Lead, Grow, Thrive: Advancing Your Career & Practice

WED-B08: Designing the Balance Sheet: Financial Leadership in Practice

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM PT

1.25 PDH, LA CES/non-HSW

Speaker(s)

Gareth Mahon, ASLA

Partner and Managing Principal
RKLA Studio
New York, New York
Yotam Kedem

Partner, Head of US office
Precise Int Corp
New York, New York
John A. Kett, FASLA (he/him/his)

Managing Principal
Reed Hilderbrand
Cambridge, Massachusetts

Financial management is not just bookkeeping—it is leadership. This session explores three levels of financial understanding—Fundamentals, Visibility, and Strategic Leadership—and connects project profitability to firm sustainability. Through small, large, and consultant perspectives, attendees will gain clear, practical tools to strengthen their firm’s financial health.

Learning Outcomes:

Differentiate between Fundamentals, Visibility, and Strategic Leadership levels of financial management within a design firm.
Evaluate project-level profitability and understand its direct impact on overall firm sustainability.
Compare financial leadership models across small and large firm structures.
Identify one practical financial metric to implement or review regularly within your own practice.