I Belong: Janki DePalma
Janki DePalma, LEED AP, CPSM
Director of Business Development
Kirksey Architecture
Can you tell us a bit about your career?
My career in AEC started like so many others- I fell into it. I started in San Francisco at a marketing agency that specialized in law firm marketing. Later, I moved to a small civil engineering firm, then a large general contractor. I worked in the dot-com world as well. We moved to Austin and I consulted with a large architecture firm and finally jumped into business development, helping to launch the satellite office of a structural engineering firm. That lasted for 12 years and now I’m at Kirksey Architecture, leading their business development efforts in Austin. My husband jokes that I am going to be buried in a “Kirksey coffin” because I love this place so much.
What is your marketing superpower?
I can sense feelings and emotions and because of that, I see what someone needs in order to feel comfortable. This makes me a really great host and connector. I love bringing people together and making them feel that they are loved.
How did you get involved in SMPS?
My first boss suggested I join in order to learn about the industry and gain marketing coordinator skills. The marketing coordinator role can be isolating - you aren’t a “technical person” but you aren’t an admin either. There was a sense of camaraderie in SMPS. Members are eager to help each other- even as virtual strangers in many cases. We are all in the trenches together and are quick to support each other.
Why is SMPS valuable to you?
SMPS is more than just professional development. It’s a community of people who are constantly cheering you on, giving you advice, and leveraging their contacts to help you move forward. Being president this year has been the greatest honor of my career - the connections all of us presidents have (virtually no less) remind me that at the end of the day, we all want to be in a place where we matter.
Why do you belong in SMPS?
I belong in SMPS because this is a collective that embraces me in my entirety- regardless of job title, years of experience, contacts, or certifications. I’m important for just being me. We don’t have too many spaces like that in our world today.
