What stands out from your first years at ZGF?
One of the things I loved most about ZGF, and that is still true today, is that there is so much cross-pollination between typologies and building types. I was just starting in my career but was able to experience so many different opportunities and projects.

I was also fortunate to have several great mentors. Shortly after I joined the firm, I started working closely with Bob Frasca. Bob was truly a visionary architect, with his attention on full integration of interior and exterior design and his ability to intently listen to clients and understand the problems that needed solving. He also wanted every project to be collaborative, seeking multiple perspectives and feedback. That still stands out to me today. It’s so easy now to work in silos, especially with all the digital tools available to us, but the analog side of design is instrumental in developing and refining ideas.

I also worked closely with Brooks Gunsul, who was our lead technical designer. Brooks encouraged me to explore any idea, no matter how unconventional, he’d just say, “Let’s figure it out!” He was exemplary in combining the technical know-how with a real passion for design.

Brooks was also instrumental in what ZGF coined the “three-legged stool,” which is the concept that every project is based on three elements: business, technical, and design. The three can't work independently; each needs to be at the forefront for a project to be successful. That’s still true of our work today.

Looking back, what have been some of your biggest challenges?
Not hitting it out the park with my client and feeling like I was not doing the job I was hired for.

Disappointment is a very human experience, and it sticks with you. I can remember these occasions so clearly. They were devastating at the time, but also such a learning opportunity. I’ve always found that the most challenging experiences are the ones where you grow the most.

You have to be comfortable with the feeling of being uncomfortable in order to experience growth.

Do you have a favorite or most memorable project?
For me, it’s always “the firsts”. The first project of a new size or typology, where you are really learning about a whole new world and deeply ingrained in the work. Many stand out, but to name a few: Colorado Children’s Hospital in Denver, which was my first big healthcare project, and the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul, were both really meaningful. Recently, the Portland International Airport main terminal is at the top of my list! This was my first airport project, and it has been interesting for me to see how my experience working on large healthcare projects has helped me in embracing the scale, complexities and challenges of aviation design.

Tell us about your current role. You’re now leading ZGF’s seven offices across the US and Canada. How do you keep the firm’s 700+ employees connected and aligned?
Honestly, that was one bright spot of the pandemic for ZGF. We needed to find a way to engage with one another- to keep projects progressing and keep people working, regardless of location. The more we grow, the harder we need to work to stay connected—and that’s a responsibility shared across our full leadership team. It’s also why we emphasize opportunities for cross-office project collaboration, enabling everyone to work with their peers from different offices, and to learn from each other.

I’m also looking forward to some initiatives and tools coming out soon, to share information and knowledge about our projects and resources across the firm.

How are applying what you've learned from your mentors to your leadership today? What’s your advice for the next generation of women leaders?
Early in my career, I could have never pictured myself where I am today. I just didn't have that vision for what was possible at the time. I was always very focused on doing the work and that was what fed my soul and creative passion. I think that women now are much better advocates for themselves. My advice for women in design and architecture is to really advocate for yourself. Look at what you’re doing now, whether you’re just graduating or are years into your career, and picture yourself in that leadership role. Visualize your trajectory and the steps you need to take to get there.

Let’s wrap with your outlook for the future. What are you most looking forward to this year? What’s next for ZGF?
We’re at such an interesting time in the history of ZGF and architecture more broadly. The makeup of our firm and our partners look so different than it did even 10 years ago. My partners and I have been thinking a lot about how the firm is evolving and what we stand for. We think a lot about how we can make a lasting impact on the world through design. Ultimately, we’re focused on making a difference in people’s lives, fighting climate change, and advancing social justice through design. We’re putting those values at the center of everything we do.