2023 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Tara Reilly of Elkus Manfredi Architects

3 skills that you use every day in your position: 

• Communication; 

• Problem-solving/consensus-building, and 

• Authenticity. 

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: I follow Inc magazine on social media and find a lot of great links through Inc’s posts on all kinds of topics.

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less: Be honest, be intentional, be kind.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? We designed a new office for Publicis Groupe, bringing together seven brands and 1,500 employees. We knew that engaging employees in the process was critical to its success, and that the standard design process wouldn’t be adequate to engage so many participants. So we developed a highly structured, iterative co-creation process that engaged all employees in the design. After move-in, because everything was designed with them, employees understood and felt ownership of their new workplace.

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader? “Being a good leader is understanding your constituents. Tara is a champion for her clients, understanding and consistently advocating for their goals and priorities. A skilled listener and manager, she builds the trust of her clients and design teams, which enables her to lead all stakeholders to success.” - Elizabeth Lowrey FIIDA, RDI, Principal at Elkus Manfredi Architects.