“It Was Just a Conversation at a Table”: How Design-Build Mentorship Opens Doors for the Next Generation

Design-Build Delivers

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There’s no official job description for a mentor and no script for how a single introduction can change a student’s life. But when Kent State senior Lola Preseren met DBIA Fellow and 2023 Brunelleschi Award winner Bill Hasbrook at a DBIA conference, everything changed.

In this episode of the Design-Build Delivers Podcast, brought to you by U.S. CAD, An ARKANCE Company, we explore what real mentorship looks like in design-build. Bill shares how decades of industry experience shaped his passion for guiding future leaders, and Lola offers a student’s perspective on what it’s like to be seen, supported and connected in ways that go far beyond networking.

From structured monthly check-ins to spontaneous life advice, their story is a powerful reminder that mentorship can be transformative for both sides of the equation.

Guests:

• Bill Hasbrook, DBIA Fellow and 2023 Brunelleschi Award Winner
• Lola Preseren, Senior at Kent State University and DBIA Student Volunteer

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about DBIA’s Student Membership
• Nominate a DBIA Fellow
• Explore upcoming DBIA Conferences & Events
• Discover Mentorship and Student Engagement Opportunities at DBIA

Access all our free design-build resources and learn more about Design-Build Done Right® at dbia.org.
DBIA members are shaping the future, one successful collaboration at a time.

Chapters

1. Mentorship in Action (00:00:00)

2. Bill’s Design-Build Journey (00:02:13)

3. The DBIA Fellow Shadowing Experience (00:04:44)

4. How Lola and Bill Met (00:08:05)

5. From Casual Chat to Career Coaching (00:11:03)

6. Beyond Networking: Real Opportunities (00:13:06)

7. Mentoring vs. Championing (00:16:23)

8. People Do Business with People (00:20:41)

9. The DBIA Student Experience (00:24:30)

10. Advice for First-Time Attendees (00:27:08)

11. A Mentor’s Perspective (00:30:19)

12. Paying It Forward (00:32:15)