Jo-Anne Quizan | IE School of Architecture and Design

Jo-Anne Quizan

About me

Jo-Anne Quizan, alumni of the Master in Business for Architecture and Design, finished her studies at IE School of Architecture and Design in February 2017 but before that, she was already an experienced professional in the architecture practice.

Originally from Philippines, where she completed her studies in Bachelor of Science in Architecture and the MSc in Construction Management, she currently works as an Associate at Gensler in Abu Dhabi (UAE).

We asked Jo-Anne to share different aspects of the profession in the past, the present and the future. This is her story.

Jo-Anne Quizan
Associate at Gensler
Icono Punto en el mapaIcono Punto en el mapaMap point IconMap point iconAbu Dhabi (UAE)
Master in Business for Architecture and Design
Jo-Anne Quizan | IE School of Architecture and Design

"There is a permanent challenge for architects and it is to protect the building, it could be part of the legacy for future generations. That is a big responsibility!"

Jo-Anne Quizan

Although I had previous experience, the Master in Business for Architecture and Design gave me to tools to have a better understanding of the profession, mostly in situations in which you have to deal with other teams and profiles.

It definitely contributed to make me think in a different way and to have a more in-depth vision and different ideas.

As an Associate at Gensler, my work is related to business development, but most of the I am supervising and managing different projects, looking after them from the beginning until they are delivered to the client.

The market has definitely changed in the last few years. Right now, most clients in the Middle East are looking for architects with a very versatile profile: they want someone who will be able to carry out everything they need throughout different kind of projects and to have a good relationship and communication with clients and other players of the team.

Most clients in the Middle East are looking for architects with a very versatile profile.

I would say that architects are the bond between different teams, so they will have to learn and to know about all the members involved in each stage of the project, especially clients! There is a permanent challenge for architects and it is to protect the building, it could be part of the legacy for future generations. That is a big responsibility!

Being a woman but also being Asian in a profession mainly led by men, put me in situations in which you feel left out or pushed to the side in certain situations but, luckily, you always find friends and colleagues that understand that being a professional has nothing to do with gender.

If you have a purpose and you know what you want, you should go for it!

Alumni