Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Carol Wall past owner, Mitchell Wall Architecture and Design
Starting Out: I took over running the firm when my husband passed away 19 years ago. The challenge I faced was that I’m not an architect, not a designer, and now I’m running an architectural firm. There was blatant sexism and a huge pay disparity. It was impossible to have your voice heard. I’ve always been feisty, and I just took charge. Early on, I remember a client telling Mitch [her late husband, Mitchell Wall, with whom she co-founded the firm], “I don’t want to work with that pushy broad.” I was fortunate to have great advisors. Being a woman, I made sure to bring other women into the field and grow those women. Today, we’re a group of eight: We have three men and the rest are women, and there is no pay disparity.
Career Advice: Don’t be afraid of change. If you’re unhappy where you are, don’t settle. Don’t be afraid to move to a different firm. Don’t waste your time. We have a short amount of time on earth, so make sure where you’re working meets your design philosophy and that you’re comfortable in the work place.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Susan Bower principal, Bower Leet Design
Starting Out: When I started architecture school at the University of Kentucky, there were only a handful of women—literally five and one female instructor. A lot has changed. I think it’s a great time to be practicing as a woman. We’re getting a lot more positive press, and women are assuming more roles of responsibility. For female architects, there are two major challenges to face: lack of construction knowledge and the fact that there aren’t that many female clients, particularly in the corporate world.
Career Advice: The design field is exciting and creative, and it takes discipline and dedication. I’m an advocate for an architecture education because it’s all-encompassing. You’re prepared to think from the macro to the micro scale, or, to paraphrase a famous Italian, “from the city to the spoon.” You learn about shaping physical form and space, about the planning of cities—physically, historically and socially—and about furniture and interior design. It’s a rich, rewarding, and often frustrating field, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Annie Brahler-Smith designer, Euro Trash
Starting Out: I worked hard to gain respect by being overly prepared. The fact that I’m a female means I need to be twice as prepared if I want to be taken seriously. I’m careful to be patient when things are “over-explained” to me. This morning, for example, I was getting bids for an indoor putting green. I had already schooled myself on the subject, made a list of the pros and cons, and homed in on what would best serve my client’s needs. When I met the first dealer, I had to breathe deeply a few times while the gentleman called me “dear” and asked if my husband was going to be joining us. I explained again, as I had on the phone, that I was designing and managing the project.
Career Advice: Don’t be intimidated by things you don’t understand. Women will over-prepare before they go into [a job] because they think they need to have all the answers. If I don’t understand something, I research the topic until I do.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Emily Castle managing principal, Castle Design
Starting Out: When I first started, I worked in an architectural firm. There were 100 architects in a very large space, with four rows of desks, 25 deep, and there were only two women there, so you wanted to be liked. I had to do the very best job I could do, but I was never intimidated by that. I was getting a degree in architecture, so it was a man’s world. In this industry, education and experience is key. My architectural background helps me earn respect from the architects and contractors I work with, as I’m able to fully understand the details of construction, as well as design.
Career Advice: Get a mentor. I had some of the finest mentors in St. Louis, so I never had to apply for a job. Mentors can help place you in the right positions. It’s really about the paths you take and who is on your path along the way. My first mentor was my college instructor. I worked for her after graduation, and then she referred me to my next position. After that, my career advanced from personal referrals and the connections I made along the way.
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Jane Ann Forney co-owner and principal, Forney + Architecture
Starting Out: Back in the ’80s, when there weren’t a lot of women in the architecture field, I was definitely one of the guys. I don’t know that it was so much of a challenge as you had to be thick-skinned and not easily offended.
Career Advice: Start with a small-to-midsize firm. That is going to give you more of a variety of types of work. You’re going to be given responsibility a lot quicker than you would at a large firm. It’s very easy in this industry to get pigeonholed—so, working for a company that does a lot of different types of projects, you’re going to get that exposure to family, healthcare, small commercial, retail, and residential projects. I think that’s probably the most important thing.
