From Architect to CEO: Building a Global Design Firm: DLR Group CEO Steve McKay

In this episode of the Word on the Street Podcast, Mick Morrissey, Mark Goodale, and Katharine Van Leer sit down with Steve McKay, CEO of DLR Group, to explore what it takes to lead one of the most respected employee-owned design firms in the industry. Steve shares his journey from growing up in Scotland and playing competitive rugby to building a 30-year career at DLR Group—culminating in his role as CEO. Along the way, he breaks down how teamwork, resilience, and leadership lessons from rugby shaped his approach to business, culture, and growth. The conversation dives into how DLR Group has successfully scaled while staying true to its employee-owned model, why global thinking is essential for modern design firms, and how leadership can create alignment across a distributed organization. Steve also offers thoughtful insights on the evolving role of AI in design, the importance of storytelling in architecture, and why human judgment and creativity will remain the ultimate differentiators. Whether you’re an industry leader or early in your career, this episode delivers practical perspective on building a meaningful, long-term career—not just a job. 0:00 Opening + guest introduction 1:30 Rugby, teamwork, and early lessons in leadership 4:20 From Scotland to the U.S. — a global journey 8:30 Joining DLR Group and early career growth 11:00 Understanding employee ownership 14:00 Becoming CEO and shaping firm-wide aspiration 18:20 The “rock band” leadership model 21:00 Scaling without losing culture 24:00 What employee ownership really looks like in practice 28:30 ESOP vs private equity — industry shifts 33:00 Talent, compensation, and changing workforce expectations 37:30 Global expansion and building a truly global firm 41:30 Why design still matters (more than ever) 45:00 AI in design — hype vs reality 49:30 The future of architecture firms and technology 53:00 Career advice: visibility and participation 56:00 Final thoughts and closing