Designing Learning That Builds Connections Across Offices and Project Teams in AEC Fi

Laura Knauss, President and Chief Practice Officer at Lionakis, explains why the breakout room isn't just a learning tool — it's a culture tool. In a multi-office firm that grew from a close-knit family, structured small-group exercises create the kind of human connections that a town hall or a Teams message never can. Christopher Parsons, Kristina Williams, Director of Design Technology at Lionakis, and Laura also address one of the most common objections to video-based learning: that it removes human interaction. Their answer is that not all video is equal, and not all live sessions are great — the real goal is using each format for what it does best. Listen to the full episode of Smarter By Design "Modernizing Learning to Scale Quality at Lionakis" hosted by Christopher Parsons, founder and CEO of Knowledge Architecture, in conversation with Laura Knauss and Kristina Williams from Lionakis: https://www.knowledge-architecture.co... Watch or listen to this episode via YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 📺 🎧 YouTube:    • Smarter by Design Podcast   📺 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6PsZJD9... 🎧 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... #smarterbydesign #knowledgemanagement #podcastforarchitects #architects #architecture Chapters: 00:00 Breakout rooms as a culture-building tool in a multi-office firm 01:37 How the new format reduces multitasking 01:55 The anticipation effect: knowing exercises are coming 02:48 Video-based learning doesn't mean less human connection 03:07 Using video and live interaction for what each does best == Learn More == 🚀 Synthesis, the Intranet, LMS, and AI Search Solution for AEC: https://www.knowledge-architecture.com/ 📬 Subscribe to the "Smarter By Design" newsletter: https://www.knowledge-architecture.co... 🔔 Subscribe to our channel:    / @knowledgearchitecture   == Related Videos == Smarter By Design Podcast:    • Smarter by Design Podcast   AI-Powered Knowledge Management:    • KM 3.0 Basics: AI-Powered AEC Knowledge Ma...   Synthesis Intranet + LMS Tours:    • Synthesis in Action: AEC Intranet Tours