FOX FEATURES: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2019
If you’ve worked with any of the women on our staff, you know that they’re amazing. The women at FOX Architects make possible everything we do. They win new business, foster relationships with longstanding clients, design millions of square feet, keep projects on time and on budget, and walk construction sites for quality control. They manage our finances, give back to our community, lead, and encourage our teams. In short, the women of FOX Architects are the future of the firm.
For International Women’s Day, we’re introducing you to a few of our talented professionals. We’d love to tell each woman’s unique story and brag about their contributions to FOX Architects, but as 58%, we wouldn’t be able to do it all on one day! Meet Ursula, Teriflor, Sheila, and Laura.
ursula finley, senior project manager
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
One year.
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
KeyW. This project was my first win at FOX Architects. I worked with a great team that went above and beyond to create a workspace that inspired the client and made them proud.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
The schedule was tight, especially at the end. The entire team — client, CM, GC and the FOX team — worked closely as a unit to make sure the space was completed on time. This was a major challenge as the permit process for the interconnecting stair took longer than anticipated.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
Balancing family and work. I have three children and I work full time. It is very important for my husband and me that our children feel loved, safe, and that we are present for them. FOX has been a great place to grow my career and keep a strong family. They provide a work environment that is flexible and supports work-life balance.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
With my family. Either at home, with friends, or traveling.
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
Studying for the WELL exam. Health and sustainability are important to me personally and professionally. I’m honored that as a project manager, I can improve so many people’s wellbeing by implementing design solutions that meet human needs.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Having built a strong family and career. I’m originally Peruvian and have lived abroad most of my life. I never thought I would end up living in the Washington, DC metro area, but life brought me here and I have built both my career and family in this area.
What are your goals for the future?
Continue to raise my children to be bilingual, strong, and humble, so they can succeed in whatever path they decide to take in life. In parallel, to become a Principal and an example to all the women who are raised abroad and dream of having a design career in this country.
Who inspires you, and why?
My mom inspires me every day. She raised a family of five in three different countries: Peru, Austria, and Honduras. When she went to college in Peru, it was rare for a woman to attend college at the time, especially engineering school. Not only did she get in, but she was one of three women that graduated from the best industrial engineering school. When I was one year old, she was hired by the United Nations and we moved to Vienna, Austria. She worked at the UN until she retired. To this day, she is still active and is now the president of the Women of United Nations in Peru. She taught me to never give up and to always dream, but most importantly, to be a loving wife and mother. She and my dad have been married for fifty years.
teriflor dupree, accounting specialist
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
Almost 4 years full-time, but 6 years total, if you include my time as a temp.
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
When we combined FOX’s Virginia and DC offices. It was a big undertaking to move and manage everyone under one roof, but the dynamics and processes are so much better now. It was interesting being a part of the project from the beginning and helping with the transition after we moved.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
My role was keeping track of our budget and what was purchased to go towards our new office. Let’s just say I made a lot of spreadsheets and had a hefty paper trail to keep track of all the vendors and consultants!
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
Time management – trying to balance work and family. Also, my daily commute is 4 hours round trip, and that’s a kicker!
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I enjoy spending time with my family the most. I also enjoy cooking, trying new restaurants, watching movies, shopping — the typical stuff. And karaoke! You’re not Filipino if you don’t karaoke! 😊
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
I’m trying to learn all the lyrics and dance moves to the kids’ song, “Baby Shark,” so my daughter will stop getting upset that I don’t have it down pat. Just kidding — I know it like the back of my hand! I’m currently trying to learn more about my culture. I’ve been practicing Filipino recipes that I haven’t made before and re-learning the language with my husband, David.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I’m most proud of my family. My husband has made a lot of life-changing choices to make our family happy and comfortable. I’m proud of my daughter as well, because she was born premature and is now advanced for her age in socializing, cognitive and motor skills.
What are your goals for the future?
I hope to continue my education one day. It’s been a long time coming. As a leisure-time goal, I hope to get a chance to travel more with my family. We have to wait for our baby girl to get a little bigger for that one.
Who inspires you, and why?
My parents – my mom came to this country with a small suitcase full of clothes, little money and a phone number for the one person she knew here in America. She worked very hard to get to where she is now. My dad, too, has a strong work ethic. They have taught me perseverance, patience, positivity and integrity. Through any struggle you must endure, and you can make it through with those four things in mind.
sheila christian, project architect
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
A little over 7 months.
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
In 2017 I was awarded AIA Virginia’s Helene Combs Dreiling FAIA Fellowship, which allowed me to undertake a special project that is meaningful to me as the spouse of a combat veteran. I researched environmental triggers that impact the health and well-being of combat veterans as they adjust to life after deployment. Surveying combat veterans, I identified common triggers in built environments and explored design interventions to help ease trauma and meet veterans’ needs.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
The biggest challenge I faced was how to get feedback from the combat veteran population because, in general, that specific populous is not one to voice what bothers them. At first, I had to reach out to combat vets that I knew personally who would feel comfortable answering my questions. However, once they understood how my research could help others, they started reaching out to other soldiers and my network of interviewees grew exponentially. This allowed my research to reach across age, gender, and military branch divides to get a thorough pool of information to pull from.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
Overcoming the stigma of being a military spouse. Moving every few years resulted in a resume with a wide range of experience, but without lengthy experience at any one place. Firms often baulk when they see a resume laid out in that manner. The assumption is that I’m not dedicated, unable to hold down a position for very long, or am distracted and not worth investing in. What they wouldn’t realize is the hard work it took to procure a job at each duty station my husband was stationed at, and the skill it took for me to continually prove myself and excel at each firm. I quickly learned new software and stayed proficient in all the modeling programs so that I could jump into projects with a new firm and eliminate the learning curve. It was a challenge, but I think it helped hone my abilities faster.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I love traveling with my husband and dogs to visit national parks around the country. We often go hiking and then try to find a new restaurant or winery in the area.
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
Since becoming a licensed architect, my primary source of learning has shifted to reading biographies. I am currently learning about Marie Colvin, a world-renowned war correspondent who lived an amazingly brave life on the constant edge of extreme danger.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Being able to maintain a work-life balance. In our industry, that is often thought of as an unattainable goal, but it is imperative to maintain in order to produce high quality work and not become burnt out.
What are your goals for the future?
To sit on the board of a few non-profit organizations and use my knowledge to help them develop better environments and spaces for their communities.
Who inspires you, and why?
I believe that in order to grow as a person, you need to surround yourself with inspiring people. It’s hard for me to pick a single individual because my circle of friends and family inspire me every day. From overcoming incredible obstacles to striving for self-improvement, to sharing unconditional love, the people in my life inspire me in so many ways.
laura kacarab, staff designer
How long have you worked at FOX Architects?
Three and half years.
Which project are you most proud of, and why?
I love helping people through design and creating spaces that make people proud and excited to go in to the office. My work helps people feel supported and inspired in the place where they spend most of their day, and I’m proud that I get to make that place special for our clients.
What was the biggest challenge you faced working on that project? How did you approach that challenge?
The biggest challenge with any project is hearing the client’s needs, articulating that through the architecture, and balancing that with solutions that work within the client’s budget. The sky isn’t the limit, and part of the creative challenge is going above and beyond with what you’ve been given.
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role or career?
The greatest challenge I face in my role as a designer is being valued and respected as a young woman. There are times when I haven’t been taken seriously as a professional with valuable experience, knowledge, and skills. Sadly, when people refer to “the architect” who’s working on the project, they assume that the person who walks into the room will look a certain way.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I am involved at my church, leading bible studies and serving our local community.
In your life outside of work, what are you learning right now?
I am taking a biblical counseling class. I’m learning how help others in need by better listening to, encouraging, and loving them.
What are you most proud of in your life?
My faith is very important to me, and I’m proud of the person I’m becoming in light of that. I strive to live out my beliefs and love others with the love I’ve been given.
What are your goals for the future?
My main goal is to faithfully serve the Lord every day, with all my heart, in all that I do.
Who inspires you, and why?
I would say Joanna Gaines. Even though I don’t know her, I value her authenticity in how she presents her faith, marriage, family, and business through media. Plus, her design style and home décor are fantastic!