Her Story
About Cristina
Cristina Crespo, AIA, is a registered Achitect and Senior Design Director based in Miami, Florida, with more than 20 years of experience across architecture, interior design, hospitality, and branded environments. She currently leads design initiatives for Sandals & Beaches Resorts, overseeing a multidisciplinary team. Her work focuses on translating brand vision into thoughtful, memorable physical environments while balancing design excellence, operational requirements, and the distinctive character of each destination. Throughout her career, Cristina has held influential design leadership roles across hospitality, workplace, and retail environments. Her experience includes serving as Design Director for AvroKO’s Miami studio, Regional Senior Design Director for Latin America at WeWork, and Senior Production Designer at Starbucks. She also co-founded Layer Design Collective, where she focused on hospitality design, branded environments, and owner’s representation. Cristina holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Universidad Politécnica de Puerto Rico and an MSc in Sustainable Environmental Design from the Architectural Association in London. She is also an NCARB-registered architect and holds LEED BD+C credentials. Beyond project delivery, Cristina is passionate about human-centered design, sustainability, placemaking, and the integration of local culture, craft, and community into the built environment. Her leadership is characterized by strategic vision, empathy, transparent communication, and a commitment to developing people and multidisciplinary teams. She serves as a Board member for the NEWH South Florida Chapter and is involved with AIA Miami. Her work has earned recognition through design competitions, and she has contributed to the global design community as a speaker, panelist, and design juror across the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Through these platforms, she shares her perspective on translating brand vision into meaningful, curated environments that balance design, performance, and authentic guest experiences.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Cristina
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my professional success, first and foremost, to the values my parents instilled in me and the example they set. From an early age, they taught me the importance of hard work, dedication, determination, and discipline. My mother, in particular, was a powerful role model. As a civil engineer, she excelled in a traditionally male-dominated field at a time when societal norms offered women far fewer opportunities and support. With my father's unwavering support, her example inspired my sister and me to pursue higher education, move abroad, and build careers aligned with our values and aspirations.
Professionally, my role as Regional Design Director at WeWork was the most transformative turning point in my career. Leading a 100-person team across disciplines, countries, cultures, and languages challenged me to grow beyond my technical expertise and become a more versatile, strategic, and people-centered leader. It strengthened my ability to navigate complexity, foster cross-functional collaboration, and deliver projects at scale. Ultimately, I attribute my success to the combination of the values I learned growing up, the support and encouragement of my family, my willingness to embrace challenges, and my commitment to bringing people together to achieve exceptional results.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to never shy away from voicing my opinion. One of my mentors once told me, “You have a voice—use it. It’s about knowing how and when to speak up; tone and timing are everything.”
That advice has stayed with me throughout my career. It has taught me that effective leadership is not just about having a point of view, but also about communicating it with confidence, intention, and respect. Knowing when to speak up, how to approach difficult conversations, and how to make your voice heard constructively has been instrumental in my growth as a leader.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to strive for progress, not perfection. Stay determined and disciplined, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes—some of our greatest lessons come from them.
Trust your expertise, have the courage to speak up, and remember that knowing how and when to use your voice is just as important as having one.
Lead with confident humility, transparent communication, and empathy, while keeping your focus on the bigger picture.
Most importantly, don’t wait until you feel you have all the answers to step into your potential. Be willing to take risks, embrace challenges, and create opportunities for yourself and others along the way.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I believe one of the biggest challenges—and opportunities—in our industry right now is embracing AI and the possibilities that come with it. We have an opportunity to leverage technology to work smarter, make more data-driven decisions, and improve efficiency, allowing us to dedicate more time and energy to what makes our industry truly special: human connection, craftsmanship, cultural authenticity, and the emotional experiences that great design creates.
AI can be a powerful tool, but it’s how we choose to integrate it into our work that will make the difference. The key is to approach it with curiosity and an informed perspective, using technology to enhance our capabilities rather than replace the human creativity, intuition, and empathy that give design its meaning.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are resilience, confidence, continuous learning, and using my voice. My mother’s example in a male-dominated field inspired my career, while my transition from architecture to interior design in the United States taught me the importance of continued education and growth. I believe in speaking up as a leader and embracing every opportunity to learn and improve.
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