Her Story
About Dalit
Dalit Bielaz is a Senior Studio Lead specializing in land planning, design, and teaching. With nearly 13 years in the field since starting around 2011, she began her career as an architect in Mexico after earning her architecture degree from ITESM. She later moved to the United States and obtained a Master's in Landscape Architecture from UT Arlington. After grad school, she worked for five years at an architecture firm doing site planning for multifamily and mixed-use projects. She then transitioned to a landscape architecture firm focused on larger-scale land planning, which she has pursued since. At LJA, she supervises design work, ensures graphic standards, manages a team of four, handles client proposals and project management, and emphasizes hand sketching and real-world observation in her teaching. She holds an Envision certification for sustainable practices and has been a member of AICP, with past involvement in ASLA and AIA.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dalit
01What do you attribute your success to?
Enjoying what I do. I feel very lucky to be doing something that I actually enjoy. As a working mom, I needed to find something that I would enjoy and wouldn't be hurtful to be away from my children.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Enjoy what you do, then you never work a day in your life. Never give up, keep working for what you want. If you're starting not to enjoy what you do, then it's time to find what you actually like.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be you, and don't be afraid to be a woman. Fight for what you want. Stand up for yourself. Don't doubt yourself or feel you have to prove yourself constantly.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Still being the only woman in some meetings is hard. I have this constant feeling that I have to prove myself. Impostor syndrome is real, but I remind myself that I belong there.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, being truthful to yourself, respectful, communicate, humble, grateful, be kind. Without those four you can't make it work in relationships or at work.
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