A woman architect shares her journey breaking barriers in construction, revealing how authentic leadership, clear communication, and embracing individuality transformed her career and shaped her mission to inspire more women in skilled trades.
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Influential Woman · Architecture and Construction
Tamara Sucko, AIA
Technical & Design Manager, Architecture Steel
Kissimmee, FL 34746
17Years experience
1Article published
Her Story
About Tamara
Tamara Sucko, AIA, is an Argentine architect and entrepreneur with more than 17 years of experience in residential design and construction across Argentina and the United States. She serves as Technical and Design Manager at Architecture Steel in Orlando, Florida, a company she co-founded with her sister specializing in residential construction using Cold-Formed Steel framing.
She also serves on the board of Casarella in Argentina, where she has held leadership positions spanning construction site management, design, operations, and business development. Throughout her career, she has played a key role in the development and construction of more than 600 homes.
Her passion for construction began in childhood, growing up in a family of builders and imagining homes with her sister long before pursuing architecture professionally. Working on construction sites from a young age, often as the only woman, shaped her perspective on leadership, teamwork, and the importance of earning trust through knowledge and communication. Her father's mentorship, combined with her studies in business management and ontological coaching, helped her develop a leadership style centered on people.
In 2022, Tamara moved to the United States, embracing the challenge of rebuilding her professional journey in a new country while continuing her involvement with her businesses in Argentina.
After working in two countries with different construction codes and practices, she recognized that many of the industry's challenges were surprisingly similar, particularly the need for practical workforce training. This inspired her to create Build It in Steel, a training initiative that combines her construction experience, technical knowledge, and leadership tools to help teams improve how they build with Cold-Formed Steel framing. She also hopes to encourage more women and young people to explore opportunities in the construction industry.
Her entrepreneurial journey also led her to create Valijera during the pandemic, a socially driven corporate gifting company that celebrates Argentina's regional products while supporting low resources schools through educational resources.
Becoming a mother in 2025 brought another meaningful transformation, reshaping her perspective on success, time, and the balance between professional ambition and family life.
Recognized as one of the Influential Women representing Orlando, Florida, for 2026, Tamara enjoys spending time outdoors, dancing, visiting Disney and the beach, and sharing meaningful moments with her young son, her husband, and friends in both Argentina and the United States.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tamara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the people I have worked alongside on construction sites. They taught me far more than I could have learned at university, and spending time with them, listening, and building real connections has helped me think differently about building. Being the only woman on many job sites was challenging, but it shaped me into a stronger leader. I am also grateful to my father, who has spent his career in construction and has been an exceptional mentor, and to my husband, who supports every goal I pursue and shares the care of our son.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I’m not sure the best advice I’ve ever received came through words. I believe some of the most valuable lessons in life are taught through actions, and my father has been my greatest example of that.
He taught me to never give up, to always look for another solution, and to never stop asking questions. I believe many problems remain unsolved not because there are no solutions, but because we stop looking for them. We need to be more curious, do our research, step outside our comfort zones, and be willing to ask for help.
My father speaks very little English, yet he has accomplished so much despite that language barrier. Watching him grow and overcome challenges has always made me incredibly proud.
He has shown me that not knowing something should never stop you from trying. You don't have to have all the answers, and you shouldn't be embarrassed to admit when you don't know something. What matters is having the courage to take initiative, the willingness to learn, and the humility to truly listen to others.
If I had to turn everything he has taught me into one piece of advice, it would be: Never stop asking questions, never be afraid of what you don't know, and never give up looking for a way forward.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I have spent much of my career as the only woman on the job site, and mentorship from my father and my ongoing education helped me build my knowledge, experience, and leadership. I encourage young women to build genuine relationships with their teams, to listen and get to know the people they work with, and to learn from their colleagues. That approach has helped me remain relatable while growing into a capable and confident businesswoman.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
My goal is to help more companies build with a different system, train their teams, and bring about the change that construction needs in both the United States and Argentina. The biggest challenge is resistance to change, since many professionals prefer familiar methods because they lack the knowledge to try something new. The opportunity is to educate and train teams in steel construction, which delivers higher quality, greater durability, and better resistance to hurricanes, fire, termites, and mold. I also focus on building only two homes at a time so I can give each client my full attention.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I place great value on my time and on my family, including my son, my husband, and my father. I equally value the relationships I build with my team. I make an effort to know them, support them, and learn from our shared experiences.
Her Content Hub
Articles by Tamara
You Don't Have to Lead Like a Man to Succeed in Construction
How a woman in construction learned that true leadership means being authentically yourself.
I grew up surrounded by construction. My grandfather was a bricklayer, my parents built their own construction business, and by the time I was a teenager, I was already spending time on jobsites.
At 18, I started studying architecture at night while working during the day. I was young, inexperienced, and often the only woman on the construction site.
I quickly realized that being a woman in this industry meant facing challenges that had very little to do with architecture.
I had to earn people's trust, demonstrate my knowledge, and learn how to lead teams of men who sometimes had decades more experience than I did.
But one of the most important lessons of my career was discovering that I didn't need to become someone else to earn my place.
Leadership Isn't About Being the Loudest Person in the Room
Early in my career, I believed that being a good leader meant having all the answers, making decisions quickly, and proving that I was capable of handling everything.
Over time, I began to understand leadership differently.
Construction is an industry where communication is just as important as technical knowledge. A misunderstanding between two people can affect an entire project. An instruction that isn't clearly communicated can lead to mistakes, delays, and frustration.
That realization encouraged me to study ontological coaching, communication, and leadership alongside my career in architecture.
I started paying more attention to how people listen, how they make commitments, and how teams coordinate their actions.
I learned that leadership isn't about controlling everything. It's about creating the conditions for people to work together effectively.
And most importantly, I realized that I could lead in my own way.
Being Different Can Be a Strength
Throughout my career, I've worked with hundreds of construction professionals and helped develop a company that has built more than 600 homes in Argentina.
Some of the most valuable lessons I've learned didn't come from textbooks or management courses. They came from conversations on jobsites, difficult decisions, mistakes, and the people I've worked alongside.
When I moved to the United States in 2022, I began connecting with organizations and initiatives encouraging more women to enter the skilled trades.
I want more women and young people to discover the opportunities construction has to offer.
Not everyone needs to become an architect or an engineer. There are opportunities in installation, project management, manufacturing, quality control, training, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
And there's something incredibly rewarding about being part of creating a home.
After 17 years in this industry, I know that my greatest professional achievements aren't only the buildings I've helped construct.
They're also the teams I've helped develop, the people I've learned from, and the confidence I've gained in being myself.
If I could share one lesson with women entering a male-dominated industry, it would be this: You don't have to change who you are to earn your place. Your perspective, your voice, and your way of leading have value.
The goal isn't to become more like the people who came before us. It's to make room for more people to succeed in their own way.
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