International Women’s Day
Janhavi, BIM Technician
6 March 2023
To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on our supremely talented and inspiring female colleagues. Each day this week, we’ll be hearing from a different member of the team about their role models, aspirations and experiences in our traditionally male-dominated profession.
Tell us a bit about your career path to date and what inspired you to study architecture.
I worked as a Junior Architect for a year, and then as an Architect for two years in Mumbai, India. Currently, I am working as a BIM Technician at Ayre Chamberlain Gaunt. I think we are shaped by the environment that we live in and architecture is at the core of it. Spaces evoke feelings and emotions, give comfort, provide support for all possible activities and tie communities together which is why I decided to study architecture.
Who are your female role models?
Savitri Bai Phule; she empowered women’s education and equal rights in India. Also, Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima. Her architectural style is fluid, transparent and intertwined with nature which has always inspired me to re-think and design spaces, and consider the impact those spaces might have on users. Finally, Indra Noori; she’s one of the top CEO’s in the world for her leadership at global behemoth PepsiCo.
What has been your career highlight so far?
Working in the UK on a BIM level 2 project.
What are your thoughts on how gender equality is evolving in the workplace and what are your aspirations for the future?
As stated by Campbell (2014b,C:4) ‘The new world order is neither neutral or innocent about sexism: it modernizes it’. My thoughts are neutral on gender equality, however, it is said that the gender equality is still evolving, meaning it’s not yet fixed.
If you could give one piece of advice to a woman at the start of her career journey, what would it be.
Never give up. You can say it, but don’t do it.
Finally, which is your favourite building designed by a woman?
Rolex Learning Center-SANAA by Kazuyo Sejima + Ryue Nishizawa.