Her Story
About Aryeon
I have been in the architecture industry for roughly a decade, working in architecture and design with a focus on mixed use, hotel, and residential projects. My educational background has played a huge role in shaping my career - I went to Rhode Island School of Design for my undergraduate degree and completed my Master's in Architecture at Yale University in 2018. Both schools are art schools, which definitely plays into my career. My typical day involves architectural design development of projects, mainly in hospitality and residential, and I have recently taken on strategic planning responsibilities, including immediate capital expenditures planning as well as long-term planning for multi-portfolio projects. My most notable professional achievement is the ability to have seen my projects come into construction. Not a lot of architecture designers or architects get that experience, so being able to see my projects get constructed and being able to walk in them and experience them has been the greatest fulfillment for me.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Aryeon
01What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to constantly seek and feel confident that you are navigating your career in your own hands, because it won't be given to you. You have to take ownership of your career path and actively pursue what you want, rather than waiting for opportunities to come to you.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Architecture is still a very male-dominant field with a long history of that dominance. As someone who has been brought up in architecture, the go-to assumption is always that women are just interior designers or decorators. But that has been the hugest hurdle in my career. To overcome that, you need to be fearless. Know what you know, and don't be afraid to speak up and correct others. That would be my biggest advice to other women in the industry - stand your ground and make sure people recognize you as the trained architect that you are.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest hurdle in my field right now is that women are still being perceived as decorators and not as trained architects. There is a persistent challenge in getting recognition for the rigor and expertise that women bring to architecture. We are not being seen as being as rigorous, or if not more rigorous, than our male counterparts. Overcoming these perceptions and stereotypes remains one of the most significant challenges facing women in architecture today.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are acknowledging the work that is done by my peers and team members. Being part of the AIA has reinforced this for me - I don't take credit for projects just by myself. I believe in recognizing the collaborative nature of our work. The second most important value to me is being rigorous in architecture and all the projects that I'm working on. Rigor and thoroughness in my work are essential to me.
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