055: Kira Gould: Sustainability and Storytelling in Architecture

Description

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Kira Gould.

Kira is a writer, strategist, and convener focused on advancing design leadership and climate action through her company, Kira Gould CONNECT.

She is also the co-host of the Design the Future podcast with Lindsay Baker, a Senior Fellow with Architecture 2030, and co-authored Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design.

We talk about:

- Kira’s career as a non-architect working in AEC. She elaborates on her family roots in the industry and how she leaned into her passions for writing and sustainability.

- We talk about the power of storytelling and how limiting industry jargon and using clarifying language helps to set clear expectations about the design and construction process with clients.

- We also chat about the evolution of sustainability from an offshoot to an integral part of practice today with leaders not only leading sustainable initiatives, but the companies where they work.

- Kira and I review the lessons and impact of Women in Green and discuss other impactful topics including parenthood, mentorship, Architecture 2030, and developing thought leadership.

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Links:

Connect with Kira: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kiragould/

Design the Future Podcast: https://www.designthefuturepodcast.com/

Women in Green: Voices of Sustainable Design (2007), Kira Gould with Lance Hosey

Kira's Book Recommendations (elaborations on the Architectette Website):

Multisolving: Creating Systems Change in a Fractured World, Elizabeth Sawin (2024)

Flourish: Design Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency, Sarah Ichioka, Michael Pawlyn (2021)

It’s Not the End of the World, Hannah Ritchie (2024)

What If We Get It Right, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson (2024)

Doughnut Economics, Kate Raworth (2017)

Factfulness: Ten Reasons We’re Wrong About the World, and Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling (2018)