As the senior project manager of our newly established office in Greenville, S.C., Shannon is pioneering Moseley Architects’ expansion westward. For the past year, he’s been building the firm’s Upstate presence from the ground up, spearheading operations, and forging strong local relationships.
Shannon’s enthusiasm for mentorship can be traced to the beginning of his career, when a team-building retreat opened his eyes to the nuances of interpersonal dynamics. A mentorship advocate ever since, Shannon jumped at the chance to participate in Moseley Architect’s MINDS program.
In this interview, he reflects on the power of mentorship, the challenges of entering a new market, and how his mentor, Ashley Dennis, has helped him think strategically and stay resilient.
Can you describe your first mentorship experience within the field of architecture? What impact did it have on your early career? How did it shape your approach to design, teamwork, or leadership?
My first full-time job in the profession provided me with so much great experience and exposure to everything in the practice of architecture. The firm comprised five employees total, including me, and it had existed for only about nine months before I joined them. I was the youngest, least experienced, and least educated employee, so I got to wear a lot of hats with responsibilities that ranged from answering the phones to assisting with monthly billings, managing the website to preparing responses to request for qualifications–all while being an intern architect. I enjoyed the close working relationships and personalized mentoring that the firm’s small size afforded, which was ideal for my early career development.
One element that may have had the biggest impact on me was the firm’s first retreat. Prior to the retreat, a corporate psychologist conducted one-on-one interviews and administered the Myers-Briggs test to all the employees. During the retreat, the results of the personality test were reviewed with an emphasis on how each staff member communicated and what he or she valued the most. There were several exercises throughout the two-day retreat that put those communication preferences on display, as well as in-depth discussions on how to build the type of office culture that would allow us to thrive collectively.
My personal takeaway from this was just learning that everyone communicates differently, one way isn’t better than the other, and it takes different personality types to round out an office culture – as long you all share a common goal. As a first-generation college graduate entering a white-collar workforce that I had no frame of reference for, I found this mind-blowing.
I became so interested in workplace and office culture that I started buying books and learning more about social intelligence, emotional intelligence, business administration, etc. Now, 18 years later, I am still reading books on those topics, and every day I am implementing the things I learned about communication from the retreat. The resources gave me personal insight and taught me what my skills are, how important it is to be honest with myself, and how to find ways to improve upon my weaknesses.
Have you participated in formal mentorship programs outside of the firm, or have your mentor-mentee relationships mostly been informal/unofficial?
I have not participated in any formal mentorship programs outside of the firm, but over the years I have enjoyed many informal mentoring relationships. While I was in graduate school, I found myself mentoring a lot my peers because I was a few years older than they were and I had experience in the profession.
As I have set out on a new professional journey of establishing a client base for Moseley Architects in the Greenville market, I have benefitted from informal mentoring relationships with leaders in the business community or from friends in the architecture, engineering, and construction community. They have helped me to learn more about all aspects of the industry, to grow my network, and to hear from others who have built a professional presence in the upstate region of South Carolina.
How long have you participated in the firm’s mentorship program as a mentee? Has Ashley been your mentor the entire time?
I have been participating for nearly a year since I joined Moseley Architects. Ashley Dennis has been my mentor the entire time. Without coordinating it beforehand, Ashley and I each requested that we stay paired when it was time to renew our involvement in the program. I was relieved to learn she was not getting tired of all of my questions.
What motivated you to participate in the program?
I believe mentorship is such an important part of the architectural profession, so I was extremely eager to get involved. Since I earned my Master of Architecture degree 13 years ago, I’ve longed for direct, personal mentoring to discuss how my career was advancing and how my skills could be developed. Up until this point, I felt isolated in terms of my career, so I jumped at the chance to participate.
You and Ashley are in different states. How does long-distance mentoring work? What do you and Ashley do that makes it successful despite the distance?
I feel like the distance may actually be beneficial. If Ashley’s desk were only a few feet away, the temptation to inundate her with questions could deter me from thinking through things until I pinpoint what I really need her guidance or opinion on.
Setting a routine has been crucial to the success of our mentor-mentee relationship. We have a monthly virtual meeting, but Ashley is always responsive if I need to connect with her earlier. Also, if we are going to be in the same place at the same time, then we make a point to carve out time to do our mentoring session in person.
What three words would you use to describe Ashley?
Patient, nurturing, motivated
What have you learned from Ashley’s mentorship? Is there a specific skill set that she’s helped you strengthen?
Ashley has taught me to be patient and leverage the available resources.
The expertise in sports and recreation facility design that I’ve brought to Moseley has boosted its capacity to pursue more work related to these building types. With this in mind, I was eager to pursue every opportunity, which is not a sustainable approach. Ashley’s guidance helps me prioritize my goals to focus on growing Moseley’s presence in the Greenville and Upstate South Carolina markets across all sectors, while strategically targeting the unique opportunities as they become available.
You joined the firm in February 2023. How has Ashley’s mentorship helped familiarize you with our processes and culture?
Ashley’s mentorship has been a tremendous benefit to the on-boarding process. Moseley has an excellent on-boarding experience, but if you don’t use a resource soon after learning about it, it is easy to forget.
Beyond the scope of on-boarding, I occasionally need guidance with nuanced procedures, like how to get approval to sponsor a happy hour for a chamber of commerce or economic development event. Ashley points me in the right direction and provides support when needed.
Have you had any pleasant surprises in your experience as Ashley’s mentee? Have you learned anything you weren’t expecting to learn?
Ashley’s encouragement has helped me become more at ease with the challenges of moving into a new market and starting a new office.
I’m learning to accept that the efforts I make won’t always lead to big successes. Rather than being overwhelmed with pressure to outperform, I accept it and move on to the next opportunity.
I am highly competitive and love the hustle, however, I understand every win won’t be big. When you’re new to a territory or market, establishing relationships essential. Small wins can create a foundation of trust on which bigger wins can be achieved.
What qualities make an effective mentor? Are there any additional qualities that are particularly important within your profession?
It’s important to actively listen to understand and quickly adapt to the other person’s communication preferences. A skilled listener can recognize how a mentee may need guidance on underlying issues that they haven’t yet identified and discussed.
What advice do you have for people who are just starting the mentorship program as mentees? How can they make the most of their experience?
Do not be afraid to ask questions. Some people are afraid to ask because they feel like they are supposed to know the answer already, while others may know the answer but don’t understand the reasoning behind it. In a healthy work environment with a great culture like we have at Moseley, questions are encouraged.
As you gain experience and start finding your footing in the industry, bring your own ideas and opinions to the discussions you have with your mentor. Mentoring works best when both parties recognize that it is a two-way street where you can both learn and grow from the experience.