Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jorge Herrera. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Jorge, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with education – we’d love to hear your thoughts about how we can better prepare students for a more fulfilling life and career

Today’s students need exposure to real-world, modern-day scenarios in the classroom. I’m not just referring to word problems in math, but rather, the integration of larger concepts like financial independence, entrepreneurship, and college scholarship as semester courses. Imagine an entire semester dedicated to navigating these areas—understanding how to excel in them, and most importantly, realizing how dedication and discipline in school now directly impact success in these fields. This approach would allow trial and error to be improved in the classroom, and equip students with the tools and mindset necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing and very competitive world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I received formal studio art training through a scholarship since the age of 10. As a kid, I always thought I’d be a graphic designer, creating movie posters, CD covers, and billboards. I may be aging myself there, lol. While studying graphic design at IFAC (International Fine Arts College), I needed to transfer to Miami Dade College Kendall Campus. The guidance counselor at MDC suggested I try a semester in architecture. My eyes were opened to an entire new world of art and creativity, and I fell completely in love with architecture. I felt that I was developing my artistic skills in ways I had not done so in years, and it felt so natural.
After many years in the corporate world, from retail during college, to working at a firm, I read over my resume one evening and immediately thought “I need to hire myself!” That sense of confidence gave me the boost I needed to decide to open my own architectural practice.
What sets us apart from others is that first of all, we do not try to be like anybody else, rather what I and my staff want us to be, ideally. We can learn from others and adopt their best qualities, work habits, business models, organizational structure, etc.; but what makes me want to get up early everyday to be at my desk and work extra hours, is that I am working within the model that we all love. That has allowed me to give each project a level of care and attention beyond what’s expected, to develop design beyond what’s acceptable, and this will beging to show more and more with each project we commence.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I launched my business from the ground up, starting with nothing. When I gave my two weeks’ notice at the firm I was working for, I had no fallback plan, no projects lined up, and no certainty about where my first opportunity would come from. But I knew one thing—while I stayed at that job, no one would hire me. Sure enough, as soon as my last day ended, I received calls from two builders needing someone who could meet tight deadlines. They knew I had the skills and availability to deliver. Timing was also on my side, as this was early 2021, a period of rapid growth in the industry. My business took off from the start, and within months, I had two draftspeople on board to help produce drawings, allowing me to focus on design and scaling the business. Aside from timing, branding has played a crucial role in our continued success.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I wouldn’t be where I am today without resilience. Every setback and failure has only fueled my determination to achieve greater goals. A prime example is the 2008 economic crisis. I was the last employee let go before the firm I worked for closed its doors, and the architect retired. The next three to four years were spent honing my skills and preparing for licensure while taking on any work I could find—from an online grocery fulfillment center, to teaching kickboxing, to selling water filters door-to-door. Despite all of this, like millions of others, my wife and I dealt with unemployment simultaneously, and by 2011, we lost our home to foreclosure.

There were many humbling moments where I had to set aside my pride, roll up my sleeves, and keep moving forward. I turned to motivational speakers—Anthony Robbins, Jim Rohn, and Les Brown became my go-to sources of inspiration. The most profound lesson I learned during this time was the importance of respect—respect for everyone, regardless of their circumstances or background. Self love and self confidence, would take a bit longer to achieve.

By 2014, firms were starting to hire again. I managed to short sell our condo, saving our credit, and began sitting for licensure exams. Each of these experiences was a lesson in resilience, teaching me to stay focused on long-term goals, no matter how difficult the present seemed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.herrera-studio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/herrera.studio.architecture/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/herrera.studio.architecture
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jorgeherreraarch

Image Credits

Renderings by: Very Visual Studio