Her Story
About Saida
Saida Mei is a project manager in an architectural company based in Orlando, Florida, where she has worked in the field since 2001. She began her career as a drafting technician and now oversees a team of seven, managing workflows, schedules, and client communications while pursuing her architectural license and an interior design license. Mei holds a bachelor's degree in environmental architecture earned in 2001 and a master's degree in architecture from 2010. Her education also includes workshops with renowned architects in Italy, London, and Turkey, as well as courses at the San Francisco Academy of Arts, and she is currently pursuing another bachelor's degree. She attributes her success to persistence and a strong desire to achieve her goals, and she advises young women entering the field to ask questions without hesitation and to organize their time effectively. Mei values patience and emphasizes the importance of planning, writing down goals, and seeking inspiration through online study, podcasts, and videos.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Saida
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say being persistent. Don't give up the dream that you really want something. Even high for your current level, you still have those dreams to live better lives, to have better weather, better government, so you do everything you can.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I don't remember anybody giving me any good advice. All by myself, trying to figure this all out from scratch, starting from zero every single time. Only great desire, I would say.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Here in Canada, in Kazakhstan, architecture is known like it's more men's world. I was always wanting to be like interior designer. It's more like women's side of architecture. But somehow I'm still in the architectural field. It sounds difficult to earn, to get, to study, to get a degree, but it's not that hard. It just how you organize your time. Your knowledge, you ask for advice, and there's lots of information right now on the internet. Research. So I would say just ask questions. Don't be shy and ask people questions.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
It's a great challenge to delegate and make people understand how to do work as supposed to be done. I mean, it's always a struggle for me. Why people just don't do the work they should do. Managing things that you have to deal with.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Patience is really valuable. Have a plan. Write down all your even little thoughts that comes on a daily basis that you kind of forget immediately, but you write it down. Sometimes it helps a lot to be on track to your goal. Write down your goals, and study, like online studying, watching podcasts, YouTubes, get inspiration.
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