We were lucky to catch up with Jillian Souza recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Jillian thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the best advice you ever gave to a client? How did they benefit / what was the result?

As an intuitive architect giving advice to my clients is almost second nature. And while I try to keep it professional and related directly to the project, I am often interpreting someone’s life goals and habits in order to create a home or business that really serves them. Which means I often point out what’s true about my client’s in the face of what they might wish was true. But acknowledging our realities alongside our dreams can really make for the best outcome; one where the completed project knows, understands, and serves my client’s daily life.

But, if I may flip your question around for a moment, the best advice I ever received from a client was to always be assertive until I’m sure my expertise is heard and considered. In one of my first projects after staring my business, my measurements and window detail were being questioned by the contractor. Because I knew that the truth would eventually come out in my favor, I decided to wait and be vindicated later. But that process cost the owner time, stress, and investment. When the situation finally became clear (mind you with a large hole in the existing wall for a new oversized door and window system) the client pulled me aside and stressed that I need to always speak up loudly when I know I’m right. When I’m hired for my expertise and leadership a friendly approach is not always what’s in the client’s best interest.

Jillian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

One of my earliest memories is the feeling of safety in the face of a Midwestern thunderstorm. I might have to run through the storm but then I could get dry and warm and enjoy some quiet at my art table that was just my size while a lamp gave everything a warm yellow glow. And in the midst of those storms, even at ages 4-6, I knew I wanted to share that feeling – a feeling of real safety.

This core memory later became the catalyst for pursuing architecture as well as birth doula work, community building, authorship, life and creativity coaching, and the co-creation of a housing non-profit. Everyone deserves felt safety in the midst of life storms. And with true safety comes the freedom to be creative which is part of my personal mission.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

My entrepreneurial journey began with food although at the time I couldn’t see it coming. I had thrown myself into learning about nutrition and traditional foods during my second pregnancy and so the first blog I ever followed was about real food. I didn’t even realize this “food guy” considered himself an entrepreneur until about 8 months later when he began affiliate marketing for an online business school. Within a month I was convinced to participate and began my entrepreneurial education. I was now 6 years post college and a mom of 2 which means I learned to see and share my expertise in more creative ways than a traditional business education would have promoted. One of my favorite learned strategies for problem solving and standing out in an industry comes from that program. When you find yourself stuck in the standard industry way of doing something you can simply look to other industries and see how they are solving similar problems from a different perspective. Sometimes a fresh view of a problem can unlock hope and new strategies.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When my third child was stillborn on his due date I had lots of decisions to make. But, for me, a big decision in that first month of grief was how to place this tragedy in view of all of life. I could either view this as being singled out in the world or feel more connected to all women through all of history. I chose the later. The experience of child loss is horrific but not unique. So even while the grief was cutting and raw I knew I wasn’t alone or crazy.

Once the shock subsided, I began to create again – to express my pain the same way I expressed my love. I had spent that long-awaited pregnancy writing my long-awaited book and so I self-published it on Valentine’s Day as an expression of love just 5 months after my son’s passing. Then, 6 months after the book launch, I began my solo architecture practice with a deep acknowledgment of the heart and struggles with which we build our homes.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.architectureapothecary.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillian-souza-architecture-apothecary

Image Credits

Aria Bethards
Daniel Miller