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Q1.   Who or what was your biggest inspiration to pursue a career in Architecture?  
 
I wasn’t someone who knew what they wanted to be.  I aspired to be a doctor or veterinarian until I realized I passed out at the sight of blood.  My guidance counselor suggested becoming a pharmacist but, I was terrible at chemistry.  My father was the person who suggested architecture in high school.  I loved art and math, and he thought it would be a great fit for me.  I took a few high school drafting classes, but the real game changer for me was my first tour of the School of Architecture at NJIT.  Touring the building, seeing the models and drawings, I knew it was exactly what I wanted to do.  I started on my career path there and never looked back. 

Q2.   What has surprised you the most about the architecture profession? 
 
I have always been surprised about how diverse our field of work is.  You can work on a huge variety of building types such as skyscrapers, warehouses, medical facilities, retail, multi-family homes, single family homes, historic preservation, interiors, etc.  Outside of work, there are so many things architecture related you can contribute your time and knowledge to as an architect as well.  It’s an extremely large field and it took me awhile to grasp that.   

Q3.   What was the best advice you have ever been given? 
 
You don’t have to work 80+ hours every single week year-round to be a successful architect and run a successful business.  There will be some weeks you work more, often less, but with strict scheduling, planning, and only taking on projects which fit your “desired” schedule, you can run your own business, have a family, and enjoy life.  

Q4.   What would you say was the best career move or decision you have made?  
 
The best career move I made was working for 4 different architecture firms which excelled in their niche.  All the firms were small sized, and I worked closely with the principal architect.  This allowed me, from a young age, to not only learn how to become an architect, but also how to run a successful business.     

Q5.   Where do you find design inspiration? 
 
I love watching HGTV or Magnolia Network and reading magazines like HGTV, Better Homes and Gardens, Real Simple, and Architectural Digest for current design inspiration.  I follow a lot of NJ Interior designers on Instagram and love seeing their current projects in my feed.  It helps me to see what’s new and envision how I can incorporate it into my designs.  Houzz is also an excellent resource for an unlimited number of pictures from many different areas. 
 
Q6.   What part of the design process (from pre-design through construction that you enjoy the most?

As a residential architect, one of my favorite parts of the process is the client interaction from our initial consultation.  I love feeling homeowners’ excitement when they’re telling me about all their ideas to see if we are a good fit.  In our first design meeting, I’m always excited and nervous to see how closely I’m able to incorporate and transform those initial ideas into real floor plans.  My goal is to always strive to design thoughtful, timeless spaces which maximize space and budget. 

Q7.   Can you share with us some challenges you faced, that left you with wisdom that could be shared with others? 

My biggest challenge to date was learning that I should not take on every potential client that calls or submits an inquiry, especially if it is a poor fit.  Some potential clients I have met with over the years have not been a good fit either due to personal timing, project size, budget, or even personality.  These projects have had poor results for both parties, sometimes bad design, or bad feelings in the end.  Now I realize when I turn down a job that doesn’t feel right, often another job comes along that’s the perfect fit for what I need right now.           

Q8.   What is your favorite type of project to work on? 

I love working on any and all residential projects but some of my favorite ones are working within the existing building envelope to make the floor plan better for the owners​.  ​ This can mean opening up walls, combining rooms, bringing in a ton of light, or even renovating bathrooms and kitchens for better, more open flow.    

Q9.   Could you share with us examples of specific projects you have worked on that you are proud of, or that have impacted you? 

The first project I took on as a full-time solo architect was a new, second home in place of one destroyed by Hurricane Sandy, on the bay, in Manahawkin, NJ.  I worked closely with the owners in designing a home they could retreat to on weekends which would also maximize space and square footage.  It was important that the design could grow with their family, as the kids got older, and still wanted to utilize the home with family and friends.  It was my first experience designing with piles and working directly on the water.  It took a ton of research, asking questions to other architects and professionals, and I learned so much through the process.  The size and scope of this project was crucial in giving me confidence that I could succeed as an architect.  

Q10.   How do you find balance between your professional life and your personal life?  

The balance is never 50/50.  Sometimes it’s 70/30.  I set boundaries between when I’ll work, take work calls and emails and when it’s time to be focused on “home” even though I work from my home office.  My husband and I share a Google calendar for work and personal use which is priceless for scheduling tasks easily and making sure we’re not overscheduled at the same time.     

Q11.   What have been your biggest challenges as a woman/diverse member of the professional community? 

One of the biggest challenges in my career, as a woman and prior to founding my own firm, was pay inequality.  I was a hard worker in a small firm and very efficient with my billable hours.  When it came time for a raise, I had to sell myself and my strengths.  At the time, I was a married woman with a house, no kids, and husband, successful in his own career in NYC.  I was very disappointed to learn that other male coworkers, with less experience and efficiency, were making significantly more money and didn’t have to fight nearly as hard for it.    

Q12.   Do you think it is possible for woman/diverse members of the professional community to “have it all” regarding professional and personal life? 

Yes and no.  I have spoken with many women who have taken time off to have kids and struggled to return to the industry later in life.  I started my own residential firm, full-time in 2018.  In 2021, I had my most profitable year to date, with my biggest workload, and welcomed my daughter, who is now almost 3.  My work-life balance looks a lot different now as I am continuing to operate my business on a part-time schedule in addition to being a part-time stay at home mom.  Somedays I feel like I “have it all” when I’m juggling everything perfectly, and other days, pieces are falling left and right.  I think you can have “pieces” of it all on most days but having it all, in all parts of your life, all the time would be overwhelming. 

Q13.   How would you advise young woman/diverse Architecture graduates to inspire them to continue pursuing their license? 

Licensure will look differently to everyone.  The path is not straight nor easy.  I graduated from NJIT in 2005 with my bachelor’s degree in architecture and 2006 with my Master in Infrastructure Planning.  I immediately went to work and started accruing my IDP hours.  My first two jobs for small firms after college didn’t afford me any extra time to study or prepare for my exams.  During this time, I also got married, moved into a new house right before the housing market crash of 2008, and got laid off.  Exams are costly and the small offices I preferred working for didn’t pay for them.  I passed my first exam in 2011 but failed my second.  I felt unsupported and disheartened.  Finally, I moved onto a third firm which was slightly larger, but still small, who wanted me to succeed at licensure.  I retook my second exam in Oct 2013 and passed my final exam in November 2014.  I continued to work for the third firm until I opened my own small residential firm in 2018.   

Architecture is a hard path but very fulfilling.  I have had countless conversations with work colleagues and architecture friends to stay the course, even through the failures, and when it gets hard.