2025 Ones To Watch - Industry Leaders: Swarupa Samant, DIGroup Architecture

Recent goal and impact: 

Recently, I led the design and coordination of a six-story Bronx elementary school occupying a tight urban site, adjacent to a residential development on a concurrent construction timeline. My role involved navigating complex owner and neighbor relationships, consultant coordination, materials research and client expectation management. In addition to adding to my portfolio of large-scale, urban school projects, it represents a major milestone for our firm: our first ground-up NYC building. It expands our reach and reinforces our ability to deliver high-quality, complex urban-environment work.

Sharing knowledge and expertise: 

Within and beyond the firm, I actively share architectural expertise through knowledge sharing. This is achieved through the Professional Women in Construction (PWC)-NJ Chapter, of which I am a board member, and mentorship and shadowing to give students real-world insights. Additionally, I treat errors as vital learning tools, sharing lessons firmwide to drive continuous improvement. As a leader of QA/QC reviews, I conduct practical study sessions for junior architects. Believing in collective success, I prioritize collaborative knowledge transfer, ensuring our firm’s overall advancement.

Best books, podcasts, or apps for aspiring leaders: 

My Life in Full: Work, Family & Our Future by Indra Nooyi for those striving for work-life balance.