Michelle Beganskas Conn, 33

Choosing to work in the architecture world was an easy decision for Michelle Beganskas Conn, who had been learning the ropes of the field from her mother and grandfather — both architects — since she was a kid.

Her career got started when Conn went to college at New York City’s Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied interior design and discovered her passion for sustainable design practices. Those practices focus on personal well-being and mental health improvements in the workplace, such as privacy spaces, air quality and access to natural light.

That’s exactly what Conn does in her role as principal of workplace strategy at Ted Moudis Associates (TMA), where she has worked for just over a decade.

During her time at TMA, Conn has worked on consolidating the Hearst Corporation’s umbrella companies into one cohesive space within Hearst Tower at 300 West 57th Street. She has also planned new office designs for a fintech client in Florida, and she completed a full workplace strategy project that allowed a building in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards to achieve LEED and WELL Platinum certifications. Plus, she had a hand in designing TMA’s own office in the Chrysler Building to meet those sustainable standards.

“It was that interest initially in human health and well-being and sustainability that shifted me a bit more from the actual design of the space to strategy,” Conn said. “Strategy is more involved in defining what the project is going to achieve and what the goals are. … I get to help shape the goal of the project and share research.”

As part of her two-person specialist workplace strategy team at TMA, Conn completes a workplace report every year based on research, trends, best practices and benchmarking.

She said her and her teammate are “cut from the same cloth,” as they both have an interest in combining research with design. “You won’t find a ton of interior designers who are also interested in research and writing and data,” she said.

Looking ahead, Conn said she’s excited to expand her research team and continue working on rewarding projects.