In honor of Women’s History Month, Wold Architects and Engineers is celebrating several women leaders on our team who are paving the way for others. Throughout the month, we are asking the women of Wold important questions about their experiences as female leaders at Wold and across the architecture, engineering and design industries.
In our fourth installment of the series, associate Jessalyn Kelly shares what it means to be a female in architecture, what inspires her, and the importance of finding balance between her personal and professional life. Jessalyn has been part of our Illinois education team for the past six years and helps turn our clients’ design needs into reality.
Tell us about your current role and how you’re making an impact.
I’m an architect and project manager primarily working in school design. In my role, I focus on leading architects and designers through their professional development. I'm grateful for the opportunity to ensure we help develop the next generation of designers in the field.
Who or what inspires you?
My biggest source of inspiration is seeing the impact and excitement spaces can create. It takes a long time to take initial ideas to final completion, but even the smallest and simplest changes make an impact on how people feel about where they work, learn, and live. Seeing these outcomes is tremendously inspiring.
What do you believe is the biggest challenge (and thus, greatest opportunity) for women in your field, and how might you approach the solution?
Balance is a challenge, especially for women, families and young professionals. Balancing the demands of the profession, personal passions, and personal/professional development can be difficult, but all of these areas help strengthen knowledge and understanding of design. Continuing to create this balance is how we will advance the profession.
