In one of the most crowded, competitive industries imaginable, how can even the most skilled architects hope to have their projects seen, their story told, or their voice heard? Arguably the biggest incentive to enter the A+Awards — now open for entries with an Extended Entry Deadline of February 24th, 2023 — is the opportunity to have your work reviewed by, and connect with, some of the brightest minds in the industry, from renowned architects and designers to industry advocates and community leaders.
This season, some of our newest A+Awards Jurors, introduced below, possess an outsized influence thanks to their ability to help architects express their ideas and guide them to greater success. These “architect whisperers” dispense priceless nuggets of wisdom for emerging professionals and established architects alike on LinkedIn and beyond, and have built up close-knit communities characterized by knowledge sharing, insightful architectural content and entrepreneurial spirit.
Learn more about each new juror below, and connect with them on LinkedIn to grow your professional network:
Evelyn Lee
Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies | Founder, Practice of Architecture
Evelyn Lee, FAIA, is the first-ever Global Head of Workplace Strategy and Innovation at Slack Technologies, Founder of the Practice of Architecture, and Co-Host of the Podcast, Practice Disrupted. Lee integrates her business and architecture background with a qualitative and quantitative focus to build better experiences for the organization’s employees, clients, and guests.
She is widely published, wrote a monthly column for Contract magazine for over three years, and is now a frequent contributor to Architect Magazine. Evelyn has received numerous industry awards, including 2016 40 Under 40 award for Building Design + Construction and the 2014 AIA National Young Architects Award. She recently served as the first-ever female Treasurer to the AIA National Board in 2020-2021.
Follow Evelyn on LinkedIn, and check out the Practice of Architecture website.
Nikita Morell
Copywriter for Architects
Nikita is a copywriter for only architects and founder of Architects Wordshop. She helps architects communicate their value, so they can get a steady stream of ridiculously good projects. Her mission is to make architecture websites sound less robot, more human.
She has studied 663 architecture websites (you can see the results on her website) and sends emails packed with free copywriting tips, templates, and slightly amusing stories.
Follow her on controversial rants on LinkedIn, and be sure to join her email list.
Wandile Mthiyane
Founder, Anti Racist Hot Dog and Ubuntu Design Group
As detailed in Mthiyane’s insightful op-ed “The Architects of Systemic Racism“, The Ubuntu Architecture Summer Abroad Program has created a cross-cultural design-build experience for architecture students from around the world. This program is an intercollegiate educational experience in which students learn a community-centered approach to architecture. Students will design and build dignified and culturally-influenced homes for marginalized families in Durban, South Africa, who were affected by apartheid architecture.
Follow Wandile on Linkedin, and check out the Anti-Racist Hot Dog.
Tyler Suomala
Founder Tyler Tactics
Tyler Suomala is a serial learner obsessed with helping architects optimize all things business development and operations. Before transitioning into Business Development at Monograph, Tyler worked in large and small architecture offices and also ran his own architectural design studio for 2.5 years. He holds a B.S. in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a M. Arch from Princeton University.
Tyler is currently creating a community of architects at TylerTactics.com, where he sends one quick & powerful tactic to help architects attract high-quality clients every Sunday morning.
Follow Tyler on LinkedIn and check out his website.
Joann Lui, AIA
Founder, Women Architects Collective
Joann Lui, AIA, is a licensed architect and personal brand strategist. Combining 11 years of experience in architecture and marketing, Joann deeply understands the struggles architects go through every day. She coaches and consults with architects to refine who they are and make their voices heard through the power of personal branding.
She founded the Women Architects Collective, a global online community of 4,000+ women building careers they love. To spread the voice of WAC, she also launched the Women Architects Festival, an annual virtual conference celebrating women in architecture.
Joann developed her professional experience as an architect in public space design at Gensler NY and transitioned into a new Content Marketer role at various AEC tech startups such as Monograph and TestFit.
Follow Joann on LinkedIn, and check out her website.
Steven Biersteker
Architect and Writer
Steven Biersteker is an architect, BIM Enthusiast, writer and dad. After struggling in the industry as a young architect, Steven decided to make a change by writing about architecture and actively looking for ways to design buildings with less impacts on the environment. Steven is passionate about design, construction, carbon and life.
Follow Steven on LinkedIn, and check out his website.
Sara Kolata
Founder, DISRUPT Symposium
Sara Kolata is an architect and a digital transformation expert, whose mission is to raise the financial wellbeing of architects. She is the founder of the DISRUPT Symposium, the largest Business of Architecture symposium in the world, and a host of an Arch Talk: Tank show which serves as a platform for industry specialists to talk about business, marketing and profitability in Architecture.
Sara helps architects develop online businesses and create online courses. She also works as a business developer for medium to large size architecture firms, helping them manage their finances and implement better client attraction strategies.
Follow Sara on LinkedIn, and check out the DISRUPT Symposium.
In order to have your work seen by these key players in the business of architecture, make sure to submit your projects for their review in this year’s A+Awards program — and don’t forget to follow Architizer on LinkedIn, as we share editorial features on winning projects and firms throughout 2023!
