Interview 005: Amy Gilbertson
Our Distinctive Woman feature this month is the wonderful and highly-accomplished, Amy Gilbertson. Amy is Principal at Trivers, an architecture firm in St. Louis, Missouri. While helping to run the firm with her co-partners, Amy also helps to lead business development, recruitment and retention of team members, as well as shared design responsibilities on projects. However, Amy’s main focus and expertise is in historic preservation and rehabilitation.
Continue reading for the full interview with Amy Gilbertson!
LIW: What's one characteristic you possess that you think has helped you get to where you are and why?
AG: I think self-awareness has been pretty helpful in my career development. I’m able to identify areas where I excel but am also very open about areas where I’m less comfortable and need help.
LIW: What is it like working in a leadership position in your industry?
AG: Being in a position to help our clients fulfill their vision is immensely rewarding. There are certainly challenges to overcome and moments of exhaustion along the way but I’m sure that would be true for any profession! I’ve really enjoyed being in a position to help our team members identify their own strengths and pair them with clients and projects that are best suited for their interests and passion. Building a great team is critically important to achieving successful project results and also makes the journey that much more enjoyable.
LIW: One piece of advice for young women?
AG: Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself! You are in the best position to know your own capabilities. Speaking up and letting others know of your interests will at least start the conversation of what type of focused development can help you reach your goals.
LIW: If you had to do it all over again, would you change your career path? Why or why not?
AG: Definitely not. All of the successes and failures along the way contribute to my current approach to work and life. And, I’m truly grateful that I ended up with two fantastic partners that I respect. We know that we are better together than we would be on our own and that support system has been so important in navigating the ups and downs of our industry.
LIW: What do you wish to accomplish within the next few years?
AG: Continue identifying and mentoring future leaders in our firm, delivering great projects for our clients, re-engaging in architectural degree program professional practice education, and finding a way to send my first born off to college!