Word On The Street

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey, Mark Goodale, and Katharine Van Leer sit down with Steve McKay, CEO of DLR Group, to explore what it takes to lead one of the most respected employee-owned design firms in the industry. Steve shares his journey from growing up in Scotland and playing competitive rugby to building a 30-year career at DLR Group—culminating in his role as CEO. Along the way, he breaks down how teamwork, resilience, and leadership lessons from rugby shaped his approach to business, culture, and growth. The conversation dives into how DLR Group has successfully scaled while staying true to its employee-owned model, why global thinking is essential for modern design firms, and how leadership can create alignment across a distributed organization. Steve also offers thoughtful insights on the evolving role of AI in design, the importance of storytelling in architecture, and why human judgment and creativity will remain the ultimate differentiators. Whether you’re an industry leader or early in your career, this episode delivers practical perspective on building a meaningful, long-term career—not just a job.

0:00 Opening + guest introduction 1:30 Rugby, teamwork, and early lessons in leadership
4:20 From Scotland to the U.S. — a global journey
8:30 Joining DLR Group and early career growth
11:00 Understanding employee ownership
14:00 Becoming CEO and shaping firm-wide aspiration
18:20 The “rock band” leadership model
21:00 Scaling without losing culture
24:00 What employee ownership really looks like in practice
28:30 ESOP vs private equity — industry shifts
33:00 Talent, compensation, and changing workforce expectations
37:30 Global expansion and building a truly global firm
41:30 Why design still matters (more than ever)
45:00 AI in design — hype vs reality
49:30 The future of architecture firms and technology
53:00 Career advice: visibility and participation
56:00 Final thoughts and closing

What does it take to scale an engineering firm from a few hundred to nearly 2,000 people—without losing culture, performance, or purpose? In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, we’re joined by Jesse Kropelnicki, CEO of Verdantas (ENR #73), one of the fastest‑growing environmental and infrastructure consulting firms in the U.S. Jesse shares his unique journey from structural engineer to elite endurance sports coach—and how those experiences shaped his leadership philosophy. This wide‑ranging conversation explores how lessons from elite athletics apply directly to engineering leadership, including managing growth, building trust, giving effective feedback, navigating private equity, and preparing firms for AI and data transformation. Jesse also dives deep into culture, emotional intelligence, and why human skills—not technical knowledge alone—will define the future of AEC firms. Whether you’re leading a growing firm, managing teams, or thinking about the future of engineering work, this episode is packed with insight you can apply immediately.

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey and Mark Goodale are joined by Katharine Van Leer, Senior Consultant at Morrissey Goodale, as she makes her debut as the newest member of the podcast team. Together, they discuss the forces shaping the AE industry today—from M&A activity and valuation trends to the growing influence of AI and private equity. The conversation explores market uncertainty, leadership transition, and why CEO‑only forums and peer connections are more important than ever as firms navigate rapid change.

The podcast version of real-time market and industry intelligence from Morrissey Goodale firm leaders.