International Women’s Day 2022 | Tina Dias

March marks the start of Women’s History Month, with International Women’s Day 2022 falling on March 8th. In celebration of this year’s IWD theme #BreakTheBias, we’re going to share interviews from our brilliant team that dig into their careers, projects, and the issues facing women in the architecture sector.

SB Architects, and our industry as a whole, is full of skilled, incredibly talented women. They design, they innovate, and they lead. We’ve maintained a 50-50 ratio of men to women for many years, it’s critical to us that our workplace and culture feels equal, progressive, and innovative. We want young architects, especially female architects, entering the industry to be able to see and envision a clear path to success. More than anything, we want to keep this conversation going as we move towards gender equality.

First up is Tina Dias, our Director of People, Talent, and Culture.

Why do you think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day?

I believe it is important to celebrate the leadership, strength and courage of women and girls. There are so many ways society still minimizes women and suppresses access to opportunities, growth, and overall gender parity. Women deserve a day dedicated to reminding the world that we are equal and can compete on the same level as our counterparts given the correct opportunities.

Have you faced any barriers in your career due to being a woman? If so, how did you overcome them?

The only time I have ever experienced a barrier due to being a woman is during my childbearing years. Navigating childcare, with multiple little ones took me away from the initiatives I would have normally taken on professionally, and thus being overlooked and not appreciated the same as others, even though I was likely spending double the time/energy balancing kids and work. So, I openly talked about it; highlighted my achievements amongst my demanding family life, and gave rise to what I was capable of achieving once these demands were lessened.

What do you think is the biggest issue today facing women of your age?

Fear.

Fear of the good. Fear of the bad. Fear of succeeding. Fear of failing.

What advice would you give to young women aspiring to a similar career path?

Know your self-worth. Don’t give in, or up too quickly. HR can be a scary place, but it can also be very rewarding. We have a platform to support and help others, that doesn’t come without hard work and dedication.

What’s the biggest learning experience you’ve had?

“They’re upset with your role, not at the person you are”…

Learning how to separate professional from personal. Realizing that the actions I must take in my profession are not always reflective of the person I am and knowing how to separate my role from my person.