DreamChaser Zakiya Wiggins

Headshot of Zakiya in a yellow blazer

Name: Zakiya Wiggins
Age: 27
Education/Background: I hold a bachelor's degree in environmental design and architecture from NC State University and a master's of architecture from Morgan State University.
Job Title/What You Do: Architect at Clark Nexsen in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Teaching Assistant at Duke University.

In-depth Questions (10-12 min read)

1. Tell us a little about who you are.

I'm the Vice President of the North Carolina Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA), and I serve on the board at Diversify Architecture. Right now, I feel like I'm in the process of rediscovering myself. For the past 10 years, my life has been consumed by working toward licensure—between school and exams—and now that I’ve reached that milestone, I’m realizing I need hobbies that don’t just involve sleep. So currently, I’d describe myself as a traveler, an artist, and someone deeply committed to social change—across many contexts. Social change can’t exist in isolation.

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2. What sparked your interest in starting your career in architecture?

I first discovered architecture through a ninth-grade career research project. At the time, I didn't know much about the field—I knew buildings existed, but I hadn’t really thought about who created them. While flipping through a massive book of professions, I came across “architect.” Between my love for math and art, it just made sense. I thought, I want to design houses. I used to sketch floor plans, rearrange spaces in my mind, and watched HGTV constantly—still do! After that project, I became fixated on architecture, even though I had no clue what the next steps were.

“They show me what’s possible.”

3. Who are you most influenced by?

I’m most influenced by other Black women architects I’ve met in recent years. I didn’t meet a Black woman architect until grad school, and since then, I’ve been lucky enough to find a whole village of mentors and peers who inspire me. These women are moms, wives, CEOs—doing incredible things in big cities, leading major projects, giving scholarships, traveling the world. They make it look easy, even though I know it’s not. They show me what’s possible.

4. Can you share one of your proudest achievements?

One of my proudest achievements happened just yesterday—I passed my final exam and officially became a licensed architect in North Carolina. It’s been a long road: six years of school, 3,800 hours of experience, and nearly three years of exams.

Another proud moment came last year when our North Carolina NOMA chapter won “Most Improved Chapter” nationally. That happened just six weeks after I had failed two exams. I was crushed—I had hoped to be licensed by my birthday—but that recognition reminded me that even when personal goals get delayed, collective progress still matters.

5. What were your initial goals with your work? How have they evolved?

Initially, my goal was to get licensed within three to five years. I thought I’d knock out all my exams in a year. Spoiler alert: I didn’t. Over time, I had to adapt and take the pressure off. Now, I try not to tie my worth to arbitrary timelines.

Since reaching licensure, my focus is shifting. I’m asking, What meaningful work do I want to do? How can I master my craft? Whether that’s improving my technical skills or refining my communication, I want to grow beyond credentials and bring more value to the table. Now that I have the title, expectations are higher—and I welcome that challenge.

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6. What is the most important life skill you've learned through your work?

Delayed gratification, hands down. In architecture, you might work on a project for years before stepping inside it. You have to trust the process. Things change constantly—clients, leadership, design direction—so being adaptable is essential. You learn to just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

7. Where do you hope to be in five years?

In five years, I hope to be a project manager. While I love designing, I also recognize my strength in organization and project oversight.

Personally, I want to feel confident in my choices and the work I’m doing. I’d also love to sell more of my art and finally participate in Artsplosure, an art festival I’ve had my eye on for a while. You have to plan a year or two ahead, so I’m preparing now.

8. What is a typical day like for you?

I usually hit snooze a few times before starting my day with breakfast. I work from home, so I try to squeeze in walks or kickboxing classes during the week. Evenings are for catching up with friends and family, decompressing, and relaxing.

9. What has been the biggest obstacle in pursuing your goals?

Honestly, it’s been myself. I’ve had to learn to say no and truly prioritize my goals. I used to want to be everywhere and do everything—but I’ve learned that sometimes you have to step back and say, No, this is what’s important right now. That said, I also think it’s okay to choose experiences that bring joy, even if they delay your goals slightly. Life is about balance.

“The voice you hear most often is your own, so it better be encouraging. That advice has stuck with me and gotten me through some hard moments.”

10. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

My mom once told me: You have to be your own cheerleader. You can’t always rely on others to lift you up—especially during tough times. The voice you hear most often is your own, so it better be encouraging. That advice has stuck with me and gotten me through some hard moments.

11. When do you get your best ideas?

When I’m relaxed—listening to music, being still, or just having time to think. I’m currently rebuilding my creative process and figuring out what sparks inspiration for me now.

“I learned that failure is just feedback—and that celebrating the failures teaches you just as much, if not more, than the wins.”

12. Can you share a time you failed and what you learned from it?

I failed eight of my 14 architecture registration exams. Four of those were in a row. That was tough. But I started printing out the “fail reports” and putting them on my desk. I’d use them to spark conversations with senior architects—Hey, I didn’t pass this section. Can I get more experience in this area?

It was a way of holding myself accountable while also advocating for support. I learned that failure is just feedback—and that celebrating the failures teaches you just as much, if not more, than the wins.

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13. How do you unwind?

I'd love to say I unwind with a book and green tea, but it's usually wine, Netflix, HGTV, or the Food Network. I also love planning trips I haven’t booked yet or cooking something delicious. I try to do as little as possible when I’m unwinding—and sometimes I’ll even put my phone away to be more present.

14. What would you tell someone interested in entering your field?

You have to want to do this. It’s expensive—school, exams, materials, licensure—it all adds up. So you need a deeper reason. What’s your “why”? Who do you want to impact? What communities do you want to serve?

At the same time, go for it. But stay connected to your creativity. Once you’re out of school, you might spend months doing technical line drawings. Find ways outside of work to keep your creativity alive—whether that’s painting, sketching, or just spending time outdoors.

“People might not get why it’s taking you so long, or why you’re always working on something, but that’s okay. Go at your own pace. You’ll get there exactly when you’re meant to.”

15. What do you hope people take away from your story?

I hope people don’t give up on their dreams—especially when they feel far away. Even if you haven’t seen someone who looks like you doing what you want to do, that doesn’t mean it’s not for you.

I posted this on Instagram recently: No one else is supposed to understand your calling—it wasn’t a conference call. People might not get why it’s taking you so long, or why you’re always working on something, but that’s okay. Go at your own pace. You’ll get there exactly when you’re meant to.

TL;DR:

Zakiya Wiggins is a newly licensed architect and passionate advocate for equity in design. From falling in love with architecture in ninth grade to overcoming eight failed exams, her story is one of resilience, purpose, and community. Now, she's focused on doing meaningful work, mentoring others, and staying creative through art and advocacy.