Clients don’t wake up in the morning and decide to disrespect architects. They respond to the version of the architect that shows up. In this deeply honest and reflective episode of The SILL TALKS Podcast, host Arc. Egbeiyon Leonard unpacks one of the most painful—and misunderstood—realities of architectural practice in Africa: why architects struggle to command respect from clients, despite their training, expertise, and responsibility. This is not a client-bashing episode. It is not a...
Jan 26
31 min
Your Firm Is Not You Most architecture firms don’t fail because of bad design. They struggle because everything depends on the founder. If every decision must pass through you… If quality only exists when you’re present… If your team waits instead of decides… If you can’t step away without things slowing down… Then this episode is for you. In this reference-style episode of The SILL TALKS Podcast, Arc. Egbeiyon Leonard breaks down one of the most important but rarely d...
Jan 12
21 min
Preparing for Nigeria’s New Tax Regime (2026) as Architects. For years, many architects in Nigeria have survived on improvisation — mixing personal and business finances, paying for site expenses from their own pockets, invoicing casually, and hoping everything “balances out” at the end of the year. That era is over. From January 1, 2026, Nigeria enters a new tax regime — one that does not attack creativity, but exposes weak systems. And for architects, this shift goes far beyond compliance. ...
Dec 29, 2025
18 min
Partnership Is Not Friendship Many great architectural practices, creative studios, and construction businesses don’t fail because of bad ideas or lack of talent; they fail because partnerships were built on emotion instead of structure. In this in-depth episode of The SILL TALKS Podcast, Arc. Egbeiyon Leonard unpacks one of the most misunderstood truths in business: Partnership is not friendship. Drawing from real experiences at Sill Designs, Leonard shares two powerful, real-world scenarios...
Dec 15, 2025
16 min
In the architectural profession, few topics create more confusion, fear, and silence than this one: “Architects must not advertise.” For decades, this statement has shaped how architects behave, show up, communicate, and even define their own professional identity. But in today’s digital world—where clients discover projects online, trust is built on visibility, and influence flows through understanding—the refusal to be seen has quietly damaged the profession more than we admit. In this deep...
Dec 8, 2025
13 min
You’ve heard it before: “Ah Architect, do this job for us — many jobs are coming. We’ll give you exposure.”In this brutally honest and humorous episode, Arc. Egbeiyon Leonard tears apart the exploitation culture in architecture — the one that disguises itself as “opportunity.” From clients who promise “visibility” to firms that expect “free concepts,” this episode speaks directly to every architect who’s ever been underpaid, overlooked, or emotionally blackmailed with the word “exposure.” Yo...
Nov 11, 2025
12 min
Every architect knows that moment — when a client looks you and says, “Your fee is too high… I can't pay this!”It feels like a small compromise, a harmless adjustment to secure the job. But that’s often where the real problem begins. Because when you lower your fee to please a client, you don’t just reduce your price — you reduce your power. In this episode of The SILL TALKS Podcast, Arc. Egbeiyon Leonard, shares raw, real, and hard-earned lessons from practice — about how charging low fees o...
Oct 27, 2025
13 min
Ever felt like your client just doesn’t “get it”? You’ve explained it three different ways… You’ve sent drawings, even added labels… Yet somehow, they’re still unsure — or worse, they’re pushing back. In this episode of The Sill Talks Podcast, I unpack one of the biggest reasons architectural projects go off track: poor client understanding. But here’s the honest truth — it’s not always the client’s fault. It’s our job to lead, to explain, and to educate. This episode isn’t ...
Oct 20, 2025
16 min
Let’s be honest, in today's fast paced architecture industry, talent alone doesn’t build a thriving practice. You can design the most stunning spaces, yet still struggle with inconsistent income, late-paying clients, or a firm that feels like it’s running you. That’s the reality for many architects. But it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of The SILL TALKS Podcast, I uncover 7 powerful secrets that can completely change the way you run your architecture business — not nex...
Oct 13, 2025
10 min
After years in practice, one truth has become painfully clear: underpricing is one of the biggest traps architects fall into. We do it with good intentions, always wanting to win the client, secure the project, or simply stay busy. But in reality, underpricing is not a strategy, it’s a slow poison. It eats into your profits, undermines your credibility, and leaves you working twice as hard for half the reward. In this episode of The SILL TALKS PODCAST, I speak from both experience and observa...
Aug 26, 2025
25 min
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