To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, our Cyprus director, Natalie Stylianou, and architectural assistant, Maria Camilla Hernandez, share their experiences of working in architecture, covering challenges they’ve faced as well as the changes they’re seeing towards a more inclusive future.
The fact that it’s very practical and real. You can be in a meeting one minute and on site in boots the next. I love walking live projects — seeing something that started as a sketch slowly becoming a place that people will actually use. There’s something grounding about that. You’re constantly learning too — from contractors, clients, consultants. It never feels static, and that mix of creativity and real-world problem-solving still excites me.
I’ll never forget one of my first big site progress meetings on a DfE school project in London. I walked into the room and it was all men around the table — client, contractor, project manager, consultants — and then me, the young architect leading the meeting. I could feel the doubtful looks and I remember thinking, “Right. Let’s just show them.” By the end of the meeting, the tone had completely shifted. That moment stayed with me.
There are definitely more women coming into the profession, which is brilliant — but what feels more important is seeing more women in leadership. The culture is changing too. It feels less about ego and more about collaboration. There’s more focus on sustainability, wellbeing, and how buildings actually affect people’s lives. That broader conversation opens the door to different voices and different ways of leading, and that can only be a good thing.
Natalie Stylianou
Becoming a parent changed how I see everything, including work. You develop patience and new boundaries you didn’t know you had. You learn to listen properly to be able to resolve a difficult situation. And you realise that everyone is juggling something. I think it’s made me more empathetic as a leader and mentor. I’m more conscious about creating an environment where people feel supported — but also where they’re encouraged to step up and grow same thing I try to do for my daughters.
Early on, I definitely felt like I had to prove I deserved to be in the room — especially in male-dominated settings. I’d over-prepare, over-explain, over-deliver. Now, I don’t feel that same pressure. I know what I bring to a project. I’m comfortable in my role. That shift hasn’t been dramatic — it’s come with time and experience — but it’s been freeing.
What excites me most about working in architecture today is its growing role in addressing social challenges. The idea that thoughtful spatial decisions can influence mental well-being, social interaction, and opportunity is incredibly motivating to me. I’m inspired by how architecture can shape daily experiences and create more inclusive environments.
I haven’t been in practice very long…I joined ADP about a year and a half ago. But I became aware of it during site visits and coordination meetings with consultant teams. In many cases, I was the only woman present and one of the youngest people in the room. At first, I found it intimidating, but now I see those moments as opportunities to strengthen my confidence by believing in my competence and preparation.
Maria Camilla Hernandez
I’ve noticed a growing awareness of architecture’s role in shaping social environments. Sustainability and social responsibility are now central to architectural conversations, which has opened the door to more meaningful discussions about our impact. While I think we’re still at the beginning of expanding architecture’s scope in such topics, I believe the profession has made an important and promising start.
While collaborative projects were valuable, I think I truly began understanding teamwork once I entered practice. What prepared me most was the self-directed nature of my studies learning to manage my time, think critically, and constantly seek improvement. That independence has helped me adapt to different situations at work. As much as I enjoyed Uni, I honestly think I have learnt twice as much in practice than I did in Uni!
To be honest, I didn’t have clear expectations of architecture as a career beyond university. But what surprised me most was how much time is dedicated to administration and coordination. … I did not expect that to be a big part of the role at all! I also didn’t expect the pace of projects to vary so much. But all throughout the interdisciplinary nature of architecture has shown me there is always something new to learn and that can be exciting and challenging at the same time.
Written by:
Marketing and Comms Director
Vicky Fitton
