Ever-Evolving Identities: Architect and Professor Amy Stone on Grace, Grit, and Personal Fulfillment

By Julia Gamolina

Amy Stone is an architect, professor, and mom. She currently teaches architecture at Kennesaw State University. She received her MBA from Georgia Tech in 2023 and Master of Architecture from Georgia Tech in 2020. An architect with a long-term interest in sustainable design and equitable environments, Amy has worked on several deep-green projects in the Southeastern United States, including the largest Living Building in Georgia.

Amy is dedicated to the visibility and advancement of women in design. She has contributed to Madame Architect since 2019, including interviews with Beverly Willis, Diane Hoskins, and Cazú Zegers. In her interview with Julia Gamolina, Amy talks about her interests in design and business, pursing a non-traditional trajectory, and engaging with Madame Architect for mentorship.

JG: You are one of the most impressive people I know — an architect and professor, the first person to support me with Madame Architect, a mother of three, and, to top it all off, you just got your MBA. With all of these experiences, you have a fantastic and broad perspective on our industry. So with that in mind, what do you see for both yourself and for architecture in 2024 and beyond?

AS: Likewise, Julia. That’s too kind. What I see for myself is something that is ever-evolving — I’ve become very comfortable with my multi-hyphenate identity: MBA-archi-mom-fessor. For the architectural industry, I see a lot of exciting changes on the horizon. There are countless challenges and opportunities to design solutions for. I personally plan to explore new avenues in design and practice, and at the same time, to mentor budding architects through teaching. I'm hopeful that diversity and inclusivity will continue to be at the forefront, shaping a profession that truly reflects the world we live in.

Let's come back to the beginning now. Why architecture and how did you choose where you studied architecture?

I always appreciate this question when I read Madame Architect interviews, especially because I find myself asking this a lot lately. Why architecture? What about it drew me in? Am I staying close to that ‘why’? Have I evolved beyond it?

I have a very distinct memory of when I decided architecture would be my major in college and it stems from the awe and wonder I felt when I was looking up at a skyscraper in Atlanta. It wasn’t the particular style of the architecture that I connected with, but rather the scale and the magnitude that struck me. I remember thinking, “Someone dreamt this up! A team of people built this tower and now it defines the skyline and that is so much bigger than us individually.” Something about that equation felt like magic. Was it the creativity? The impossibility? The lasting impact? The iconography? I muse over that moment. It got me excited about exploring architecture. When I looked at the educational and professional path, that fueled my interest even more.

I loved the educational style of architecture. The courses were engaging, hands-on, artistic, practical, challenging, and fun for me. I transferred to Georgia Tech to major in architecture because it was the optimum combination of quality and affordability. I could use the Georgia Hope Scholarship which covered tuition; I could keep my cost of living down; and I could attend a school with a great reputation. I was there for my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and MBA — clearly, I’ve been really happy with my education there.

Amy and her family. Photo courtesy of Amy Stone.

Tell me about your path in professional practice — you are a registered architect, have worked for a number of firms, and then went on to get your MBA. Why this step?

I’ve spent the majority of my career at larger design firms. My roles — be it intern, architect, or manager —dealt directly with design, but I found it meaningful to look at the larger picture of the firm structure and operations. I realized the business side of design had a bigger effect on my day-to-day satisfaction than the design of whatever I was working on. For instance, I could see how the quality of my workday was most impacted by the management style, organizational behavior, and the culture of my project team. I saw how my take-home pay had a direct correlation to how the firm marketed itself, won work, and structured fees. The closer I looked, the more I saw that business mattered.

I set out to get an MBA with a mindset that I would bring the skillset I gained right back into architecture practice. As I moved through the program though, I also saw a variety of ways I could couple an MBA with architecture for other capacities, too. Practically speaking, I could not have pursued an MBA if the program timing hadn’t worked out so well in my favor. I was already back at Georgia Tech for my Master's when they began offering a dual-degree with the MBA program. I jumped on it, knowing it would be the fastest and cheapest way I could complete the degree. The timing was terrible though, at it was 2020. I was in the thick of the prolonged pandemic shut-down, working from home with kids doing at-home school, and navigating life with my newborn son. What a ride.

“I could see how the quality of my workday was most impacted by the management style, organizational behavior, and the culture of my project team. I saw how my take-home pay had a direct correlation to how the firm marketed itself, won work, and structured fees. The closer I looked, the more I saw that business mattered.”

— Amy Stone

You also teach and you've done interviews for Madame Architect! How did the focus on both develop?

I started teaching part-time as an assistant professor this semester. I joke that I’ve been in school forever, so it feels only natural that I’m continuing in an academic setting after graduating. Teaching has been a welcome change of pace from traditional practice in a large firm. I’m personally learning a lot from the upcoming generation of architects. They are sharp! I have to tell you that I bring up Madame Architect in classes and weave it into conversations about practice, mentorship, creativity, and innovation. I share what it has meant for me. I tell them to consider MA as an extended network full of virtual mentors who show what’s possible in this profession and beyond. I have needed that resource throughout my career, which is why it’s so meaningful to give back in the interviews I have contributed. Every conversation I have read and every interview I have facilitated has some timely gem of advice or perspective that I need.

Thank you so much, Amy. Looking back at the entirety of your career so far, what have been the biggest challenges? How did you both manage through perceived disappointments or setbacks?

One aspect that has really shaped my perspective is deciding to have kids while I was relatively young. I know I’m not the only one who has felt the tension between raising a young family and putting in the hours to be a successful emerging architect; however, it can feel really lonely. I would be aligning my work schedule with my class schedule, and lining up childcare until 5 pm, and then extended childcare so I could meet the later-evening studio schedule and just be thinking, “Am I the only one tying myself in knots trying to do this?” That sense of burden and isolation pushed me to reach towards groups, long-distance mentors, and even MA, to foster some sense of connection and mentorship. I needed to know that I wasn’t the only one on a non-traditional path. One good thing about going against the grain is that it required me to really define and live by my values and priorities. That has only served me well.

The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design. Photography by Jonathan Hillyer.

What have you also learned in the last six months?

In the last six months, I’ve graduated with my MBA. From that, I’ve learned that I’m definitely done with acquiring higher-ed degrees [laughs]. Really though, accomplishing a challenging goal like getting an MBA, while working and raising a family, feels incredibly rewarding. Call me a basic millennial, but it’s great to have those Elle Wood moments: “We did it!”

I’ve also learned that new experiences take some time to get used to, but you improve through practice. That applies as well to the half-Ironman I am training for — may it be noted that I do not consider myself a serious triathlete [laughs]. It’s a challenge to consistently put effort and stretch myself to learn new things, but slowly, I really am improving.

What are you most excited about right now?

Summer! This is my first summer since I don’t know when that I won’t be working full-time. There are seasons to be productive, push hard, and maximize everything. Those seasons need to be balanced with enjoyment, a slower pace, and doing fewer things. I’m excited to see what creative interests emerge and where my curiosity leads. Simply put, I’m excited to play.

“For women, the best I have to share is my mom’s advice: you do what you need to do and don’t worry about everyone else.”

— Amy Stone

I’m so excited for you. Who are you admiring now and why?

Julia Gamolina. Yes, you! I admire you as the Founder and Editor-in Chief of an incredibly robust resource that amplifies the voice and visibility of women in architecture. Your initiative, perseverance, consistency, thoughtfulness, and determination are unbounded. I also admire you for the woman you are and the goodness you bring out in others. It’s been my absolute pleasure to know you over the years and, as anyone who knows you will attest, I’m so lucky to count you as a friend.

Thank you so much, Amy.

I admire my daughter who is navigating the early throws of her teenage years and showing me every day exactly what it looks like to be fiercely yourself, relentlessly curious, and deeply compassionate. I love watching her and my two sons grow.

Finally, I find myself drawn to reading about women who run their own practices. So much of the day-to-day isn’t written about or publicized, but I know they manage to carry an incredibly complex, difficult load while also producing genius designs, operating diverse teams, and making lasting, positive impacts on their communities. I admire those leaders and hope to emulate them someday.

I can say with full confidence that I believe you will. With that in mind, what is the impact you’d like to have on the world? What is your core mission? And what does success in that look like to you?

I find myself drawn to eliminating the variety of barriers that keep people from entering this profession, progressing through academia, and building a solid foundation in the practice of architecture. I’ve bumped into enough roadblocks to know that we need to improve how we teach, practice, and promote others. Success looks like equity. Success looks when the most disadvantaged among us feel personally fulfilled.

Broadstone Yards (Now AMLI Westside). Photography by Morgan Nowland.

Finally, what advice do you have for those starting their career? Would your advice be any different for women?

I think about what I needed to hear when I was starting out and questioning if I should really pursue architecture. I needed — and, luckily, found — someone who understood the trajectory of this profession and could look at me say, “Yes, you’ll thrive here. You are capable. You are talented. You can do it.” I wish I could do that for others. Yes, you can do architecture. Yes, you’ll be challenged and pushed and it will be hard — but you can and will master that challenge, and be all the better for it. If you need that reinforcement, like I did, find someone who can mentor you in that way. Don’t know anyone? Start with Madame Architect.

For women, the best I have to share is my mom’s advice: you do what you need to do and don’t worry about everyone else. That shouldn’t be reduced to “you do you” or “stay in your lane.” I’ve always taken her words to give me license to do what is right for me, when it’s right for me, regardless of if it’s against the status quo. She was her own brand of Southern feminist: independent, stubborn, and more loving than anyone could imagine. You need both grace and grit to make it all work.