knowledge and "Deep Smarts." We want to help our people understand why experts behave they way they do and how the systematic flow of this knowledge within the organization can help guide professional development in new ways while accelerating our firm's advancement.
Speaker Bios
An SMMA Principal, Executive Vice President, and Board Member, Brian Lawlor is a licensed civil engineer with 25+ years' experience leading multi-disciplinary project teams for the firm's Corporate + Technology practice group. Known to colleagues and clients alike for his rational approach to problem-solving and commitment to helping others succeed, Brian was instrumental in establishing SMMA's nationally recognized mentor-protégé program, and has personally guided a number of emerging firm leaders presently serving in management capacities. Outside of the office, Brian sits on the Board of Directors for the ACE Mentor Program of Massachusetts, and competitively races in triathlons.
As Principal and Director of Marketing, Ryan Farias is responsible for overseeing the full scope of SMMA's marketing initiatives and assisting in the development of the firm's overall strategic direction. With 15+ years of AEC-focused marketing, communications, and relationship management experience, Ryan has expanded SMMA's in-house capabilities to include digital, branding, multi-channel communications, and graphic design components. He is particularly interested in storytelling and connecting people with information that will help them work smarter and develop professionally. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, and trying to find time to play music, watch sports, and brew beer.
Christopher Parsons of Knowledge Architecture interviews Ryan Farias (SMMA), Brian Lawlor (SMMA), and Dorothy Leonard (Leonard-Barton Group) at KA Connect 2017.
