We’re proud to share that Suping Li was featured in the January issue of CovaBIZ magazine as one of the Women Impact Makers. She’s honored to be recognized alongside so many impressive women making a difference in their communities and professions. Below is a short interview.
When you encounter resistance or setbacks, what strategies or mindsets have proven most effective in moving your vision forward?
I approach challenges like design problems: stepping back to see the full context, identifying root causes, and redefining the question. This design thinking mindset helps transform setbacks into opportunities for innovation. A collaborative mindset is essential – just as building projects require strong teams working in harmony, overcoming any challenge demands collective wisdom and effort. The key is maintaining curiosity and treating resistance not as a wall, but as feedback that guides us toward better solutions through thoughtful iteration and refinement.
If you could implement one transformative idea in your field or business, what would it be, and why?
It would be leveraging technology and policy to empower small architectural firms to shape our industry and society. While current technology already enables small firms to efficiently handle large projects, further democratizing access to advanced tools and adjusting policies to encourage small-firm participation in public projects could unlock even more potential. Small firms bring agility and deep local connections that make them uniquely suited to create meaningful architecture. This transformation would diversify our industry and ensure architectural innovation serves broader segments of society.
What part of your day-to-day work gives you the greatest sense of accomplishment, and why does it matter to you?
In my daily architectural practice, I find the greatest fulfillment in creating healthy, inclusive, people-centered environments. The built environment profoundly impacts everyone’s daily experience – from how we work and learn to how we interact and find joy. Whether it’s schools fostering student growth, workplaces inspiring collaboration, or public spaces bringing communities together, knowing our work contributes to these meaningful outcomes is deeply rewarding. For me, true success in architecture lies not in personal expression – but in creating spaces that serve and inspire our clients and users while enhancing the broader community.