“Alex’s passion for architectural design, over 30 years of experience, and deep local connections to the Long Island community are without equal. Alex is sensitive to the quality-of-life impact of large-scale developments, an advocate for community
-centered development and long-term economic benefits, and an effective leader bringing projects to fruition.” - Phil Giordano, Associate at bld architecture, dpc.
In the last 12 months what accomplishment are you most proud of? Creating a culture of accountability. Our team of 20 people handles 50 projects in all stages of design. That requires our team to be nimble and responsive to a wide variety of design needs. Finding conscientious, like-minded people that are smart, talented and committed is the key to our success.
Best books, podcasts, or apps for aspiring leaders: Ted Talks include a number of interesting speakers. Dale Carnegie “how to win friends and influence people” is a classic must read. Accountability leadership.
In the last 12 months what was one of the biggest challenges you faced as a leader and how did you overcome it? Lead change. Throughout my career I’ve always been successful leading a team. early on as a designer, eventually a project manager and then the owner of a firm, I’ve always been involved in every decision. For the past year my focus has been in identifying others to become self-sufficient and great leaders. It’s a level of trust and confidence and ultimately mutually beneficial and rewarding. The key is in understanding someone’s pure motivation for becoming a leader.
Best advice for new leaders: Be empathetic and a good listener.