This inaugural Business of Light roundtable launched a more interactive format, shifting from traditional lecture-style webinars to a conversational, audience-engaged discussion focused on the realities of design and project management in lighting firms. The session emphasized that project management is far broader than schedules—it requires communication, coordination, profitability oversight, expectation setting, and the ability to mentor and support designers.

A key theme was the industry-wide challenge of selecting software tools. Panelists agreed that no single project management platform fully supports lighting workflows, prompting most firms to combine systems such as Deltek, Core, Excel, Monograph, Trello, Basecamp, or Microsoft tools. Attendees echoed this in the chat, sharing alternative tools like ClickUp, Teamwork, Clockify, Motion, and Toggl. The consensus: tools only work when they align with how people actually manage design work.

Communication emerged as a defining competency. Panelists discussed structured meeting methods including PAOLO (purpose, agenda, logistics, outcomes), gratitude or emotional check-ins, and the importance of sending agendas in advance. AI assistants—Fireflies, Zoom AI, Fathom, Motion—were highlighted as useful for capturing notes and action items, though not replacements for leadership.

A recurring insight was the complexity of the project manager role: balancing scope, hours, profitability, client coordination, and team well-being. Panelists noted that PM skills are rarely taught formally, and most designers learn through mentorship, curiosity, and exposure to different PM styles. The group emphasized pairing team members with complementary skills, advocating for external PM training such as Zweig Group bootcamps, and encouraging firms to shift from personality-driven to process-driven operations.

Overall, the roundtable reinforced that effective project management depends on clarity, communication, structured processes, and deliberate skill-building—not just intuition. The session set the tone for future discussions and deeper dives into design and client management.