How ESa supports emerging professionals at every step
Allie Bierman, IIDA, NCIDQ
Tyler Duty, AIA, NCARB
Jill Romano, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP BD+C
Instead of climbing a rigid ladder, early-career team members at ESa are forging their own paths, supported by mentors who listen, leaders who trust them and a culture that’s always evolving to meet them where they are. Our firm is a place where initiative is rewarded, relationships matter and your career feels like something you are building, not just chasing.
After being recognized as a 2024 AIA Tennessee Emerging Professionals (EP) Friendly Firm, we put even more intention behind our emerging professionals program to be the best firm for rising talent.
Interior design team member Allie Bierman, IIDA, NCIDQ, architecture team member Tyler Duty, AIA, NCARB and principal Jill Romano, AIA, NCARB, LEED® AP BD+C are a few of the team members leading this charge. They shared more about their experiences, how the program has evolved and the firm’s vision for EPs.
No ladder, no ceiling
Allie started at ESa in 2021, fresh out of college. She remembers how uncertain she felt about breaking into her career and how quickly that faded.
“I was coming out of design school, where everything was structured and competitive,” Allie said. “When I learned about ESa’s flexible environment, it seemed different from other big firms. I wondered what growth opportunities could look like, and I’ve discovered there is greater autonomy at all levels. The only thing stopping EPs at ESa is themselves.”
Soon after joining, leaders at ESa quickly noticed Allie’s natural talent for recruiting and managing student interns. They invited her to co-lead the student program, a role which has led to exponential growth for her professionally and personally.
Tyler’s experience at ESa the past two years has similarly empowered him to explore his interests and strengths. What struck him most was how readily leadership handed him ownership of projects, ideas and growth.
“If you take initiative here, the support is there,” Tyler said. “ESa helps you figure out where your skills fit and then lets you run with it.”
Turning momentum into movement
Being named one of the EP-Friendly Firms in Tennessee was a challenge to continue improving our program. In the year since, we have formalized the EP committee, established a consistent programming cadence and launched a full-scale mentorship program for staff with less than 15 years of experience.
One of the committee’s first acts was to define a mission statement for the EP group. This guiding compass was developed through workshops, leadership interviews and walls of sticky notes:
Mission statement: A dynamic, professional community dedicated to innovation, education and collective growth – driven by passion to advance the legacy of ESa.
“Everyone showed up. We wanted to get it right, and you could feel that,” Jill said. “Now, every EP meeting starts with someone writing the mission statement on the board. It reminds us why we’re here.”
Mentorship the ESa way
For years, mentorship at ESa has thrived informally. Senior team members instinctively supported newer ones, offering advice, encouragement and perspective. In the last year, we’ve built upon that culture, establishing a robust matching program.
“Everything we do is about building relationships, internally as much as externally,” Jill said. “And we have a culture of giving back. It’s not, ‘Should I help?’ It’s, ‘Why wouldn’t I?’”
The new mentorship program channels that mindset. Tenured team members were recruited to serve as mentors, and EPs across architecture, interior design, construction contract administration, visualization and marketing were invited to opt in.
“We have a wealth of knowledge within the two floors of our building,” Allie said. “We’re making sure EPs know who those people are and feel empowered to reach out. A lot of firms bring in outside experts. At ESa, we already have them, and they’re excited to be part of the conversation.”
More than a stepping stone
ESa’s support is not performative. We provide top-tier study materials, cover the costs of licensure exams regardless of outcome, provide flexibility to take those exams during the workday and more.
“A big selling point as an EP coming to ESa was how they encourage professional growth,” Tyler said. “That support has made a huge difference for me and my career.”
Perhaps the biggest signal of ESa’s long-term mindset is how it hires. The firm’s recruiting philosophy is rooted in relationships, not roles.
“At our recruiting booth, we do not ask, ‘What skills do they have right now?,” Allie said. “We ask, ‘Who do we see them working with long term? Who will mentor them?’ It’s about fit, not filling gaps.”
From here, you can go anywhere
The EP experience at ESa is not about following a set track. It is about agency, belonging and building something that lasts, together.
“We’re thinking about legacy,” Jill said. “How do we harness the passion of people who will carry this firm forward – and make it even better than we left it?”
Looking to grow your career somewhere that grows with you? Explore careers at ESa.