Kaitlin McCarthy - Ionic Development/ARX

MASTERMIND: KAITLIN MCCARTHY ON SYSTEMS, PILLARS, AND PPE In this episode, Molly and Jill sit down with Kaitlin McCarthy*, Founder and CEO of *Ionic Development Company and co-founder of *ARX*. A civil engineer turned management consultant turned developer, Kaitlin is "leapfrogging" her way to the center of urban decision-making. Kaitlin is a dedicated *"Swifty"*—and much like Taylor, she’s a master of the "Era." She’s moved from the construction site to the boardroom, and now she’s bridge-building (and actual building) with a level of strategic precision that would make any fan proud. We discuss how her obsession with "why things are the way they are" led her to leave PowerPoint behind for 46-story residential towers and the mission to redesign the world for women. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The "Feminine Column": Why the name Ionic is a subtle nod to the Greek column known as the "feminine column"—a reminder that women are the true pillars of our society. ERAs of a Developer: From Turner Construction to Harvard Business School to the front lines of Boston’s skyline. The ARX Revolution: How a mismatched safety vest and a co-founder’s eye injury led to *ARX*, a company designing PPE (like the "industrial athlete" vest) specifically for women’s bodies. Systems Thinking: We discuss "systems thinking"—the ability to peel back layers of a problem to understand the stakeholders and hidden opportunities in a deal. The Massport Model: Leading the charge on Boston’s first all-affordable housing development in the Seaport through inclusive joint ventures. RESOURCES: Ionic Development Company: http://www.buildionic.com ARX PPE: http://www.arxworkwear.com Women’s Development Collaborative (WDC): The power of geographic-dispersed peer networks.