Follow our IWD 2024 blog series to hear from our leaders around the world about initiatives and programs geared towards investing in women at ArchTam.

Engage in this year’s conversations on LinkedIn and X (Twitter).

We sat down with Kate Dunton, Director, Clients and Marketing, Australia and New Zealand and James Rosenwax, Regional Managing Director, New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, who are also co-chairs of our ED&I Committee in Australia and New Zealand, to talk about International Women’s Day 2024 and the programs we have in place to support women’s progress in our Australia and New Zealand region.

Tell us why aligning with the United Nations’ (UN’s) International Women’s Day (IWD) is important.

Kate: I’m really passionate about this one. By aligning with the UN’s International Women’s Day theme, I think we position ourselves more meaningfully to a global movement. Our purpose is to deliver a better world, and UN IWD is an opportunity to align with the community in accelerating progress towards gender equality on a global scale. It can’t just be words and morning teas – we need to use our organisational context to promote genuine gender equality. I’m really proud of all we do supporting women within our organisation, but also in driving more women into STEM and in building gender equality for minorities and First Nations communities. I love that the UN’s International Women’s Day recognition serves as a catalyst for a more extensive, collective effort, and how it brings attention to the specific challenges faced by women and girls globally.

James: Aligning with the UN’s International Women’s Day recognition is important for us, particularly given the theme for 2024: “Invest in Women. Accelerate Progress,” which shines a spotlight on women’s economic empowerment. We know that when we have diverse, inclusive workplaces, our business thrives, so investing in women and accelerating their progress at ArchTam is not only the right thing to do but makes strong business sense. IWD is more thana local celebration — it’s a global celebration fostering collaboration across borders, emphasizing that no country has fully achieved gender equality. By participating in IWD events, we actively contribute to advancing gender equality, whether by showing up, sponsoring and donating to initiatives, or spreading awareness. IWD isn’t just about recognizing achievements and challenges — it’s a collective effort to work towards a future where gender equality is a reality for all.

Tell us about the ANZ region’s Advocate sponsorship program for women.

James: Advocate is a sponsorship program that I have been a part of since its inception five years ago. The program is in partnership with an external company called Cultivate, and it pairs our ANZ executive team with high-potential women employees. Together, we participate in a year-long curated mentor program that focuses on honing leadership skills, expanding professional networks, pinpointing areas for professional growth, and sharing life stories and experiences. Spending time with my sponsee is my priority, and I find real job satisfaction in our relationship. I learn a lot from my sponsee, and it ends up being a two-way relationship. By spending 12 months on the program, we can develop personalized connections and focus on investing in the development of our talented individuals. We create a supportive environment conducive to career advancement and overall success. We have received great feedback from the women that have participated in the program.

Elizabeth Kittoli, Technical Director, Structures “When I found out I was nominated, I was excited. I was initially slightly uncomfortable just because, to some, this might seem like preferential treatment for women. But women, they don’t necessarily get the same type of sponsorship, especially into leadership roles, as men do. You get to make connections, network, and just overall access to the senior leadership team.”

Kate: In my three-year journey as a sponsor in ArchTam’s Advocate program, I am continually surprised by what I personally get from it. I have established several long-standing and mutually beneficial relationships – dare I say, friendships! Working in a predominantly male industry, this program has forced me to recognize the need to address organic male sponsorship bias, and I’ve reassessed my sponsorship approach – I think I’ve become a lot more intentional and conscious of the environment that women work in and the opportunities they are afforded. We need to tackle many other levels of diversity, but creating a strong and successful women leadership pipeline and providing excellent opportunities to our highest-performing women is incredibly rewarding.

Amanda Kerr, Area Manager – Hunter “I had previously lacked the confidence to engage and form effective relationships with senior management across the business.  Spending time with Kate and being exposed to the broader leadership team, participating in their meetings, helped me realize that I do have the relevant experience to contribute. I also carve out more time for clients and strategy.”

What other steps is ArchTam taking to embrace gender equity, or what has impressed you most to date?

James: We are committed to advancing gender equity within our organization and have developed a comprehensive gender equity strategy.

In tandem with our efforts, we are actively working to challenge and disrupt prevailing gender stereotypes and norms. Our overarching goal is to cultivate a corporate culture that is not only equitable but also flexible for individuals of all genders.

In pursuit of our commitment, we have implemented participation targets, both globally and internally within ANZ. These targets, publicly reported to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency for transparency, align with our vision of achieving a gender-balanced workforce, where 40 percent of positions are held by women, 40 percent by men, and 20 percent by individuals identifying outside the binary. This intentional approach ensures measurable progress toward our aspiration of fostering an inclusive and diverse corporate environment.

Kate: I genuinely think ArchTam is committed to creating an environment where women thrive, and I love that we are investing significantly in programs that empower women. I wouldn’t have stuck around so long otherwise! Our gender equity strategy includes initiatives such as the Advocate sponsorship program and our mCircles network, which brings together women from across career levels to swap advice, attend development workshops, and explore job opportunities within ArchTam. I’ve been a member of mCircles for many years, and I have established great relationships, received good support, and learned a lot. We’re teaming up with organizations like Work180 and Where Women Work to not only encourage more women to join us but also build a powerful network of women talent. I am also proud to have participated in the development of an explicit framework of inclusive hiring and remuneration review practices.

And, of course, our Freedom to Grow framework gives us all the flexibility to work in a way that suits our lives and career development. This has allowed my life and family to (mostly!) balance well over many years.

Learn more about our Advocate sponsorship program, mCircles network and Freedom to Grow framework from our women who have benefited from them:

The post Accelerating women leadership development through mentorship appeared first on Blog.

We asked some of our male team members what it means to them to be an ally and how they #ChoosetoChallenge themselves and others to take action towards eliminating gender inequality.

Andrew Liu, SVP, Director of Growth, Transportation, U.S West

As an ArchTam leader, I #ChoosetoChallenge any form of bias and discrimination. I am an ally for women in the workplace because, simply put, representation matters!  As half of the population of the US and the world, women have been underrepresented for far too long in the workforce, particularly at the leadership level. Having different perspectives is good for business and crucial for building a better world. As a transportation professional, equity is at the forefront of the systems we plan and design, and we must act as allies for women in the workplace the same way we act as allies for the communities we serve. And as a father, I #ChoosetoChallenge society to go one step beyond.  When Vice President Harris was elected, everybody talked about the little girls in the world who can now imagine themselves as a leader of the country one day.  I don’t have any daughters, but being the father of two boys, I find it just as important to teach the future generation of men to challenge the gender stereotypes I experienced growing up.

Joe Salim, Senior Vice President, Canada East, Canada

The first challenge in building a workplace that is equitable for all employees is to acknowledge that gender inequality does exist. Acknowledging the problem is the first step to resolving it, and it’s incredibly effective to have men being vocal and visible advocates for the elimination of discrimination and gender bias. Advocating change in the workplace is not only being an ally; it involves proactively learning, understanding, mentoring, supporting, challenging, encouraging and promoting qualified women for a more successful business.  Actions of male leaders in the workplace go far in making change happen as they will often be more accepted by others who may be opposed or on the sidelines. I #ChoosetoChallenge others to take action by encouraging women to be front and center in meetings, publicly asking for their opinion, openly giving them due credit, never being overprotective, and never presuming lack of interest in engaging in difficult conversations or taking on difficult assignments.  Educating the workplace and leading by example are essential to ensuring gender equality in the workplace.

Kevin Phillips, Manager, Municipal Transportation, Canada

In considering what #ChoosetoChallenge means to me, I reflect on the role I play in fostering a more equitable environment that enhances advocacy for women and creates a diverse and inclusive workplace where people can do their jobs without being excluded or disempowered because of gender bias. When I began my engineering career, there was a noticeable gender gap in my university classes. In fact, while writing this blog I checked my alumni yearbook and counted – only 11% of my graduating class was female. And that was exhibited in the workforce too. Fast forward to today: more women choose STEM-related careers, but greater awareness and action are still needed to promote gender diversity. True allyship is rooted in action, and it takes valuing the work, effort and contributions of the women throughout the organization. This means encouraging the young women in our lives to pursue engineering, hiring more women on our teams, identifying role models, actively listening and removing barriers that impede women, and becoming allies to build a greater sense of inclusion. We must ensure women have the best chance of advancement in order for our organization to thrive.

Anant Prakash, Group Director, Energy, Australia New Zealand

As a member of an ethnic minority in New Zealand, I recognize how challenging it can be to get a foot hold in this profession. I’ve been working at ArchTam for 22 years but when I first applied to join the undergraduate program, I was rejected. It wasn’t until I had a couple of years professional experience that I was successful in securing a role. Due to the lack of women studying mechanical and electrical engineering at university, the discipline is one of the most challenged in terms of gender diversity. As the leader of the New Zealand power team, I refuse to accept all male short lists for roles. We need a diverse range of skills to deliver major infrastructure projects, including project managers, computer aided designers and commercial managers. I #ChoosetoChallenge our talent acquisition team and hiring managers to interview a diverse pool of candidates for every role. I would also like to encourage any women looking for an interesting career to consider applying to engineering firms, even if they are not engineers.

Daven Oswalt, Senior Vice President, Regional Business Line Leader, Water, U.S. East & LATAM

At its core, ‘challenge’ represents movement away from the status quo. Today, we must challenge our society’s old ways of doing things. That includes our tendency to avoid the challenge of calling out gender bias and inequality. Instead, we must work to create a collaborative and inclusive workplace, community and world.

I have seen firsthand the contributions women make to the workplace. Most of my supervisors and mentors have been women. In my first job in the United States Senate, I reported to a woman whose leadership and work ethic continue to drive me today. And I have had similar experiences during my career in the technology sector, government and engineering – so I understand the importance of inclusive and collaborative workplaces.

We must continue to be positive, share messages of hope and success while offering encouragement and support. We must talk to each other to overcome bad attitudes and closed minds. Understanding comes from communication – a simple thing to do, but difficult to do effectively. At ArchTam we continue to knock down doors of gender and racial inequality. We continue to work to change the status quo.

Dr. GVR Raju, Senior Vice President, India

Allyship by male colleagues helps women to overcome the workplace biases by encouraging them to believe in themselves and to break the glass ceiling to do tasks that otherwise were being done by their male colleagues.

In my 25 years career with ArchTam, I’ve noticed that many women had to face challenges, particularly after they started having their family, working to strike a balance between their work and demands of the family. As an ally, we need to have conversations that may be uncomfortable, be it about sexual harassment in the workplace or mental and physical health issues.

Gender bias in workplaces, especially in a patriarchal society like those in Asia, didn’t happen overnight; it was entrenched in history and needs to be addressed as a priority. It requires conscious effort to diminish it with a view to eradicate it. As male colleagues and as leaders, we need to walk the talk in promoting allyship and making our workplace more inclusive and ensuring equal opportunity for all. This will ensure diversity of thought and actions that help to address the needs of our clients and communities we serve in a more balanced way.

The post #ChoosetoChallenge: The power of allyship appeared first on Blog.

We had previously shared advice from some of our women senior leaders to younger women at the start of their careers on achieving success in a male-dominated industry. In response, we have welcomed some of our more junior employees to share the lessons they’ve learned from their mentors as they work towards the inevitable – becoming our future industry leaders.

Latisha Darling Mattis, Construction Project Management Apprentice, Europe (UK)

I’d like to help raise awareness among girls of apprenticeships opportunities and show them that there’s are a viable route into construction. When I was new to the company, one director told me that you drive your own career. That advice gave me the push I needed to speak up about switching sectors. I networked and made the right connections and now I am working within healthcare, which is the sector I am most passionate about. Being at the early stages of your career doesn’t mean you can’t navigate the direction you want it to take.

Kimberly Feldbauer, Transportation Planner, U.S. West

I joined ArchTam fresh out of graduate school with the goal to gain a variety of experience and exposure to the vast world of transportation planning. Early on, I was fortunate that I was able to take on more responsibility and leadership tasks that lead to exciting, but challenging opportunities. When I felt less confident in my abiltiy to solve every problem, I was supported by an amazing team and strong leadership from my colleagues that we could navigate the unknowns – or at least unknowns to me – together. This perspective that I’m part of a team continually leads me to #ChoosetoChallenge myself and others to take on the projects and opportunities that may seem a little scarier, but end up being far more rewarding.

I have also been very fortunate over the past decade to have had incredible leaders in this industry as mentors; in particular, women with all kinds of backgrounds. The most valuable advice that I’ve been given and, more importantly, shown over the years is to lift as you climb. None of us alone can know how to contribute to our communities in the best way possible. Having a multitude of diverse perspectives and personal experiences is critical for our industry and communities, and that is only possible when there is representation at the table. My biggest hope and goal as a leader is to change how that table is made and who gets to be there.

Tian Kang, Track and Civil EIT, Canada

The best piece of advice I’ve received in my career was from a female mentor about the importance of time management. I was working for the government as an engineering assistant. This was my first full-time job and I learned a lot from it with her guidance.

In my first few weeks, I was involved in several projects, each of them at a different stage. I was confused and had no idea how to perform my tasks effectively. My mentor explained the importance of time management, prioritizing tasks by their deadlines and maintaining careful notes to help keep everything on track and organized. She also suggested developing multitasking skills to perform tasks more efficiently.

I like to share this advice with others who are starting out in their career because it was helpful in my first job and in my future work. I truly appreciated that my mentor took the time to share her insights and experience to support my career development.

Arshia Chaudhri, Urban Designer III, India

I believe that a journey without challenges and obstacles is no fun. As a professional, failure is not what concerns or deters me; it’s not trying hard enough. I wouldn’t have made it this far without the empowering leadership that I have been fortunate to work with. They have always advocated to consider failures to be the best milestones in a career path and to keep forging ahead by embracing challenges and to not get impacted by them. I have immense gratitude for the leaders who have consistently pushed me beyond my capacity. Allaying doubts and fears along the way, I have come to a place where I can confidently own my capabilities and skills and feel good about it.

Climbing the corporate ladder has never been a definition of success or a goal for me. It’s the small wins each day that fuels me to keep forging ahead one step at a time, building me incrementally into a stronger professional.

Janine Warner,  Structural Engineer I, Transportation-Bridges, NYC Metro

Each of us experiences an intersectionality of our identities, which can make it difficult to pinpoint why someone may act or speak to us in a certain way.  For example, although I am a woman, I am also young and inexperienced. If someone belittles me, it could be because of ageism, gender bias, or any other variety of stereotypes.  The reality is that you know in your gut when you are being treated differently, but how are you supposed to advocate for yourself without damaging your own reputation before you’ve even really established one?

No one wants to rock the boat when you’re new, so it can be daunting to #ChooseToChallenge the status quo as a young professional. I’d encourage recent graduates and young professionals to acknowledge that biases and stereotypes do exist – they’re problematic, and they can be harmful. The best piece of advice a fellow alumnus once told me was to create allies among your peers and coworkers because it is a lot easier to take a chance and make a change with people who support you and all that you bring to the table.

Rena Tang, Environment Consultant, Singapore

ArchTam is my first job after graduation from university. I joined in January 2018 and have been working as an environmental consultant for the geosciences remediation services and engineering team in ArchTam’s environment department in Singapore.

As a young female engineer in the field, I have received queries from contractors and clients as to why I did not choose an office job. I once received a remark from a contractor that this is not a woman’s job. I strongly believe that women are highly capable of doing such work and these gender stereotypes are not true, which is why I #ChooseToChallenge.

An inspiring quote I heard from one of my teachers from school is that, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” This quote deeply resonates with me and I apply this to my everyday life, including my work. It is important to do proper planning before heading out to the field or any other task to deliver quality work to our clients, no matter what gender you are. The work we do is the same and I strongly believe that there should not be a divide between male and female engineers.

Valetta Saldanha, Project Engineer, U.S. West

When I joined ArchTam as a new graduate, I had diverse work assignments that were a mix of desk assignments, visiting water and wastewater plants to collect existing data, and visiting construction projects to monitor progress or troubleshoot. At the time, I did not realize that I would be the only woman engineer at several of these site visits or meetings. I used to climb ground storage tanks to inspect the tank roofs or drive to remote sites to inspect a lift station; to the surprise of some of the plant operators. I was asked if I would be comfortable undertaking some of these assignments. I was eager to learn and work, and I performed the work assignments with a lot of zeal. I am glad and proud that I did not hold myself back.

When I look back, I appreciate these early experiences that challenged me to work outside of my comfort zone. That was then and this is now – I will continue to #ChoosetoChallenge.

Sarah Woodward, Senior Civil Engineer, Australia New Zealand

If there is one key piece of advice that I could give to anyone starting their career it’s to be enthusiastic.

When I started my career, I was really passionate about design management. I made sure to verbalize this, particularly to the design managers. Within a few months, ArchTam won a project and the design manager was looking for a deputy to assist him. There were more qualified team members, but the design manager remembered our discussion and offered me the role. The role started off with administrative tasks, such as taking minutes, which I grasped with both hands. Those administrative tasks enabled me to attend meetings with key clients, understand different disciplines and get exposure throughout the business. The design manager loved my enthusiasm and it wasn’t long before I was leading client meetings, coordinating the design team and eventually transitioning into the role of design manager.

I #ChoosetoChallenge you all to show enthusiasm in every task that you undertake. It’s so easy to do and will truly accelerate your career!

Lauren McKenna, Transportation Planner, Canada

Since joining ArchTam a year and a half ago as a Transportation Planner, I have been able to work on a variety of exciting projects and learn new concepts, ideas, and processes from others. Reflecting on how I #ChoosetoChallenge in the beginning of my career, I believe it is important to feel like you can share your ideas without judgement. At ArchTam, I feel like my thoughts and questions are always heard and fairly considered. Whether it be in an informal call with a colleague or at a project meeting, it is reassuring to know that even in the beginning of my career I am supported by those around me. I am grateful for the continual opportunities to learn, contribute, and truly feel like an equal member of the team.

The post Women leading women: Future leaders share advice appeared first on Blog.

As a female engineer in a predominately white, male-dominated industry, I’ve had an incredible whirlwind career – from starting as a structural engineer, to managing a marketing department, to leading a transportation department and then a business line, to now being the global lead of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I). But it wasn’t always easy. I could list dozens of examples of bias I’ve experienced – some implicit and some downright explicit – that have frustrated and discouraged me, like being asked if I was the wife of one of my co-workers at an industry event, sharing ideas that I helped generate but were ultimately credited to one of my male colleagues, or being told I probably got that promotion to a leadership role because more women were needed.

This was nothing new to me at that time. I was one of only three women in my graduating class, so I was used to seeing things through my own unique lens and doing things a little differently. What I didn’t understand was that people make assumptions, or even hurtful comments, without necessarily realizing that their unconscious biases are the reason for their actions and words. But, can unconscious bias be overcome so we learn to understand and value our differences and think before we act? Do I have my own unconscious biases that may affect others? The answer to both questions is yes!

Decades of research show our unconscious biases are formed early in our lives and occur automatically as the brain makes quick judgements based on past experiences and background. We are wired according to what we see, hear and experience as children when we develop a strong sense of what is “normal” and “not normal.” Our brains unconsciously process millions of data and decision points each day but can only consciously process about 40 things at a time. So, to effortlessly sort through all the stimuli around us, our brains seek patterns and create mental shortcuts that make decision-making easier. While these shortcuts can serve us well in certain situations – like our instinct to flee if we are in danger – many of these shortcuts create unintended consequences.

Just before I took on my ED&I role last year, I attended a seminar where I was asked to take an Implicit Association Test (IAT), part of Harvard University’s ongoing Project Implicit. I chose to take the gender-career test and was shocked at the results. I have a strong unconscious bias that associates females with family and males with careers. How could this be? Looking back, there might be a few clues – TV shows and movies that reinforced gender stereotypes, teachers who all looked like me and doctors who didn’t, and dolls and toys that matched my demographic. It’s not surprising that in the deepest recesses of my brain, I unconsciously make those associations, even now.

But the beauty of being human is that we can overcome our unconscious biases if we want to. Taking time to challenge the way we typically make decisions, how we choose the people we associate with, and how we perceive and empathize with others who aren’t like us is important to assessing how we show up. Understanding our own biases and non-inclusive behaviors is the first step in creating an environment in which we can find common ground, make others feel safe to express their points of view, and ultimately achieve more diversity of thought, innovation and outcomes.

The post Tackling unconscious bias in my journey from an engineer to a global ED&I leader appeared first on Blog.

In a two-part blog series, we are sharing the perspectives of women across our industry, gaining insight from architects, interior designers, urban designers, planners and strategists – women in design at ArchTam. How can we work to forge gender quality in the design profession? Where do they find inspiration? How are we contributing to diversity and inclusion through our work? Read the second part below.

Dana Marinzel, Architect, Buildings + Places DC Metro Studio

Why I chose the design profession: I was raised by an artist/high school art teacher and a middle school principal/former math teacher, so going into a field that blends the creative and the rational came pretty naturally to me. I’ve always loved the arts and generally enjoyed and did well in school, especially my math classes. I also like to learn new things, and I really love to figure out puzzles and put the pieces together. For me, architecture blends all of those things.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: It still is not uncommon for me to be the only or one of the only females in the room, but those occurrences are happening less often than they were when I began my career. Those who know me know that I’m generally not afraid to speak up. Admittedly, it does get me in trouble from time to time, but I feel that it has served me well over the course of my career. Like many other women in a traditionally male-dominated field, I feel that I have had to fight harder to gain the respect of some of my peers and clients. However, once that respect has been gained, I become a trusted advisor and a resource to my peers. I believe that the more people there are doing good, thoughtful work while mentoring and championing others, the better it is for all of us.

Naoko Oguro, Interiors Design Lead, Buildings + Places New York Studio

Why I chose the design profession: For as long as I can remember, I was always designing spaces. I discovered Legos at my neighbor’s house and I would park myself there for hours putting the random pieces together to build up multi-room spaces even when my friend was outside playing. I remember converting my desk surface into an apartment for my Barbie, making furniture and room dividers with whatever I could find to fit her scale, then explaining to my mom why I can’t do my homework on my desk. I was fortunate enough to grow up in New York City, and was accepted to attend High School of Art and Design in Midtown, where they had all kinds of artistic and creative fields as areas of focus. I chose to study Interior Design and followed that through to a four-year degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology. I struggled quite a bit in choosing between Interior Design and Architecture, but I ultimately decided on Interior Design because I felt like that was more relatable to me as a person.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: My team is a female dominant, racially diverse studio! Growing up in Queens, NYC – the most diverse place on earth – made me love and relate to the non-conventional upbringing and richness that diversity brings; I don’t know any other way of living. Though before I moved to NYC, I had spent some of my childhood in Japan, which is completely opposite in diversity. I remember thinking Jimmy Carter was Japanese because his hair was white and when I saw him on the news, they always dubbed over him in Japanese. I didn’t realize there were people that weren’t Asian until I visited NY when I was 7! The diversity of NYC makes me feel more comfortable here.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: Empower women and take the seat at the table where you can be in the position to do so for other women. You have to have it in you to go find that seat, grab it, and make more for others to take at the table and don’t be apologetic about it.

Victoria Watson, Senior Associate, High Performance Buildings & Communities, Buildings + Places Orange Studio

Why I chose the design profession: I had always thought I fell into high performance engineering and the design profession by chance. In retrospect, what I now see is that I followed areas that both spiked my interest and that I showed some aptitude for. As such, I feel that I had sought-out and seized opportunities whenever they presented themselves along the way. I had heard from a female engineer when I was in high school about her enjoyment in the field, which lead me to study relevant topics that interested and challenged me at school. I followed up on connections in the industry while I was a student, seeking out an internship which turned into a sponsorship and then a full-time job. I even jumped at an opportunity to move to another continent for work. These are the things that led me to join, and stay in, the design profession and it was only when looking back that I realized that this is where my passion lies.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: Unfortunately, I still sometimes find myself as the only woman in room full of male peers, whether it be for a design project or team-lead gathering. However, I value the benefits of diversity and have had the great pleasure of being a hiring manager for many roles and to also lead a team of exceptional individuals with diverse backgrounds. I am one of our office Inclusivity and Diversity leads as I truly believe everyone should be able to bring their authentic self to work and have equal power to shape and influence.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: I believe in a gender equal world where women and men have equal power to shape society and their own lives. Although more things are the same than different between genders, societal and cultural differences remain.

Jeannette Lenear Peruchini, Managing Principal, Director of Interiors, Buildings + Places Chicago Studio

Why I chose the design profession: As a child, I always enjoyed art and creating things. I loved making crafts, painting, drawing and writing short stories. I still remember how excited I was to get my first Bob Ross paint set for my birthday! However, as I reflect, I realize the connection to my chosen career path. I began my career in landscape architecture based on the recommendation of my high school guidance counselor. She recognized that landscape architecture would allow me to combine my creative thinking and love of horticulture into a meaningful career. While she was right, I don’t think either of us understood what that would actually mean. Now, more than 20 years later, I have leveraged my education in multidisciplinary design and my ability to think and solve problems creatively to pivot into new areas of the design industry. I tell this story because I think it is important to recognize the various opportunities the design industry provides and the potential for those within it.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: There is simply no way to develop and deliver great work without having a diverse workforce offering unique perspectives. The best ideas and the best delivery require the inclusion of the very best talents of a diverse team. In addition to seeking to hire and build a diverse workforce, we also maintain strong relationships with minority- and women-owned businesses and work collaboratively to win new work and serve clients. Without question, we can do more when we appreciate the various perspectives provided by a diverse workforce.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: While the traditional roles of women being the caregiver and homemaker and men being the provider are slowly evolving, I continue to see the majority of career women still playing the primary role in caregiving, specifically as it relates to parenting. This often results in women putting their career aspirations on hold to raise their children and taking a back seat to the men who do not make these same sacrifices. Although many companies have started to embrace more flexible working, which has made it easier for women to balance their career and homelife demands, I think we still need to make the shift culturally to break down the traditional roles for men and women. If we can shift to a society that accepts men and women being the caregiver and homemaker equally, I believe we will begin to see a greater sharing of responsibilities between both genders and more women in leadership positions.

To read the first part of our Women in Design blog, click here.

The post Part 2: Women in Design appeared first on Blog.

In a two-part blog series, we are sharing the perspectives of women across our industry, gaining insight from architects, interior designers, urban designers, planners and strategists – women in design at ArchTam. How can we work to forge gender quality in the design profession? Where do they find inspiration? How are we contributing to diversity and inclusion through our work? Read the first story below.

Suzanne Klein, Associate Vice President, Higher Education Market, Buildings + Places Arlington Studio

Why I chose the design profession: As a child, I had two ‘career potential’ passions: animals and creating things. Since I am allergic to cats and faint at the sight of blood, becoming a veterinarian was not going to happen. My interest in architecture began at age 12 when my parents purchased a historic, but dilapidated country farmhouse in Chester County, Pennsylvania. An architectural career was a natural fit for me because it combined my artistic propensities with my growing interest in art, architectural history, gardens and landscapes.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: On college and university projects, it isn’t about getting input from one or two people, it is about developing collaboration from a variety of diverse stakeholders. Throughout the design process, the better representation from a variety of voices, the better the project will be.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: Several things, and most of it comes from within. First, I encourage women to be confident in their abilities. Second, be brave and don’t let anyone deter you. Third, network like your career depends on it, because it will. With each step you make, it will be one step closer to equality for yourself and the next generation.

Danielle Maludy, Associate Project Manager, Buildings + Places Chicago Studio

Why I chose the design profession: I fell in love with architecture at a young age – honestly, before I can even really remember. The aesthetics of buildings and the spaces they create always intrigued me but over time, I realized the real beauty I came to love was the impact those elements can have on a building’s occupants and the surrounding community.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: As architects and designers, we have the ability to create buildings and spaces that help establish and support an inclusive environment at multiple scales. Although the buildings themselves may be the ultimate destination, thoughtful architecture and design has the ability to make an impact beyond the physical structure itself and becomes a mechanism to not only collect people, but stich and connect a diverse community.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: For those in leadership positions – whether you are male or female – promote and praise your employees for their professional achievements and strengths, unbiased of gender. Beyond that, challenge the growth of your organization’s benchmarks for equality on all levels. A diverse design team means broader perspective on the projects we deliver which ultimately have a profound impact on the societies in which we live.

Katherine Chappelle, Senior Interior Designer, Michigan Studio

Why I chose the design profession: Design chose me. I always had interest in the arts I thought writing would be my career path and entered Michigan State University as a Journalism/Communications Major. There I was, alone in a stressful new world and extremely home sick. After long days of absorbing my new courses, all I wanted was to come back to the comforts of my new home – my dorm room. Well, that wasn’t happening. My dorm room was an utterly depressing gray cell. There was no way I could spend the entire year in that space! I got creative. I rolled up my sleeves, determined to make lemonade out of lemons, and tweaked my space by adding color and life with temporary things like contact paper, wood structures, lighting and artwork, until I created a livable and enjoyable space for myself. It was a hit. Students from all over my hall heard about my room and knocked on my door to see. That was the moment I realized this is what I wanted to do. I liked the idea of transforming environments for the comfort and wellbeing of its occupants, even if the occupant was me. I became an interior design major and quickly learned there was much, much more to interior design than materiality. I learned about all the nuances of site planning, team coordination, etc. That’s where it started and throughout my studies, design continued to bring me joy. The rest is history.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: I am a Black Woman designer – rare in my industry. I have had great opportunities to work at top architectural firms, including ArchTam, in both the United States and Europe. When I volunteer in my community, I share experiences, successes and challenges. The students I chat with and mentor get to see someone who looks like them. That’s important.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: Put an end to the gender boxes. Put an end to the race boxes. Stop putting me in a box.

Yiran Wang, Landscape Architectural Designer, Buildings + Places Los Angeles Studio

Why I chose the design profession: I was inspired by my grandparents, who are an architect and a civil engineer. Growing up with their tracing paper rolls and conceptual drawings, I became a person who enjoyed being creative more than anything else.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society: We are designing this physical world. If the barriers inside of people’s mind are difficult to dissolve, at least let us try to build less barriers in their lives. As a landscape designer, it is our mission to do so – to bring people together; to bring nature and natural good back to life.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: I once attended a meeting with all men and I was the only woman. The meeting host started with, “Hello, gentlemen”. It has been stuck in my head since and even now, I still regret that I did not speak up. Within our profession, we need to recognize amazing female leadership and have female voices heard in every possible field. When we work with others and the public, we need to remind ourselves to treat everyone equally with no bias or prejudice.                                        

Elvira Munoz Beraza, Director, Interior Design, Buildings + Places Madrid Studio

Why I chose the design profession: The decision came late to me, although once I made it, it felt natural and I asked myself how I could have taken so long to realize that design was my way. When I was a little girl, I was always drawing, dancing and singing; I took classes in all three. I am the third of a family of six very bright, competitive brothers and sisters, so when I had to decide which professional path to follow, I wanted to be taken seriously. I decided to start Agricultural Engineering. I had always loved nature, was good with math, and loved gardens and gardening. After 3 years of hard work and good grades, I decided that I missed the creative part of my life. I stopped my studies, moved cities and went back to painting, drawing, dancing, and eventually became a dance teacher. A year later, I discovered interior design and decided to study it. I can honestly say that I have not regretted that change of direction in my life.

How my work is contributing to diversity and inclusion in the design profession’s broader society:

I work in the entire EMEA region, so we deliver projects in spaces as culturally different as Moscow is from Paris, Doha from Munich, and Johannesburg from Kazakhstan. For us to do well, we first need to understand their culture; habits and behaviors; and their norms and regulations. We should not only understand them but respect them as we collaborate to advance their cultural transformation through the spaces we provide. We usually work for large corporations that need to fit out their offices in various geographies. You can imagine how much diversity we see when we’re delivering office spaces for Shell in places around the world like The Hague, Milano, Moscow, Dubai, or building out spaces for Huawei in Madrid, Paris, Munich and Minsk. This is the part that I like best – deeply exploring the countries and truly understanding our cultural similarities and differences.

Ways we can work to forge a gender equal world: JUST DO IT! And just keep doing it! It is not always the big things; it can be the small, countless, everyday actions that will make this happen. I’m proud to have done a lot in my sector to pave that road!

To read the second part of our Women in Design blog, click here.

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I started my professional working life at a time when expectations of women were very different from today — few women went into business and even fewer stayed throughout their career.  As a result, women had very few female role models.

Having good mentors, regardless of gender, helped me in my career and continues to be important to me today.  Strong mentoring relationships need to feel natural to work. You must be able to be yourself, be open to learn and be honest about what you want to achieve.  I personally took the initiative to reach out to people I saw as potential mentors and always looked for opportunities to expand my network. Having exposure to different people is critical because these relationships grow and change throughout your career—what you need today may be different from what you need five years from now.

I recall one mentor of mine who recognized potential in me and told me he believed I could become a partner in the firm I was working for, at a time when I did not think it was remotely possible.  He helped me map out a practical progression plan, which included getting experience in different parts of the business.  He taught me to seek sponsorship, put my hand up for new opportunities and speak more confidently and coherently about my career aspirations – but most importantly, do great work every step of the way. Having someone who had such faith in me, not only inspiring me to think bigger, but being sensible about an approach to achieve it, made a big difference in the way I thought about myself.

That experience made me realize the type of leader I wanted to be and the work environment I wanted to create. The current business landscape has come a long way since then. At ArchTam, there are many resources and programs aimed to help women thrive. Our Women Business Council in Asia and Senior Female Sponsorship Program in Australia/New Zealand enable our female employees to participate in mentorships and network to better understand unique issues faced by women at work. In the Middle East and Africa, our graduate programs, school visits and peer-to-peer mentoring accelerate the growth of women in our industry and educate students on the types of careers enabled by the study of STEM subjects. In Europe, our Freedom to Grow flexible work program and mCircles mentoring network aim to provide a more supportive and inclusive work environment for our employees to contribute in ways that work best for them. In the Americas, we’re forming an employee resource group for our women employees to facilitate conversations and better address the unique needs we face in a male dominated industry.

As my career progressed, my experience of great mentors helped me recognize I too could help mentor others – we all can!  I want all our employees at ArchTam to feel that they can be a mentor and an inspiration to someone else. In a safe space, where we can be open and honest, and make others feel like they have potential beyond their wildest beliefs — that is the type of environment where one can truly thrive.

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Identifying allies and creating mentorships is an integral part of achieving career success, especially for those who are underrepresented in their workplace. Now in mentor roles themselves, some of our senior leaders reflect on the work it took to acquire their seats at the table, taking on gender inequity through maintaining clear focus, accepting guidance and overcoming self-doubt.

Mary Pasut, Vice President, Director of Operations, Buildings + Places, Canada

Accelerating women’s equality includes recognizing the critical importance of being open minded and learning from others. In your own personal career journey, you can challenge yourself by asking for input – whether it’s from your leaders, peers or those who report to you – to gain different perspectives. Equally important is finding a strong mentor – one who understands you, your capabilities and ambitions, the business world and where you are well suited. I was fortunate to have such a mentor at the start of my career. She helped me build confidence in my abilities and encouraged me towards an altered career path that was focused on what I loved to do and felt passionate about. With her initial support and through a network of people built across the broad and varied business and personal connections, I continued to evolve while reinforcing my ambition and drive.

I firmly believe that if you love what you do, you will continue to add value. Don’t be too shy to celebrate your achievements, be confident in your abilities and continually focus on your future. Invest in it by extending your learning opportunities beyond your current role. Empower yourself by creating a developmental plan in areas that are valued by your company and will take you to the next level in your career. Ultimately, with every progressive step, be sure to find balance between your personal and professional worlds to find real happiness.

Marie-Jose Croonen, Vice President, Energy, Canada

I’ve always believed that regardless of gender, race, religion or sexual orientation, we are all equal. When I started my career, it was this perspective that helped neutralize real and perceived challenges and gave me the confidence in knowing that I had an equal chance of succeeding no matter what type of industry, company or role I selected for myself. During my career, when I had seen prejudices in others or personally felt things were tougher, I tried to disassociate myself from the emotional elements of the job and focus on the parts that I loved. I strongly believe that when you focus on what gives you passion and on the value you bring to the company, the job hurdles come less often and you can positively advance your career and make a difference.

My greatest career advice is to take time to truly understand yourself and know your capabilities. It’s important to continually evaluate where you are in your personal and professional development and take incremental steps to build on your successes. If you run into challenges, look at breaking those down into manageable actions – whether that means taking a course, talking to others with similar experiences or finding a mentor to guide you. Believing in yourself and your value is the key to being successful.

Jihane Fazio, Vice President, New Jersey Transportation Design Leader, U.S. East

Communication and advocacy are how I overcame my own challenges.

I was mid-way through my career when I decided to start a family. Work was in full swing, yet when I welcomed my first child, I realized that putting in late hours regularly was no longer going to work for my new situation. This was 15 years ago, when we were expected to come into the office 5 days a week and our hours were set. I was also the only working mother in our group, so I wasn’t sure how my manager was going to take it. I remember practicing my speech along with the what-if scenarios before approaching him. When I finally did, I advocated for my career, my family and my wellbeing, and he was very understanding and willing to work with me. We worked out a new schedule for me and we made sure we communicated that to all of my team members as well as clients. As I reflect on that today, and where I am in my career, I am so thankful for ArchTam and my colleagues for being so accommodating and giving me that opportunity. Today, my daughters are 15 and 12, and since they can’t be bothered with their momma as much as before, I am so grateful to have my career.

Lori Labrum, Vice President, Transit-Rail Division Manager, U.S. West

I want to share a couple of quotes that I use to remind myself that I can. I can carry on through the difficult days, I can achieve great things personally and professionally, and I can enjoy this great journey that I am on. They are:

“I matter. I matter equally. Not ‘if only,’ not ‘as long as’. I matter. Full stop.” – Chimamanda Adichie,

“I was amazed that what I needed to survive could be carried on my back. And, most surprising of all, that I could carry it.” ― Cheryl Strayed

Early on in my career I found myself looking for cheerleaders, someone who could give me the courage to step out of my comfort zone and tackle difficult assignments. Now that I am deeper in my career, I realize, the most important cheerleader is me. I can’t underscore enough the importance of confidence, say it, and believe it, you can do anything!

Courtney ONeill, Associate Vice President, Americas Practice Lead for Water Resources Planning

A few years ago, I was getting extremely frustrated with my job and the position I was in. I felt that I wasn’t progressing in my career and that I wasn’t getting the guidance or support I needed to do my job. I was ready to leave for a different opportunity elsewhere. However, just when I was trying to resign, my supervisor listened to my complaints and really seemed to understand why I was frustrated. He asked me to give him a few days to try and find a solution. He reached out to his network and found out there was a role in a different part of the organization that would be a good fit for my skills and career goals. He went out his way to make sure that my concerns were addressed even though it meant that I would still be leaving his team.

This experience taught me the importance of communicating my goals and of developing a network of people to help me in my career. There are a lot of opportunities available and oftentimes, it just takes speaking up and asking for them. It’s also important to develop a wide network that can help bring opportunities to you that might otherwise not come in front of you.

Beth Myers-Graham, Senior Vice President, Regional Business Line Leader, Environment, U.S. East

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, the 2021 theme of #Choose to Challenge is very timely. The global pandemic has brought about a variety of challenges that have resulted in many women not only re-evaluating their schedules, but also their careers. The need to adapt has always been a component of women’s daily focus, but additional pressures have seen an increase in women exiting the workforce during the past 12 months. I feel like as a longer-term career woman, I’m being called on to provide extra support and resources to our early and mid-career team members as they address these pressing issues. I know how critical this support has been for me in the past. Although our careers are individual journeys, each of us can make a difference within our spheres of influence. At ArchTam, it is imperative that we address potential diversity gaps that will exist in the near term and future to ensure we can continue to Build a Better World. We must challenge ourselves as leaders, in this evolving career landscape, that ED&I remains a core focus and that we create opportunities at every career level.

Serena Lee, Project Director, Program Cost Consultancy, Malaysia

This pandemic has made it a difficult year for many women in the workplace, especially mothers. Many are risking losing, if they haven’t already lost, the steady income they badly need to sustain their family, adding to the pressures of juggling their personal and professional lives. During online meetings, there were many occasions where I could hear the chattering of children, the sound of cooking, renovation work and so on in the background and this tells me how much these women need to adjust their lifestyles to find balance. Women have had no choice to but to rise to the challenge.

No matter how hard a situation is, I know one thing for sure is that time waits for no one. So each time I face a challenge at work, I always stop what I’m doing and start observing and listening. I would process any information that may be useful and then ask myself, “What is my next best option? What else can I do to reposition myself? Where would each option take me? What are the consequences? Is this what I want at the end of the day?”. Each step is important and is crucial in knowing what I want to achieve.

It may take days, weeks and even months to see the result of the decisions I make but I believe it is a worthwhile exercise as I believe we present our best when we look forward.

Haiyan Zhao, Technical Director, Electrical, Chinese Mainland, Asia             

I had my own business before I joined ArchTam, so I knew what a great platform ArchTam has provided for those who are ambitious in their career while hoping to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

During my six years here, my team is growing fast. I now lead a group of experts covering areas of Building Engineering, BIM and Sustainability. After work, I could also enjoy quality time with my children, which I had never dreamt of when I was starting and running my own business.

I always encourage my team to think, innovate and embrace the latest technologies to provide the best solutions to our clients. ArchTam’s strength in global expertise also allows us to learn from international best practices. We regularly exchange resources and technical experiences with our teams in different regions. This not only helps us grow professionally, but also by cooperating with other teams and disciplines, we are now exploring more business opportunities than before.

I believe that work is only a part of your life, and the only way to achieve work-life balance is to identify your life purpose and then devote time and energy to what you are passionate about.

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