Education
BREAKOUT | TUESDAY, 3:00 - 4:00 PM PDT
BD Breakdown: Building Strategy, Metrics, and Culture for Growth
Business development in AEC is often misunderstood. While it’s frequently associated with networking or relationship building, effective BD is a strategic discipline grounded in market intelligence, disciplined pursuit selection, measurable performance metrics, and strong collaboration across marketing, technical leaders, and client-facing teams. This session breaks down the business behind business development, offering a clear look at how high-performing firms structure their BD efforts, prioritize the right opportunities, and align marketing and BD around shared growth goals. Attendees will gain practical insight into building a more intentional approach to BD, from identifying and tracking the right pursuits to strengthening client relationships that lead to repeat work. Through real-world examples and lessons learned, this session highlights how marketers and BD professionals can work together to support a firm-wide culture of business development and drive sustainable growth.
Learner outcomes
- Understand the strategic role business development plays in driving growth within AEC firms and how it differs from traditional sales models.
- Identify meaningful metrics such as pursuit selection, hit rates, and pipeline tracking that help evaluate BD performance and guide strategic decision-making.
- Discover practical ways marketing and business development teams can align efforts around messaging, pursuits, and client relationships to support long-term growth.