Kiln founder Arian Lewis discusses workplace innovation, company culture and scaling a business for optimal success during the Reed and Christine Halladay Executive Lecture Series.
Arian began by challenging the way people typically think about office space. Most offices, he noted, are not designed to energize or inspire. Kiln was created with a different vision: one centered on the power of proximity and the belief that thoughtfully designed spaces can improve collaboration, productivity and overall quality of life at work.
At the heart of Kiln’s approach is culture. Arian emphasized that a company is its culture, and culture begins with individuals. He encouraged students to understand what makes them unique, consistently build trust with others and recognize that steady hard work can often compensate for other limitations.
Kiln focuses on removing small but meaningful points of friction that accumulate throughout the workday. Minor distractions and inconveniences, he explained, quietly drain time and energy. Kiln’s flexible model reduces those barriers by offering adaptable workspaces without long-term leases, lowering costs while attracting talent and helping teams solve problems more efficiently. This approach has supported rapid growth, with new locations opening regularly.
Arian shared that Kiln designs its spaces with intention, maximizing how each square foot supports choice, productivity and well-being. Health, wellness, hospitality and convenience are treated as essential rather than optional. Today, Kiln partners with more than 3,000 businesses. Arian noted that the companies he finds most compelling are often those that begin by solving ordinary problems through deep industry understanding.
Culture remained a central theme throughout his remarks. With a team of approximately 150 employees, Arian described authentic culture as being rooted in humanity. Kiln strives to lead with care, celebrate progress, learn openly from failure and evolve with purpose. If something is worth doing, he said, it is worth doing exceptionally — with creativity, grit and ingenuity.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Arian shared how being raised by a single mother shaped his resilience. What once felt like hardship, he now sees as a source of strength that taught him resourcefulness and persistence. He also emphasized that one of the most important decisions of his life was choosing the right partner. His wife’s support has been instrumental in his personal and professional growth.
Before founding Kiln, Arian explored real estate, launched multiple ventures and experienced both success and failure firsthand. He returned to school in his 30s to earn an MBA at Oxford, which was an opportunity he never imagined earlier in life. Along the way, he studied co-working models, learned from Harvard business professor and economist Clayton Christensen, built innovation spaces and collaborated with a designer to bring Kiln to life. Throughout each phase, curiosity and a commitment to learning guided his decisions.
Arian closed by reminding students that periods of insecurity often accompany growth. As he stated:
"Progress comes through patience, consistency and belief in one’s potential."
Arian then shared that the name Kiln reflects a similar process of refinement: where pressure and time strengthen what is being formed.
The Woodbury School of Business extends sincere thanks to Arian Lewis for sharing his journey and perspective with UVU students. His message reinforced that strong companies are built through intentional culture, trust, curiosity and the willingness to approach everyday problems with thoughtful creativity.
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Watch Arian Lewis' full lecture below.
