Architectette

On today’s episode of Architectette we share a conversation with Jill Bergman, FAIA, FACHA. Jill is a Senior Health Strategist at HDR, based in San Francisco, California. She has focused on healthcare facility design for her entire career, mostly working on large projects and medical planning.  We talk about:  - The power of focusing her career on one specific project type and how her after-work i...

Happy Pride Month! On this week’s episode of Architectette we feature an interview with Tracy J Passarella. Tracy is a Senior Project Manager at Gilbane Building Company and a member of the New York Chapter of the Build Out Alliance which promotes and advocates for the LGBTQIA community within the building design and construction industry. We talk about: - Her early experiences in the construction...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome a dynamic duo! Aya Shlachter and Jing Lauengco are two outstanding women who connected over their mutual tenacity for entrepreneurship, design, and storytelling. Both women are business owners, entrepreneurs, and podcasters.  Aya Shlachter is the CEO and founder of MGS Global Group, a company that accelerates growth for architecture and design firms w...

Welcome to a very special Part 2 Episode of Architectette! We continue our conversation with Denise Scott Brown. Denise Scott Brown is an architect; planner & urban designer; and a theorist, writer and educator whose projects, research, and writing have influenced designers and architects since the 1960s. Her writings have changed the practice of architecture as we know it and her built work s...

We have a very special guest on today’s episode of Architectette, Denise Scott Brown. Denise Scott Brown is an architect; planner & urban designer; and a theorist, writer and educator whose projects, research, and writing have influenced designers and architects since the 1960s. Her writings have changed the practice of architecture as we know it and her built work spans several continents. So...

On today’s episode of Architectette we’re traveling to the Metaverse with Fatemeh Monfared. Fatemeh started her journey with a degree in architecture, but soon established a specialty crafting virtual worlds and experiences. She is currently the Chief Metaverse Architect at her company, Spaces. This is a great episode for folks in architecture and design who want to know a bit more about the metav...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Hosts of the Open Plan Podcast- Maria Pastorelli and Emily Khalid. Maria and Emily met during grad school at Georgia Tech and have continued their friendship and podcast collaboration despite working in Atlanta and Philadelphia respectively. Emily is a Lead Architect and Project Manager at WSP, Maria is an architectural designer with a background in m...

On today's BONUS episode of Architectette we welcome Claire Kern. Claire is a landscape architect and founder of Pass the LARE. We chat about her work experience in landscape architecture, the process and challenges of obtaining a license, parallels to architecture and the AREs, and her hopes to make the study and examination process a bit easier for candidates. >>> Connect with Clair...

On today’s episode of Architectette we feature a conversation with Julianne Peters. Julianne is an interior designer at Hellyer Lewis Smith, founder of Design Success Network, and is also a multi-term leader of her local PA/NJ/DE IIDA Chapter. We talk about: - Julianne’s early career experiences, how she navigated challenges during the pandemic, the roles and responsibilities of her current positi...

On today’s episode of Architectette we meet with Patricia Ramallo. Patricia is the Assistant Vice President of International Relations at NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards). We talk about: - Patricia's journey to get her US architecture license after being licensed in Argentina. She offers insights into the challenges and rewards of navigating licensure requirements...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Shannon Dowling.  Shannon is an architect, educator, and higher education strategist. She is a Principal at Ayers Saint Gross, working from Richmond, VA. She recently completed a yearlong fellowship with the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), during which she studied the role physical campus space plays in facilitating belonging for c...

On today’s episode of Architectette we explore an alternative career path with architect Sharadan Rorabaugh.  Sharadan and I met in the architecture program at Drexel University. After graduation, she worked in the industry, earned a master’s degree overseas, and became a licensed architect. In 2019, she enlisted in the US Navy and is now a construction manager in the Civil Engineer Corps (CEC). W...

On today’s BONUS episode of Architectette we welcome Ishwariya Rajamohan. Ishwariya (Ishoo) is a former architect, based in the UK, who now coaches female leaders in AEC industries. She focuses on issues such as confidence in the workplace and work-life balance. This is a fantastic episode for folks who feel like they are at a crossroads in their career. We talk about the architecture industry and...

On today’s episode of Architectette, we share a conversation with Angela Watson. Angela is the President and CEO of Shepley Bulfinch, a national architecture firm with a focus on education, healthcare, urban development, and science and tech. In 2024, Shepley Bulfinch is celebrating their 150th Anniversary! We talk about how the company has evolved over time as well as Angela’s role to shape the f...

Our first Season 2 guest is Yiselle Santos Rivera. Yiselle is Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion at HKS and is also a former AIA|DC Chapter President, co-founder of LA IDEA, and WIELD event founder. She is a natural community builder and has been heavily involved with JEDI initiatives both on a local and national scale for which she has been recognized with numerous awards. We...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Bolanle Williams-Olley. Bolanle is CFO and co-owner of Mancini Duffy, a New York based architecture firm. She is also the author of Build Boldly: Chart Your Unique Career Path and Lead with Courage and has founded several non-profits including SheBuildsWaves, SheBuildsLives, SheBuildsMoney, and REACHNigeria.  We talk about:  - How Bolanle, as a math m...

Welcome to one of our final Architectette episodes of 2023! Today, we welcome Aysia Woods. Aysia is based in Savanna, Georgia and is a self-described anthropreneur- an anthropologist and an entrepreneur. She has made a career out of understanding people and applying that knowledge to bring people together at events, in business, and at home.  We talk about: - How anthropology and design can be mix...

Welcome to this episode of Architectette. This week, we chat with Gabriella Bermea. Gabby is an associate and design architect at VLK in Austin, Texas where she specializes in K-12 architecture. She has a passion for philanthropy, education, and advocacy.  We talk about: - Her involvement with AIA at the local, state, and national level. - How she had trouble seeing herself as an architect while s...

On today's episode of Architectette we chat with four recipients of the AIA|DC Emerging Architect Award .  Alison Pavilonis (2020 Recipient) is a Project Architect at Gensler and President Elect of the AIA DC chapter for 2024. Saakshi Terway (2022 Recipient) is a Project Designer at Quinn Evans and is Secretary of Immigrant Architects Coalition Non-Profit.  Mika Naraynsingh (2023 Recipient) is...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Katelyn Rossier. Katelyn is an architect at SmithGroup and founder of Mentor DINO. You might recognize her as the woman behind the ARE story series on social media! We talk about:- Katelyn’s work experience, post-traumatic growth, and salary transparency.- We chat about the founding of Mentor DINO and how Katelyn hopes that her educational resources w...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Dena Prastos, AIA. Dena is an architect, engineer, and founder of the New York City based company, Indigo River. Indigo River is a women-owned transdisciplinary design firm focused on progressive waterfront architecture and resiliency. The firm specializes in climate adaptation through waterfront solutions. We talk about: - Graduating with a degree in...

Our second Bonus Episode! The writer's strike is back in the news, so we are sharing this episode with Dominique Dawson a bit earlier than planned! Dominique went to architecture school, but currently works as a set designer in the film industry in Atlanta, GA. We talk about: - Her early experiences in architecture and transitioning to the film industry- Her day-to-day: design, research, softw...

Welcome to another episode of Architectette! This week we feature a conversation with Joann Lui. Joann started in the architecture industry and transitioned into tech, currently working as a content marketer for TestFit. She is also a coach, branding expert, and founded the Women Architects Collective. Today, we focus our conversation on her most recent endeavor, the Mental Health in Architecture...

On today’s episode of Architectette we welcome Alexandra Chaves. Alexandra is a project manager at Restructure Studio in Austin TX, a mom, an Austin Women in Architecture (WiA) member, as well as the founder of the WiA 'Profiles' Subcommittee. We talk about: - Starting her education in Venezuela, finishing a graduate degree in the United States, and starting a career in New York City. - Al...

Our very first Bonus Episode! It's short and sweet and focuses on the 2023 AIA Women's Leadership Summit in Boston. We interviewed a few attendees at the conference and chatted about their perspectives on work, the industry, and mentorship. >>> Connect with Architectette: - Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.architectette.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (Learn more) - Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ @architect...