Speaking
Presentations & Podcasts
Speaking and Professional Development
Looking for engaging AEC speaking and professional development that actually connects with your team? Sarah Kinard, our Head Bird, brings bold energy and real-world expertise to every session, whether she’s speaking at an event, leading a workshop, or training your team. Sarah makes strategy simple, relevant, and actionable for AEC leaders and professionals.
Bring Sarah to your team or event
Looking for professional development that actually connects? Sarah offers relevant, engaging sessions designed for A/E/C leaders and teams. A few favorites:
Growth Strategy Simplified
Take the guesswork out of growth. This session gives your team the tools and structure to evaluate new markets, services, and investments. Get ready to make bold, confident decisions that move the firm forward.
Client Personas & Empathy Mapping
Build smarter strategies with a human-first approach. This session helps your team uncover what clients think, feel, and need—so your marketing and BD efforts truly connect.
Market Research Learning Series
Learn how to turn market questions into growth opportunities. This session breaks down the five highest-ROI research types and shows your team how to ask the right questions, validate strategy, and stay ahead of disruption.
Professional Association Pricing
Sarah values the work of professional associations, such as the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), where she is a frequent speaker and contributor. She offers tailored pricing options to make professional development accessible to member organizations.
Associations benefit from reduced rates on workshops, facilitation, and speaking engagements, ensuring their members receive high-impact learning and strategy support.
Let's talk
Are you excited to book Sarah, or do you still have a few questions? Let’s chat! You can send her an email or schedule a time on her calendar that works for you.
Head over to our Contact page; we’d love to talk it through.
Proof Points
Sarah has been invited to share her expertise with leading professional associations and industry groups, including the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS) and the Zweig Group, among many others. From national conferences to local chapter events, her sessions are known for blending bold ideas with practical takeaways that resonate with AEC leaders and teams.
Explore her podcasts, upcoming engagements, and past highlights below.
Podcasts
AEC Marketeer podcast: Success, simplified with Sarah Kinard
Sarah Kinard, Head Bird of The Flamingo Project, joined the AEC Marketeer podcast to talk about simplifying success in times of disruption. From grassroots growth to strategic clarity, Sarah shares how firms can align their vision, empower their people, and chart a path forward—without overcomplicating the process. Listen in for practical insight wrapped in that signature Flamingo flair!
Professional Services Marketing Podcast: Good Research
Good research begins with a good framework. Listen in, as Sarah chats with Frank Lippert and Kate Robinette of GoStrategies about how to build those plans on good research.
Demystifying Market Research Podcast
Listen in as Sarah chats with Keelin Cox of the AEC Marketeer podcast about what exactly market research is, and why your firm should invest in research! Head here to listen to the entire episode.
The Value of Market Research for AEC Firms
Market Research helps you make strategic decisions for your business! Head here to find out what research you should be doing and how to incorporate your findings into your strategy.
Demystifying Annual AEC Business Planning
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the daunting task of business planning? In this episode we discuss everything from strategic to marketing plans; Providing invaluable insights to help you navigate business planning with confidence!
2025 Events
Webinar (Zoom)
A/E/C Growth Strategy Results
Wednesday, August 13, 2025, 11 a.m.
Sarah presented The Flamingo Project’s annual Growth Strategy Report, highlighting the Top 5 forces shaping A/E/C firms in 2025 and how leaders are adapting delivery, staffing, and planning. She shared real-time examples of new services firms are rolling out and emphasized how these insights can fuel 2026 planning.
SMPS Amplify 2025
A/E/C Emerging Trends in Marketing & Business Development Roundtable
Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
At SMPS Amplify A/E/C in Columbus, Sarah contributed to the Emerging Trends Roundtable and Concurrent Session, bringing her strategic voice to conversations shaping the future of the A/E/C industry. She also connected with peers at the SMPS Foundation Booth, sharing vision, strategy, and courageous curiosity.
SMPS North Texas
AI Exchange: From Practice to Implementation
Wednesday, March 27, 2025, 3:30-6:30 p.m.
Robins & Morton, Plano, TX
SMPS PRC
Session: “Market Research Simplified”
Jan. 31, 2025 Time 10:15AM PT
2024 Events
SMPS Wichita
Nov. 13, 2024
Session: “Market Research Simplified”
SMPS Seattle
Nov. 6 & 13, 2024
Sessions: Nov. 6, 2024 (virtual) – “Building Client Personas,” Nov. 13, 2024 (in-person) – “Empathy Mapping” Time: 3-6:00PM PT
LinkedIn Webinar
Sept. 26, 2024 12:00 PM CT
Session: “Are You Ready for Business Planning?”
SMPS Utah Education Event
Sept. 25, 2024 8:15am – 10:00am MT
Session: “Market Research Simplified”
Zweig Elevate AEC Conference
Sept. 18, 2024
Conference Session: “Intelligent Market Research to Drive Strategic Growth,” co-presenting with Ying Liu Sept. 18, 2024 1:00pm CT
LinkedIn Webinar
Sept. 12, 2024
Session: “A/E/C Company Growth Report Webinar,” Sept. 12, 2024 10:00am CT
Amplify AEC
July 24, 2024
Conference Session: “Growing Your Firm With Effective Business Planning,” July 24, 2024 3:30pm – 4:30pm MDT
SDA Dallas Chapter
April 25, 2024
Session: “How to use Neuroscience, Client Personas and Empathy Mapping to Stand Out,” April 25, 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm CST
SMPS Seattle
April 18, 2024
Community Workshop: “Market Research to Win Work Now.” April 18, 2024 12:00pm – 1:00pm PDT
MVRC Omaha
April 4, 2024
Breakout Session: “Growing Your Firm With Effective Business Plans – Business Development Track ,” April 4, 2024 3:20pm – 4:20pm CDT
Want More Flamingo?
If you need an innovative presenter for your event or chapter please contact Sarah!
Click to download Sarah’s bio and headshot or connect about an upcoming opportunity.
Past Events
2023
SMPS Atlanta – “Diving Into Market Research: Best Practices for Business Growth”
SMPS Southern Regional Conference – “Find your Research Vibe” and “Marketing and BD Jam Best with Unified Market Research”
SMPS NERC – “Market Research Simplified”
SMPS Ontario – “Market Research Simplified”
M&A Next Symposium – “Implications of AI in M&A Strategy”
Amplify A/E/C Digital – “Fall Planning”
SMPS North Texas – “How Market Research Can Influence Your Strategy”
2022 and older
SMPS Tampa Bay – “Market Research Simplified”
Project Mark Webinar – “Make Strategic Planning Your Superpower”
M&A Next Symposium – “Using Market Research to Drive M&A Strategy”
SMPS Colorado – “How to Use Neuroscience, Client Personas, and Empathy Mapping to Stand Out”
SMPS Missouri Valley Regional Conference – “How Market Research Can Influence Your Strategy”
SMPS Missouri Valley Regional Conference – “How to Use Neuroscience, Client Personas, and Empathy Mapping to Stand Out”
SMPS Southeastern Regional Conference – “How to Use Neuroscience, Client Personas, and Empathy Mapping to Stand Out”
SMPS Southern Regional Conference – “How Market Research Can Influence Your Strategy”
SMPS Southwest Regional Conference – “Branding – Beyond the Logo”
BUILT National Conference – “Leveraging Brand Experience to Create Customer Loyalty”
Elevate Marketing Advisors: Caffeine Quarantine Learning Series – “How to Use Neuroscience, Client Personas, and Empathy Mapping to Stand Out”
SMPS Build Business – “How Market Research Can Influence Your Strategy”