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Age is just a number, a friend likes to remind me. The comment is meant to comfort: Don’t fret about the ongoing frequent maintenance checks that come with each spin of the odometer. And it’s true that one’s accumulated years don’t always correlate with achievement or excellence. In matters of strength, memory, and intelligence, age may be an indicator of a person’s capability—but it’s a wildly imprecise one. Which brings me to today’s topic: AEC bios. How often have you read a bio that began like this: Jeanne Johnson has 26 years of experience in the AEC industry? Or Thomas Chen has led the engineering team at XYZ Inc. since 2003? Numerologists might take note, of course, but such facts tell most readers very little. Yes, experience matters. Especially in an industry that seeks to assuage clients’ concerns about risk. But the number of years you’ve spent in AEC is likely not the most interesting thing about you and—unless you’re Methuselah or a child prodigy—doesn’t set you apart from your peers. The opening line of a bio should feel like an in-person handshake. The firmness of your grip conveys something. The greeting that accompanies the gesture sets the stage for what follows. First impressions count, and your bio’s opening line should convey confidence and personality. Here are three ways I like to begin bios: 01 | Lead with your personal history. What personal experience led to your professional interests? Did a decade living in London or Los Angeles trigger your enthusiasm for urban planning? Was your decision to study landscape design linked to a life-long love of wildflowers? This approach to bios isn’t easy (you have to be succinct), but it opens the door to common connections with clients who may share your personal interests. An example from Perkins&Will: Born in a small town in Iowa surrounded by a family of nurses, Heidi learned the compassion and empathy of a genuine healthcare provider firsthand. 02 | Preview your work style. Prospective clients read bios looking for clues about you’re like to work with. Beyond your approach, what’s your vibe? Are you curious? Detail-oriented? Creative? Are you the person in the room who inevitably asks incisive questions? If you’re unsure how to describe yourself, think about positive traits that colleagues and clients regularly mention when they praise or reference you. Some examples: Scott listens carefully to what clients say and how they say it. His follow-up questions convey a curiosity that leads to unique insights and ideas. Visual thinking is Liz’s superpower. Among colleagues and clients, she’s known for her ability to translate complex conversations into crisp drawings with clear outcomes. 03 | Spotlight your specialty. Designers abound, so why should a client choose you? Unless you’re a giant Sequoia, your longevity won’t be the deciding factor. If you’re uncomfortable referencing your personal passion or superpowers, then keep it strictly professional but go deep. Don’t be afraid to brag a bit. How would a marketer characterize your accomplishments—something akin to “nationally known” or “among the Top 10 in the field”? Play up your expertise without overstating things. An example from LHB: Lisa has an unparalleled understanding of historic bridge rehabilitation. A longtime member of LHB’s award-winning bridge design group, she has deep experience in field assessment, federal reporting, and bridge design. Whatever approach you select for your bio’s start, be assertive. A bold beginning in a bio or almost any piece of written content helps set the hook, drawing the reader in. Your opening statement doesn’t have to shock or startle anyone, but it should seem fresh—a differentiator in a world of ho-hum website bios and AI-generated proposal content. Please also note that I didn’t say that your years of experience are irrelevant. Experience does count for something, and if you have more than a decade in a field, there’s nothing wrong with referencing that time somewhere in the flow of your bio. Just don’t start with that factoid and assume everyone will view your experience as a mark of dedication and erudition. Only rookies make that mistake. ∎
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