Tiffany Mok
39, design director
Hensel Phelps
Irvine, California
Tiffany Mok has built a reputation for delivering complex, people-centric projects across three continents. In his first stops at F+A Architects and CallisonRTKL, he managed multidisciplinary teams in 10 countries building expertise in culturally responsive and place-based design. At EYRC Architects, Mok served as senior project manager for UC San Diego’s $535 million Ridge Walk North Living and Learning District. A licensed California architect with NCARB certification, CDT and LEED Green Associate credentials, she is also deeply committed to community engagement and workforce diversity.
Today, she is the lead design director for Hensel Phelps on the redevelopment of LAX’s Terminal 5, a transformative aviation project that is slated for completion before the 2028 Olympics.
What is a challenge you have overcome in your career?
Probably the biggest challenge in your career is not knowing when and how to advocate for yourself or others. I’ve really focused on being direct and respectful in any room I’m in and making sure people are clear on what the question is. I see team members hesitate a bit, it’s not always because they don’t understand, but they don’t feel comfortable talking. I try to advocate for them and clear things up for them or encourage them behind the scenes to really take that step forward. I understand that this is how projects are done and how relationships are built, and that if people can’t communicate together, that’s how projects fail.
What has been your favorite or most interesting project you have worked on and why?
I think my favorite was my first fully built project, the Ala Moana shops were in Hawaii. I did a full design and build on it. It was a quick project that eliminated a design phase and had a really complex phase. It was the first thing I was able to do and I saw it fully realized.
What’s the best career advice you’ve been given?
I would say the best career advice I’ve ever been given is to speak up. If I’m in a room and I have really good ideas, people should listen to them and not be afraid to say them. It seems obvious, but you know, when you’re a young female minority in a room of predominantly white men, you don’t want to do that.
What is your career advice for other young professionals in the industry?
Leadership and management are two different things, and you can be a leader without being a manager. You really just have to be authentic and brave and present enough to immerse yourself. The most important thing for me is to be empathetic to other perspectives and try to understand where other people are coming from. I think it helps you become a better leader and builds trust and builds relationships, which I think are critical to this career.
What is the best part of your job?
When you bring teams together, especially teams in a high-pressure environment, and you know they feel good about what they’ve done because you paved the way for them. This is pretty special. Yes, we will create great buildings, the building or the built environment matters a lot less if the people who work in it don’t have a good time.
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