Pride in Identity: LeaderFlow's Janiece Williams on Sharing Tools and Lessons
By Julia Gamolina
Janiece Williams is a Houston native and Howard University alumna with ten years of experience in architectural design and project management. She is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of LeaderFlow, a nonprofit dedicated to accelerating the pipeline to leadership for professionals of color in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry.
Actively involved in NOMA, she served on the Southern California Chapter's Executive Board, and helped launch the SoCal NOMA DEI Challenge. Janiece believes that attracting and retaining top talent requires a focus on creating inclusive work environments that encourage diverse career paths and an investment in personal and professional development training for individuals at various career stages. LeaderFlow operates in Los Angeles, Seattle, and Houston, with plans to expand nationally.
In her interview with Julia Gamolina, Janiece talks about developing LeaderFlow out of her own personal experiences, advising those just starting their careers to challenge the status quo in our industry.
JG: First, tell me about your time at Howard.
JW: My time at Howard was a journey of self-discovery and pride in my heritage and identity. Attending an HBCU had always been a dream of mine, inspired by my parents, both of whom are HBCU alumni. The excitement I felt about going to Howard, The Mecca, where beautiful Black and Brown people from around the world pursue higher learning, was unparalleled.
Choosing to study architecture on the other hand, was unexpected. I had just graduated from a specialized high school for health professions, because I thought I might go into medicine. My interest in architecture was sparked by my older sister, who has an extensive career in the construction industry. Although I knew little about architecture, I saw it as a chance to explore my interest in community development.
I'll never forget the first day in my freshman design studio when my professor told us to look to our left and right and said, "That person sitting next to you will most likely not be with you at your graduation." My nervousness turned into fear—fear of surviving in the program and the industry. Despite this, I appreciated my educational experience, particularly the close bond I developed with my peers. We supported each other on the path to graduation, and made sure that we were going to be crossing that finish line together. My time at Howard was enriched by the sense of community, belonging and our shared love for Black history and culture.
2023 LeaderFlow Seattle Program Wrap Celebration. Photography by Fadi Asmar.
2023 AIA Los Angeles Community Contribution Award. Pictured from left to right: Leslie Sydnor, Recent Past AIA LA President; Janiece Williams, LeaderFlow Co-Founder & Executive Director; John Gavan, CEO of KPFF Consulting Engineers & LeaderFlow Co-Founder. Photography courtesy of AIA LA.
How did you get your start in the field?
After graduating from Howard in 2010, although our industry was still recovering from the recession, I committed to working in the field for at least a few years to figure out my path. I moved to Los Angeles to start this journey, and those planned few years of working in LA turned into ten.
Throughout my journey, I grappled with my identity in architecture, trying to understand how I fit into this industry. Imposter syndrome was always there, even before I knew what it was. However, I knew that my strengths lay in working with people, drawing out their abilities to build effective teams and solve problems. While I struggled to find my place in architecture, I found a community through the Southern California Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (SoCal NOMA). I was a dedicated volunteer with the Project Pipeline Summer Camp planning committee, and served on the Executive Board where I served two terms, from 2018 to 2021.
What led to LeaderFlow?
By 2021, after striking out in my attempts to align my passion with my career and struggling with my mental health, I realized that it was time to take a step back and start a new path. During this period of change, I had the opportunity to go through a pilot leadership development program, which came at a crucial time for me.
That pilot leadership development program was created as an initiative between SoCal NOMA and KPFF Consulting Engineers. John Gavan, KPFF’s CEO, was asked to put out a statement following George Floyd's murder and in response to the social unrest taking place across the world. Understanding the need for action beyond words, John sought to create sustainable change in our industry by supporting professionals of color. He proposed adapting the framework of KPFF’s leadership development program to create a program targeting mid-career professionals of color in the AEC industry.
I was invited to apply to this program, and given my personal and career circumstances, the experience was life-changing. It empowered me, boosting my confidence in my identity and the value of my contributions. Recognizing its profound impact on my life, I was inspired to help others who may be in a similar position.
“We recognized the need to support a part of the talent pipeline that had been overlooked: mid-career professionals, who’ve been working in the industry and could benefit from mentorship and coaching outside of project management to achieve leadership positions.”
How did you then start LeaderFlow?
After ten years in Los Angeles, I decided that it was time to return to my hometown of Houston, Texas to figure out my next chapter and be closer to family. This period of transition coincided with the creation of LeaderFlow. After completing the pilot leadership program in September 2021, John Gavan and I questioned why leadership in AEC does not reflect the diverse talent that we aim to attract. We recognized the need to support a part of the talent pipeline that had been overlooked: mid-career professionals, who’ve been working in the industry and could benefit from mentorship and coaching outside of project management to achieve leadership positions. This realization led us to expand this initiative through our own nonprofit. LeaderFlow officially launched in January 2022, marking the beginning of our mission to support and empower professionals of color in the AEC industry.
Looking back at it all, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?
One of the biggest challenges has been the learning curve presented by this new opportunity. Being new to the nonprofit space and being an entrepreneur has been both liberating and overwhelming, and I doubt these feelings will ever completely go away.
But, for the first time, I feel like I’m working in a way that fuels my passion and desire to have an impact on people, and an even bigger challenge for me has been trying to preserve my mental health so that I can continue to show up for the work and people that I care so much about. What I am learning and continuously practicing is self-awareness and asking for help when I need it, no matter how small the task.
2023 Building Ventures Innovation Network Spring Summit. Janiece Williams and John Gavan. Photography courtesy of Building Ventures.
What have you also learned in the last six months?
I’m learning more about what I want my role to be in LeaderFlow. Like many startup founders, I’ve been wearing so many hats, but now I am focusing on building the LeaderFlow team and defining my work as Executive Director. It is very important to me to continue developing our LeaderFlow Development Program to support our cohorts and alumni by expanding our content and providing more learning and community-building opportunities.
Who are you admiring now and why?
The first person who comes to mind is Karen Compton, Principal of A3K Consulting. I first met Karen after hearing her share some meaningful words during a virtual town hall hosted by SoCal NOMA following George Floyd’s murder. Her confident, poised and bold delivery stood out to me, so I decided to look her up on LinkedIn, as many of us do nowadays. I learned that the organization she started focused on helping AEC companies strengthen their business to achieve long-term success. At the time, I was new in a Director of Operations role at HansonLA, and knew I could learn a lot from her. I reached out to see if she would be willing to have a virtual chat with me, and she responded right away.
Her warm and friendly candor made me feel right at home, as if we had known each other for years. Not only did her business expertise enlighten me, but her confidence to tell it like it is also inspired me. When I was looking to make my career change, she was one of the first people in the industry who truly made me feel seen and heard. Since then, she’s been a shoulder to lean on and a guiding light of mentorship along my journey.
“I’m passionate about empowering others to find and exercise their voice...We need to pat ourselves on the back more and not be afraid to admire the work we’ve done to get to this place in life.”
The second part of my answer is that I am really admiring myself nowadays, and I finally feel confident enough to say that without worrying it may sound too arrogant. Finding your voice can be hard; exercising your voice can be even harder. I’m proud of how far I’ve come and how much I’ve accomplished, even when my path differed from most. I’m passionate about empowering others to find and exercise their voice, and it feels right to exemplify that in my response to this question. We need to pat ourselves on the back more and not be afraid to admire the work we’ve done to get to this place in life.
I’m so glad you said that — being proud of yourself and taking stock of all that you’ve done so far is important. A big kudos to you.
I know you’ve touched on this a bit already, but what would you say is your core mission? And, what does success in that look like to you?
The impact that I’d like to have on the world is rooted in personal growth and empowerment. Through my work, I often recognize in others the same obstacles that inhibited my growth, such as imposter syndrome, fear, and limiting beliefs. My core mission is to share the tools and lessons I’ve learned to help others remove these barriers. Success in this mission may be hard to quantify, but I define it by witnessing those "lightbulb moments" in others—whether they are personal or professional breakthroughs. Each moment of clarity or achievement, no matter how small, signifies progress, one person at a time.
Janiece’s Program Keynote for the 2024 Association for Women in Architecture & Design Symposium. Photography by Keats Elliot.
2024 LeaderFlow Seattle Cohort. Photography courtesy of Janiece Williams.
Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?
My advice is to be patient with yourself and to release the expectations of having it all figured out. For those trying to find their path, I encourage you to be open about your challenges, fears, and struggles. Many others are experiencing the same thing, so don’t feel embarrassed to talk about it. Life, in its most beautiful form, is about being open to new possibilities and exploring wherever they may lead. My biggest opportunities have come from gradually becoming more comfortable opening up to others about my experiences.
Also, be the change you want to see and don’t be afraid to question and challenge the status quo in our industry. Remember, you don’t have to do it alone—find your supporters and allies who share your vision and can help you drive meaningful progress. For women, especially women of color, it's essential to be kind to yourself along the way. We've worked so hard in a world that wasn’t always set up to support us, so prioritize your well-being and give yourself grace, sis!