Today we’d like to introduce you to Melanie George.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I moved to San Diego about a decade ago after completing my architecture degree in Arizona. At the time, there were few job openings locally, but I eventually found a position working at a local design/build development company. It ended up being a great way to start my career, as I learned about how privately funded projects get off the ground and the intricacies that go into obtaining approval for development and building permits. From there, I continued my career at other local architecture firms – each firm with a specific focus on design, a breadth of project types, and specializing in K12 educational projects. It was rewarding to gain experience in different market sectors and learn different modes of collaborating with others, producing construction sets, and serving clients with unique needs and requirements. I was lucky to work with different female role models at these firms, and it was always a bittersweet experience when either they or I made the difficult decision to move on. Candidly, I struggled with being fairly compensated in my roles at these firms and feeling that my skills were being adequately utilized. Volunteering for local architectural committees, like WIA, allowed me to connect with other women who have experienced similar struggles. However, it was oftentimes both frustrating and relieving to hear that others had struggled as I had. The culture of architecture and design definitely has an undertone of long hours at the office being a prerequisite for leadership or recognition, regardless of the quality of the projects or the development of the employees as separate individuals with unique goals and skillsets.
For me, the opportunity to start my own business provided a chance to feel that the output of my hard work could be tied to something I had equity in. I have a personality type where I need to be challenged and feel that I am learning and evolving in my career to achieve fulfillment. In the back of my head, I always wondered if starting my own design business would allow me to do so.
In the fall of 2022, I decided to act on my dream and invest in myself for the first time. I quit my role as a Project Architect and started my own business focusing on residential and small commercial business design. I am just beginning my journey, but already have gained a great appreciation for others who have also been bold enough to walk down their own path. I enjoy learning about the financial, tax, and administrative needs of running a small business and take pride when I achieve a small success. I also, unexpectedly, have realized that a large part of my happiness has occurred outside of my career because I finally have the time and space to focus on my health and well-being, and especially my family. As the head of my own company, I can refocus on designing beautiful spaces and helping people create environments that they love to be in. It’s refreshing and rewarding, even as I work to build my own portfolio and learn what tools will help me gain financial security and future success. I encourage anyone considering to start their own business to reach out to others in their lives, who have made similar leaps, and ask what helped them make their decision.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
A big realization presented itself to me as seeing myself as a leader and learning to use my voice to effectively and (hopefully) eloquently share my opinions and views on business or design. I am naturally introverted and very self-aware and critical, so it took time for me to be comfortable with speaking up. With the knowledge I have garnered from project management courses and programs throughout my career, I have been able to gain confidence when I’m speaking to large groups or clients.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business.
I practice architecture within my full-service firm focused on residential and commercial design. I assist clients through the beginning ideation stages of design, including schematic design and space planning, through permitting and construction. I consider myself to be a bit different from other architects in that I enjoy learning about some of the traditionally not-as-fun aspects of my career – such as new local zoning requirements, code changes, and submittal requirements. I believe homeowners and small business owners deserve representation and agency to make responsible choices regarding how and where to spend their investment. My goal is always to ensure that they achieve the greatest return by enjoying and loving the spaces they live in every day. The design process should be as transparent, efficient, and stress-free as possible, and I am always willing to continue to support the client as their project heads into construction.
What matters most to you? Why?
What matters most to me is remembering the gratitude I have for being able to enjoy moments every day in my career and personal life. Investing in my health and well-being allows me to have the energy and headspace to focus on my profession but also being disciplined to put down my work at the end of the day and spend time with my family. My parents worked hard to support me in my education and also instilled in me the confidence that I am more than capable of achieving my professional goals. Looking forward, I hope to continue to give myself the grace to learn and grow slowly in my new business and refocus on how grateful I am for the opportunities that have brought me to this point.
Contact Info:
- Website: adjacentarc.com
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/melanie-george
Image Credits
Spearhead Media
