February Professional Member of the Month

Molly Hanson

RDG Planning & Design

Conservation & Community Engagement

1. What is the most exciting and energizing aspect of your current position?

Public engagement is the bulk of my work and I’m lucky to be able to participate across many of our studios with that work.  I get to dive into the communities we are serving, get to know the people, and really learn about their hopes and dreams.  With a background in conservation and environmental education, my work has taken me into creeks to conduct stability assessments, hiking through prairie and oak savanna to help imagine a future park, and soon, I’ll be working on my first climate action and adaptation plan at the city scale.  Work is fun.  

2. What was the last interesting podcast you listened to?

I’m embarrassed to admit that I never caught the podcast bug.  I tune into Glennon Doyle’s We Can Do Hard Things every once in a while, during my morning yoga/stretching, but I’m much more of a reader.  I just finished Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead and it was one of my favorite reads of 2021.  Close seconds include Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley and the entirety of the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas. 

3. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of?

I’m really excited about this upcoming climate action and adaptation plan. It’s the first project that I learned about, chased, formed a team, went after, and brought to the firm. It was also my first all-female interview team and will be my first ever all-female project team. No offense to the dudes, but a team of powerful women working together to fight climate change really excites me.

4. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders?

Oh man, this is one of those magazine questions… Take up space. Don’t let others dull your shine. Ask for help and find some great mentors. Work/life balance is a myth but find YOUR balance. Work really hard but remember to take breaks. Question the status quo and stand up for those who are exhausted from always having to stand up for themselves. Get that JEDI training and work to infuse what you learn into your office culture. It’s cool to care. Get involved in your community and find your people. You have to grow through what you go through.

5. We are Iowa Women in Architecture; who were the female role models that inspired you? 

I’ve been very fortunate in this department. I’ve had a combination of great teachers, very strong women in my family, some incredibly kind and generous mentors and literally the coolest friends a girl could ask for. Women inspire me every day simply by showing up unapologetically as themselves. They fuel me and inspire me and guide me and call me out on my ish. Everything I am is because of the amazing women who came before me and created space for me to explore and grow.