Ellen S. Prantl AIA, LEED AP BDC

I attribute my success to stubbornness and maintaining my integrity. I've always stood up for my rights without being rude or ugly about it. Throughout my career, I refused to participate in the competitive behavior that many women engage in to destroy each other. Even when other women tried to destroy me or throw me under the bus, I helped them move forward in their careers because working with a clear conscience is the best thing you can do, and that's what will carry you through the rest of your life. I believe in supporting other women rather than competing with them, and I've always tried to open doors for others, even if I couldn't always open them for myself. That's more important than just advancing my own career.

When I first came to the United States to go to university, I told my family I was coming here to become a teacher, but I signed myself up for architectural school knowing I could change my degree. After two years, I went to the dean and said I wanted to do a year in the education department to decide if I wanted to be an architect or a teacher. He looked at me and said no, he wasn't signing the papers and that I was going to become an architect. I think that was good advice because as an architect, I was able to do both. I've been able to practice architecture and teach throughout my entire career, which has been incredibly fulfilling.

Learn as much as you can, because learning is a big thing and it's a lifetime process. Stand up for your rights, but don't be ugly about it. You can be firm and advocate for yourself without being rude or vengeful. Most importantly, support other women and help them succeed. Don't participate in the competitive behavior where women try to destroy each other. Even when others try to put you down or throw you under the bus, maintain your integrity and help them anyway. Your conscience is the best thing you can work with, and that's what will carry you through the rest of your life. Don't back away from challenges, but also remember that opening doors for others is more important than just advancing your own career.

The speaker shared personal experiences of facing gender-based discrimination in the workplace, including being told it was unprofessional to become pregnant and facing inflexible work policies that didn't accommodate childcare needs. They described how they ultimately left a job after seven years when they were offered partnership but had decided to resign earlier, and emphasized the importance of not backing away from challenges while also opening doors for others.

Personal growth is more important to me than financial gain. I've changed jobs where I got less money because I knew I would grow more in the new position, and I didn't care about the pay cut because money isn't the end of everything. The main thing in life is to grow, and if you don't grow, you stagnate. I now teach because I enjoy it and it allows me to continue growing by meeting younger people and learning from them. I also value maintaining connections with family and friends, spending quality time discovering new things, and being curious about the world around me. I believe in being honest to yourself and your career, and in helping others develop and succeed even when it doesn't directly benefit you.