Her Story
About Tricia
Before pursuing architecture, I earned a degree in interior design and then spent 15 years working as an administrative assistant in a child psychiatric office. During that time, I developed the kind of interpersonal and organizational skills that I didn't realize would be so useful in my current career. Skills like compassionate communication, active listening, adaptability, professionalism under pressure, and the ability to navigate complex conversations with empathy and clarity. What started as a part time job ultimately became foundational training in skills that now shape the way I work with clients, consultants, and other teams in the architecture profession. I returned to school, earning a Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture from California State University-Sacramento and in fewer than 5 years from graduation I earned a license to practice architecture in the stat of California. I feel that my background allows me to connect naturally with clients and project teams, helping bridge conversations between technical requirements and human needs.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Tricia
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think it's just perseverance, persistence, trying to keep pushing myself to do the hard thing, and to be uncomfortable. I believe you have to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. A lot of times, the assumptions we make about ourselves are completely wrong. I would tell my younger self to stop getting in my own way and stop avoiding something just because you think you don't fit that part exactly - keep pushing forward to do the thing you love. That's what helped me finally pursue architecture after avoiding it for so long because I thought it was a man's career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
"Be a sponge". I took that to mean listen more then you talk. Learn as much as possible from other peoples' experiences. Architecture is a huge field and everyone has different experiences that we should share.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to go into it not assuming it's a man's world anymore. Going to school back in the early 2000s, it for sure was, and I avoided it because of that, which is why it took me so long to get back into it. It's still kind of perceived that way, but I feel like it really is changing, and that gender role is no longer as strong as it used to be in this field. Don't let those assumptions hold you back from pursuing what you love.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I think it's communication and clarity, because we're good multitaskers, but it's not necessarily the best way to work. I believe in focusing and taking care of the task at hand and making sure that is communicated and that everybody is understanding which roles you are filling. When you wear multiple hats, it's important to be clear about what you're doing and ensure everyone on your team understands the different roles.
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