International Women's Day is a moment to recognize progress, celebrate achievement, and renew our commitment to equality in every field, including architecture, urban planning, and design, where women continue to break new ground as leaders, innovators, and changemakers.

At Broadway Malyan, women lead studios, shape cities, and drive design excellence across continents. From our studios across the EMEA, APAC and UAE region, our women leaders bring diverse perspectives, deep expertise, and commitment to creating places that matter. Places that impact lives, regenerate communities, and respond to the challenges of our time.

In honour of International Women's Day 2026, we asked some of our colleagues to reflect on the key challenges that have shaped their journeys and the successes they're most proud of. Their insights reveal not only personal resilience and ambition but a shared belief in collaboration, adaptability, and design excellence.

Sally Lewis

Principal, Head of Stitch

Women are good at solving problems; we just need to be brave enough to use this superpower of ours and lead by example. We need to design and engage with all our hearts, making places that people will love, while carrying the problems and challenges with us on the journey.

As founder of an architecture practice, I have faced obstacles (and rewards) at every turn of my career, not just architectural but also business related. Continuously striving to make great buildings, streets and neighbourhoods is balanced against the daily trails of sustaining a thriving business. But there’s one consistency that makes it all worthwhile.

The last few years have been the most rewarding because of my team. I am so very proud of our collective respect for each other, and our unrelenting agility as we shift with the times to find the bright spark in every project.

Pragya Vedprakash

Senior Masterplanner, Dubai

Working internationally has played a significant role in shaping my journey as a master planner in Dubai. Working across different regions has required adaptability; from responding to varied client expectations and development timelines to understanding local regulations and cultural nuances. The pace in the Middle East, often with limited margin for error, has taught me the importance of clarity, collaboration, and thoughtful decision-making.

Experiences in Paris, where conservation and contextual sensitivity were central, required a careful and respectful approach to the existing urban fabric. In contrast, my work in India presented layered urban conditions, diverse stakeholder expectations, and the realities of rapid growth. Collaborations with teams in Australia added another dimension, shaped by structured planning frameworks and environmental responsiveness. Together, these contexts strengthened my ability to remain open and flexible, supporting my work on forward-looking projects in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

Another meaningful aspect of my journey has been working across different scales; from detailed architectural projects all the way upto regional masterplans. Operating across these scales has pushed me to look at different levels of engagement, coordination, and leadership. Understanding when to think conceptually and when to immerse in detail has been essential in delivering cohesive and implementable outcomes.

What I value most is the opportunity to collaborate with diverse teams across time zones, from London to Warsaw to Singapore. Contributing to a shared vision across cultures has been both rewarding and enriching, and I am proud to have played a part in delivering thoughtful, ambitious masterplans within the Middle East’s dynamic and evolving landscape.

Margarida Caldeira

Principal, Head of Lisbon

Opening both the Lisbon and Brazil studios was a challenge in different ways. Lisbon was where we began, building something from the ground up, while Brazil meant stepping outside our comfort zone and establishing ourselves in a completely different context. Both moments were defining for the studio and for me personally.

I have grown the studio from two people in a small 12 square metre office in Lisbon into an extraordinary team of around 70 professionals working across regions and sectors. Over the last 30 years, many colleagues have remained with us, which is something I value deeply. The foundation of our success has always been design excellence, the core of what we do, alongside the strong hospitality expertise that we have established.

What has always guided us is the ability to combine a global vision with local sensitivity. I am proud that our studio has become a strategic hub with projects in Portugal, Brazil, the Middle East and Asia. Among the projects I am most proud of are the rehabilitation of Rossio Railway Station, where we are now based, World of Wine, now an international reference in urban regeneration, and Casa Figueira in Brazil. More recently, we inaugurated seven hotels in 2025 alone.

Ultimately, what drives me is the belief that the spaces we design have a real impact on people's lives and on cities. We want to continue creating projects with real impact.

Lia Bezerra

Director of Masterplanning, Warsaw

Moving into my new Director of Masterplanning role in January 2025, following my maternity leave, offered a significant shift in perspective. The primary challenge wasn't just the complexity of our large-scale projects, but reconnecting with my professional identity and leadership presence within our firm's demanding pace.

This experience reinforced the need for a deliberate balance: leading with both efficiency and empathy, recognising their power to complement and strengthen one another.

The success I'm most proud of is cultivating a supportive team culture. Seeing my colleagues thrive and grow, and contributing to a framework where personal milestones are accommodated, allowing future leaders to feel empowered to grow and contribute fully without having to compromise their personal lives, is deeply rewarding.

Saachi Mishra

Associate Director, Mumbai

A principle that guides me is that the profession grows when we share knowledge, support one another, and advocate for better homes, streets, and a stronger built environment. I am particularly proud of fostering a studio culture around this approach. Our central Mumbai studio encourages open discussion and shared exploration, with younger architects contributing to design thinking from the earliest stages.

I am committed to improving apartment liveability within tight constraints. Residential projects shaping Mumbai should also give back to the city through active street interfaces, planting, and shared ground spaces that support public life.

At a time when Mumbai’s housing commands extraordinary prices, architects also have a responsibility to advocate for what good living should mean, from efficient layouts and daylight to ventilation, privacy and usable outdoor space. When buyers become more aware of spatial quality it encourages developers to deliver better designed homes in return.

Mabel Lim

Associate Masterplanner, Singapore

Looking back, I sometimes wonder how it all came together pursuing graduate studies while raising a young toddler, learning to manage the changing demands of energy and time, staying committed to my well being, and embracing transition from landscape architecture into masterplanning.

It was a season of growth. My days were planned down to the minute, and every block of time mattered. There were moments of exhaustion and uncertainty, but also moments that strengthened my resilience and reminded me why the journey was worth it.

Along the way, I realized that my story is not unique. It reflects the experiences of many remarkable women I’ve met women who navigate multiple roles, support their families and teams, and continue to step forward into leadership with courage and determination.

And no journey like this is ever taken alone. I am deeply grateful for the people around me who believed in me, encouraged me, and made this path possible.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I hope we continue to uplift one another and draw strength from our shared resilience, courage, and community empowering women not just to succeed, but to lead and thrive.