Influential Woman · CDH Partners Architecture Firm
Heli Shah
Project Director, CDH Partners, Inc.
Savannah, GA
Her Story
About Heli
Heli Shah serves as Project Director at CDH Partners, a small business, women-led architecture firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with her base in the Savannah office. She brings nearly 10 years of professional experience to the role, having initially joined the firm as a recent graduate for six years before returning last October after a brief period away. Her primary expertise lies in K-12 design, where she creates educational facilities serving pre-K through 12th grade students, supplemented by experience in higher education settings. Shah earned a Bachelor's of Science in Architectural Science from Western Kentucky University and a Master's of Architecture from Savannah College of Art and Design. She maintains active involvement in the profession through the American Institute of Architects, serving as Associate Representative to the National Associates Committee and participating for about 10 years total. Additional leadership includes chairing the Young Architects Forum and acting as liaison for the Savannah chapter of Equity in Architecture. Shah founded Her Story, a platform at HerStoryAEC.com that highlights female architects across Georgia.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heli
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just having a good set of supporters around me, whether it's people at my firm or the mentors and the peers I've met through organizations and my leadership roles. It's just being cognizant of who you're surrounding yourself with, and whether they're going to support you in the things that you want to excel in.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I think it was just don't lose sight of what is important. Days can get so busy, and you can kind of get into a rut and just keep working and working, and you don't want to lose sight of what you're working towards.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My biggest one is ask questions. And that goes for if you're a new professional or not, just be curious and ask questions and be open to learning.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The challenge is not losing sight of the people sometimes. There's so many things that are new or happening in the field, one of them being AI, the other being new tools and new ways to do things, but the core of our industry is to design spaces for people. The opportunity is being able to adapt to everything that is changing and how fast things are changing, and just being able to evolve and being nimble.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think just being forthcoming and being hardworking. I think both of those values will take you really far. If you don't understand something, ask the question. If something is bothering you or doesn't sit right, I think a conversation will go really far. And then just be hardworking, like be able to own up to things and want to excel in things.
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