Akua Lesesne, B.Arch
Akua Lesesne is the Principal President and Owner of Kente Gold Build, doing business as Falkbuilt, a New Jersey-based, minority women-owned company specializing in prefabricated interior construction for healthcare facilities. With over 25 years of experience in architecture, interior design, and commercial construction, Akua has developed deep expertise in delivering clean, sustainable, and rapidly installed prefabricated solutions. Her career began in architecture and interior design before she transitioned to the innovative field of prefabrication, where she was mentored for 25 years by Mogens Smed, CEO of Falkbuilt headquarters in Canada. In 2020, Akua established her own company, focusing exclusively on transforming healthcare interiors through off-site, kit-of-parts construction that emphasizes speed, precision, and environmental sustainability.
Throughout her career, Akua has been recognized for her ability to educate clients and industry stakeholders on the advantages of prefabrication. Her approach prioritizes service excellence, on-site oversight, and business development, ensuring projects meet the highest standards of quality and efficiency. By converting an unfamiliar construction method into a widely understood and respected approach, she has positioned her company as a leader in prefabricated healthcare interiors. Her work combines innovative technology, sustainable building practices, and the adaptability necessary to meet the evolving demands of healthcare construction.
Akua attributes her professional success to the confidence and fearless mindset instilled by her father, which has allowed her to take bold risks and embrace challenges. Guided by the principles of honesty, integrity, and reputation, she emphasizes continuous learning, preparation, and expertise as essential for success, particularly for women entering male-dominated fields. Through her leadership, mentorship, and commitment to innovation, Akua Lesesne continues to shape the landscape of prefabricated healthcare construction, demonstrating how vision, expertise, and ethical practice can transform an industry.
• Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
• Pratt Institute – Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.)
• Influential Women 2026
• Association of Medical Facilities Planners (AMFP)
• Smile Train (Doctors Without Borders - Cleft Palate Surgery)
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say that my father was my biggest influence. He always raised me to believe that I could do anything, so the confidence that I needed to do anything, I always had. It's about confidence and fearlessness - it doesn't mean I don't have fear, it means that I am confident that I can get through it and get it done. That belief my father instilled in me gave me the foundation to take risks, like starting my own business right before the pandemic. Even when I thought 'what did I do?' I had the confidence to know I'd get it done somehow. That fearless confidence has been the driving force behind everything I've accomplished.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The most important thing is your reputation. It is important that whatever you do, you do to the best of your ability, and you treat people like you would like them to treat you. Be the resource that you can possibly be for your clients and for people around you. That's really it - your reputation is everything, and you build that by being the best resource you can be and treating others with respect and integrity. This advice has guided how I approach every client relationship and every project, and it's been fundamental to building my business and my credibility in the industry.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Learn as much as you can learn in the business. Be the expert that you can be, whatever it is - if you're coming into construction, whether you are project managing, cost consulting, engineering, whatever, be the best and learn as much as you can learn. I know what I'm talking about, and that's why I say learn as much so that you can gain the respect of people in your field. Working in a man's field, I don't necessarily see that as much as a challenge if you let it be a challenge. I move just as easily because I know what I'm talking about. Always be prepared - every meeting, everything, I'm always prepared. That preparation and expertise is what allows you to gain respect and succeed in this industry.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge for prefabrication is to get people to understand what the benefits are. It's a new idea, and nobody likes a new idea. Nobody. It takes a while for the idea to gain momentum. We're in a field where people don't understand what you do. It involves new technology and a new way of thinking, so I think that's the biggest challenge. We are gaining momentum now, so I am doing a lot of projects, but it's still hard. When I started the business, nobody knew what prefabrication was, so it was a definite uphill battle. But I can say now that I have contributed to that arena and educated enough people to the point where prefabricated construction is now something that people have heard about, even if it's not the norm yet.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are absolutely the most important values to me, both in my work and personal life. When asked about my values, honesty was the first thing that came to mind - I didn't even have to think about it. In construction and in business relationships, honesty and integrity are fundamental to everything I do. They're the foundation of building trust with clients, contractors, and everyone I work with. Without honesty and integrity, you can't build the kind of reputation and relationships that sustain a successful business and a meaningful life.