I am a landscape architect. This is a rare field for a woman to be in, especially an Asian woman! My first job was at a nonprofit raising funds for Riverside Park in New York City where I got to know the park administrator and the landscape architect. Riverside Park and Central Park were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted who is considered the father of landscape architecture. This was super intriguing and prompted me to pursue a master’s degree in landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvania.
I am part of a professional organization called the American Society of Landscape Architects where I have spent many hours volunteering as an officer and on various committees to improve member benefits. I find volunteerism within my professional organization attracts more women who are willing to give their time and skills. This results in more collaboration and less male ego involved in achieving goals.
The only time I encountered challenges in a male-dominated office was when I worked for a multinational corporation. Male coworkers at my level were billed out at a higher rate, leading me to realize that they had higher salaries with fewer years of experience. I brought this up with the managing principal and HR department and was able to achieve parity in salary. Just know your worth, and don’t be afraid to speak up!
Being able to communicate well and making sure you are heard is the best way to gain recognition. Assert yourself and initiate conversation. Ask questions and show your interest and ideas for solutions to problems.
Women bring a unique set of benefits and perspectives to the table. We are aware of male dominance and egos, so when working with clients we allow for others’ input and collaboration for an iterative design process.
I am proud I pursued a profession out of my own interests, with the support of my parents who, at the time, like most people, only knew about architects designing buildings and had not heard of landscape architecture. I have had varied career experience, working on a wide range of design projects which include high-end residential, academic, and office campuses, museums, and public parks.
My advice to anyone considering a career in building architecture and landscape architecture is to focus on a STEAM background because these are multidisciplinary fields. It’s important to include the A for arts!
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