EXECUTIVE, LEADERSHIP & Career development COACHING FOR BUILT ENVIRONMENT professionals
ELEVATE how you
think, act & lead
Whether you're Starting out, Stepping up, or Questioning everything at the top, I coach you through your toughest career moments with 25+ years lived Built Environment experience, tailored directly to where you want to go next
As seen in
Coach on the Ground Series Building Magazine
Mimi Dietrich - Foundry of Thought Founder
Helping built environment talent navigate uncertainty, manage generational challenge and lead with confidence - grounded in behavioural science.
Uncertain Built Environment Is a Tough Place
Talent from every generation is struggling, disengaging and leaving before they reach their peak. Not from lack of technical skill, but from gaps in confidence, soft skills and leadership behaviours that are needed in our uncertain high pressure industry.
How We Fix This Together
Gaps like these aren’t solved with more theory - they're solved by reshaping how we think, act and lead, under pressure. At Foundry of Thought, I work the same way the built environment does; reshaping raw materials into structure that lasts.- through neuroscience, positive psychology & behavioural science. Together, we build confidence and consistent behaviours to thrive.
The result: confident decisions, stronger leadership, careers that last.
Forge your thinking ~ Thrive under pressure ~ Lead with impact
Who I Work With
Architects. Property. Engineers. Developers. Contractors. Surveyors. Project Managers. Consultants and more. Built environment professionals at every stage - from first job to boardroom.
When every generation thrives, the whole built environment gets stronger
Early Careers
(GEN Z)
Spark
You're not lost - it's simply that you're at the hardest starting line of your career.
The built environment throws you in fast, and no one hands you a manual for the soft skills that get you noticed. Coaching builds the confidence, clarity and work-ready behaviours to close that gap, helping graduates land roles faster, spark early career confidence and thrive for the long term.
Mid-Careers
(Gen Y/Millennials)
Rise
Stepping into leadership can feel isolating, especially when no one taught you how.
The shift from doing the work to leading people is one of the hardest jumps in any career. Coaching helps you build the influence, presence and authentic leadership style to step up, rise with confidence, make faster strategic decisions, and lead others with greater impact and purpose.
Senior Leaders
(GEN X)
Rewire
Mid-life pressures get more demanding. You didn't come this far to flame out now.
Post-45, the stakes are higher and burnout can quietly replace ambition. Coaching helps you rediscover purpose, rewire your thinking, sharpen high-stakes decision-making, strengthen your influence, and create a future legacy chapter that reflects your wisdom, values and lasting impact.
about me
Hi I’m Mimi
With 25+ years in the built environment; Interior Architecture Graduate to Entrepreneurial Co-founder & Design Director of an award-winning property company to Client-side Senior Development Project Manager on £2.3bn large-scale regeneration projects.
I've lived every stage of this industry on the ground - I speak your language, including the moments where it nearly broke me.
I've coached, provided keynote speaking and facilitation for professionals from organisations including Berkeley Group, Savills, Skanska, Lendlease, Manna Grato, Crest Nicholson, Gardiner & Theobold, Laing O’Rourke, University of Westminster, Reading University
Today my mission is simple:
to share behavioural tools that help every built environment professional level up in a tough industry - to thrive, not just survive.
Coaching ACCREDITATIONS
Affiliations & Ambassador Roles
ACCREDITATIONS/affiliations
Ways We Can Work Together
Every service is built around one thing: helping built environment talent navigate their toughest career moments with clarity, confidence, and real behavioural tools.
New here? Start Small
Get a taste of what it's like to work together.
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Power Hours
Unlock one big challenge with clarity, tools and confidence you can use immediately. A great first step before committing to a full coaching package or programme.
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Masterclasses
Time-poor? Start here. One-hour online workshops packed with practical behavioural tools you can put into action immediately.
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Design Coaching
Want expert eyes of your design project? One-off sessions for real-world design guidance from someone who has delivered it globally, at scale.
Ready to go deeper?
Bespoke coaching and programmes, built around you or your organisation's people.
1:1 Coaching
Executive, Leadership & Career Development
Built around your goals and your schedule. Evidence-backed tools. Real change that sticks. You stay in the driving seat. Always.
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Speaking
High-impact, behavioural science-backed keynote talks bespoke for built environment organisations and universities.
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Combined Programmes
Grow faster alongside people who truly get you in small cohorts. Combined services of 1:1 & group coaching, dedicated learning and real-world implementation.
What my Clients Say
Real words from leaders and professionals. Always shared with their permission
Feeling stuck in your mid-life career legacy?
Watch this short video, how coaching helped Sam turn her mid-life career uncertainty into purpose-driven clarity, confidence and land a brand new role that truly lights her up!
Dr Samantha OrgaN (FRICS)
ESG Director & Associate Professor (Building Surveying)
I navigated leadership challenges, successfully turned around an underperforming project, and stepped into a new role aligned with my purpose. Mimi's coaching guided me to think deeper and make important career decisions confidently
Cathryn Lees (MCRIS)
Managing QS (Building Infrastructure, Skanska)
I wholeheartedly recommend Mimi as a coach. She worked with me to clarify my goals and sharpen focus. Mimi has an incredible ability to challenge your thinking, pushing you to uncover what matters
Allen Motsi
Finance Director (Carlisle Construction Materials)
I felt stuck after university and doubted my skills. Mimi created a safe, supportive space, moving forward with confidence & direction. I highly recommend her to any graduate or early-career entrant feeling lost or overwhelmed
Lily Thompson
BIA Graduate (Interior Architect)
Mimi has a real gift for making soft skills feel genuinely achievable and her Soft Skills Advantage keynote reframed how I think about developing these skills entirely. Whole team left feeling inspired & confident we can grow together
Mable Vongai Mudombo MSc
MEP & Utilities QS (Manna Grato)
Practical tools I could apply immediately, tailored to real situations. Mimi helped me gain confidence in challenging conversations, with lasting impact on my leadership and team development. She is an insightful & highly effective coach
Luke Turner
Senior Health & Safety Manager (Property, Berkeley Group)
Power Hour completely shifted my mindset, perspective and assumptions- to approach with calm confidence rather than fear. Instead of dreading the difficult conversation, I found myself looking forward to it, fully prepped!
Victoria De Kulie
Programme Director, (Real Estate, Savills)
Mimi's Hard Hat & Headset-Women on Site Keynote for Berkeley Group IWD event was incredibly inspiring, providing women working on site with practical tools that could be applied immediately, leaving us feeling confident
Catarina Rua
Project Director (Construction, Berkeley Group)
Mimi helped me gain clarity and confidence in my CEO decision-making as I sifted through priorities and adapted. Her insightful questions and direct feedback challenged me to think critically, transforming how I lead
Victoria Papworth
CEO (Social Impact & Community Capital)
Insightful and highly practical! I recommend The Art of Getting Heard Masterclass to leaders who want to communicate more effectively and achieve better outcomes through thoughtful influence, rather than ego-driven reactions or force
andreas andrea
Founder & Creative Director (ASQ Architects)
Want Tools to Thrive in the Built Environment?
If your built environment career is feeling overwhelming - start here.
This Foundry of Thought Spark sheet gives you instant practical tools to handle the industry's toughest moments. Download and put into immediate action on site, in challenging meetings or mid-crisis. No fluff- just clear simple steps.
Free Spark Sheet
5 Ways to Overcome Tough Moments
5 practical, behavioural-science-backed tools to regain focus, cut through noise and take your next constructive step, in your toughest built environment moments.
Ready to Elevate how you
Think, Act & Lead?
Whether you're just starting out, stepping up, or at a mid-life crossroads in the built environment, I help through the messy middle, hard questions and bold moves that follow. Grab a coffee, bring an open heart and join me for a no pressure, completely free chat.
Book a Free Call With Mimi Below
Ready to bring this into your Organisation to help your people thrive?
Whether you're looking for 1:1 Coaching, Design Coaching, Combined Programmes, Speaking or Masterclasses tailored for your people and organisation, drop me a short note about the service you are interested in and lets start the conversation.
Or looking for collaboration/partnership opportunities with Foundry of Thought- love to hear from you.