A retired architect I once sat next to on a plane talked about his experiences creating environmentally friendly structures before sustainability became a popular theme. His viewpoint on the power of architecture to inspire change and mould communities was what captivated the conversation. In order to lessen the environmental impact of a project in a distant place, he used creative ideas and locally available materials, which had a cascading effect on the area. It was an insightful conversation that motivated me to consider the effects of innovative design on both the environment and society. It made me think about how much we can learn from random meetings.