What I learned this year behind the IAP microphone

When I stepped into podcasting this year, I had no idea what I was doing. I stared at a pile of shiny new Shure equipment, wires, buttons, gadgets, and felt both excitement and fear. What if no one listened? What if I sounded unqualified? What if I could not live up to the legacy of a platform with such a long, successful history?

To make it even more overwhelming, I was not just new to podcasting. I was also brand new in my role as Director of Design Strategy at OFS, still figuring out my footing, my voice, my place. Everything in my professional world felt like it shifted at once. I was trying to hold on with equal parts courage, gratitude, and terror. It was a whirlwind of exciting and exhausting change, and I wanted to do everything not just well, but exceptionally.

What I learned, episode after episode, is that stepping into something new almost always feels uncomfortable, and sometimes even weird or terrifying. Yet that same discomfort is where the most meaningful connections, growth, and insights live.

The microphone taught me something unexpected. It taught me about listening more than speaking. It showed me that real connection happens when I slow down, pay attention, and let the other person shine. When someone is truly excited about what they are talking about, you can hear it and feel it through any speaker or set of earbuds.

I am so grateful to do this work with amazing friends, including Wesley Edmonds, host of the In the Room series, who keeps every conversation bold and joyful, and Christina Jameson, Director of Workplace, who brings heart and sparkle to everything we create together.

I’m grateful for the Imagine a Place team who brings conversations to life, and to every guest who sat across from me this year.  

Here is what I learned from them and from this 2025 journey.

My first recording was with my friend and colleague, Wesley Edmonds, as we unpacked the IIDA Industry Roundtable. It reminded me that everyone, no matter how seasoned or admired, is searching for belonging, kindness, and connection.

Speakers at the roundtable challenged us to look for awe and to speak with depth instead of staying on the surface. That idea pushed me to rethink podcasting and to ask better questions that help uncover purpose and story.

When I sat down with Cynthia Sarria of HOK, she said something that stuck with me because of its realness and truth.  She said, “It’s going to suck at first, but it gets better. So keep going.”  She was talking about coaching young designers through iteration, design progress, and growth, but it applies to every new beginning. She brought such energy and joy to the conversation and reminded me that nothing new has to be perfect. It can be messy and playful and human. Her words give permission to accept the hard parts, stay curious, and enjoy the journey.

Talking with Sara Meier of CannonDesign, someone I’ve respected since our Purdue University days, felt grounding. Our paths have been different, but reconnecting with someone who shared that early stage of life brought a familiar sense of steady perspective.  She said, “I want to be the kind of leader who lets insecurities come forward and helps people get the resources they need.”

We talked about the leaders we’ve known, both the inspiring ones and the challenging ones, and the shift happening in our industry. Designers want leaders who are empathetic and supportive. We want leaders who lift others up rather than make them smaller. Sara reminded me that leadership is not about perfection. It is about care

My conversation with Dani Miller of Lauderdale Design Group was the one that brought me closest to tears. As she talked about her husband’s unwavering support of her business, her personal sacrifices, and the mental space required for creativity, I saw that vulnerability strengthens every story.

Dani showed me that connection can span microphones and miles. She reminded me that designers are whole people with dreams, fears, families, and grit. Those with loyal support systems are incredibly lucky.

Design Days felt like recording a podcast inside a zoo exhibit, with lights and cameras everywhere. Yet Ronnie Belizaire of HKS,  Shanna Francis of HuntonBrady Architects, and Charmaigne Haley of SmithGroup, sat in the hot seat with unspeakable courage and grace.

From Ronnie
From Ronnie, I learned the power of naming mentors and honoring the people who shape our paths. One of her best quotable moments was when she said she’s not a mentor, (which is ironic because many can attest that through her leadership and humility, she absolutely is). She went on to say that her role is to see the potential in others and encourage them to live into it.  That’s a word for all of us.

From Shanna
From Shanna, I learned and felt what community truly means through Shanna’s story and the way her village shows up for her, and how she shows up for them. Her honesty about hardship, family, motherhood, and passion was moving. She brought joy, creativity, and authenticity into every word. She reminded me that design is about people first, and that belonging is the lifeline of any village.

I loved how her connection with nature (on an old farmhouse with Highland cows)  strengthens her work as a designer and leader.  A friend of mine even mailed me a Highland cow stuffed animal after hearing my conversation with Shanna - a heartfelt gesture that stories and connection can radiate deeply.

From Charmaigne
From Charmaigne I learned what true passion and care look like in creating neuro-inclusive healing spaces. Her experience supporting her sister with autism shapes the empathy she brings to her work, and even her hobbies reflect that same dedication and curiosity. Everything she does is filled with intention and cultural pride. She showed us that designing for neurodiversity is rooted in understanding, patience, and love.

Being part of the Crafted for Healing series was meaningful and eye opening. The conversations reached far beyond healthcare and into how we design for real human needs. Dr. Kati Pedito, Dr. Kelly Olson, and Alexandra Bonner of FCA Architects helped us understand the science and emotion behind how people experience space. They showed how our histories shape our decisions and why inclusive environments matter everywhere.

Guest host Roby Isaac guided the conversation with so much warmth and ease. Sitting in a room full of passionate designers reminded me why this work matters and why community learning is so transformative.

My conversation with Jessica Radecki of NBBJ Architects and Lauren Cole of Providence Healthcare on Design for Belonging confirmed something designers always feel but do not say enough. Design shapes how people feel. When people feel welcomed and supported, they learn better, heal better, work better, and live better. Their research is a powerful reminder of our responsibility as designers to create spaces that help people thrive.

This year changed me. I am more curious, more comfortable, and more excited about the future of our design community than ever. Hosting these conversations showed me that even a pile of unfamiliar podcast equipment can reveal purpose and what belonging feels like when someone trusts you with their story.

If I can help someone feel safe or seen through a microphone, whether they are across the table or across the country, then I am doing something right. And if I can help someone find their voice while I keep finding mine, then we have some beautiful things ahead.

And here is the best part: We are just getting started.

Next year we are reimagining things again.
More fun.
More energy.
More stories that remind us why design matters.

There is more to imagine in 2026. Get excited and get ready.

To keep up with us in 2026, be sure to follow Maria on LinkedIn and the Imagine a Place podcast.