BE INSPIRED | FEATURE 09 Charlotte Shields
- Johannah Fening-Ajakaiye
- 11 minutes ago
- 6 min read
In this Be Inspired interview, Architect, Mentor and Entrepreneur, Charlotte Shields shares how her journey from growing up in Birmingham to launching CS Architecture + Design has shaped her approach to practice and leadership. Through her work, writing, and mentorship, Charlotte challenges traditional definitions of success and advocates for careers built on wellbeing, visibility, and long-term impact.
Share a little about your background; where you grew up, how you got into the architecture industry.
I grew up in Birmingham in a Jamaican household where being myself, creativity and independence were always encouraged. My love for architecture actually began through gaming, I spent hours building houses on The Sims before realising it was an actual profession. Once I discovered architecture, everything clicked. I loved the blend of creativity, logic, and impact. That curiosity carried me through university and into practice. Moving to London at 18 to study Architecture, with no financial safety net, shaped me deeply. It taught me discipline, resilience, and how to create opportunities for myself, all of which influence my work today.
Your LinkedIn newsletter 'The Shift' explores “redefining success.” What was the moment in your own career when you realised the conventional definition no longer worked for you?
My turning point came when I realised I was following a path that looked successful on paper but didn’t feel aligned internally. Long hours, slow progression, and limited representation at senior levels made me question whether the traditional route could ever give me the lifestyle I imagined for my future with a family etc. I knew I wanted impact, autonomy, and balance, not burnout disguised as achievement. That realisation shaped The Shift: a space where I unpack the idea that success isn’t linear or predefined. It’s self-defined. For me, success became less about titles and more about alignment, wellbeing, and ownership.
You launched CS Architecture + Design shortly after redundancy. How did you turn uncertainty into a new chapter of opportunity?
Redundancy was unsettling, but it also created a moment of clarity and redirection. I had the skills, the experience, and the belief, I just hadn’t given myself permission to step into entrepreneurship. Instead of viewing redundancy as an ending, I treated it as a catalyst. I built systems, reached out to previous contacts, and positioned myself in what I actually loved as an Architect. What helped most was shifting my mindset from fear to possibility. Redundancy didn’t take anything from me (probably did the opposite); it made space for what was next. CS Architecture + Design was born from certainty, it was built from courage and self-trust in everything I’ve done in practice.
Many emerging Black architects struggle with visibility, confidence, and access to opportunities. What guidance would you offer to someone who feels unseen or underestimated?
First, know that being unseen does not mean you are unworthy, it means the environment isn’t set up to recognise your brilliance yet. Advocate for yourself early. Document your wins, sell yourself accordingly, speak up in meetings, and place yourself in rooms where your talent can be noticed. Build community with other Black creatives who understand the journey; community provides both strategy and emotional safety. Most importantly, don’t wait for permission to step into leadership. Visibility often comes after you start showing up, not before. Your identity is not a limitation, it’s part of the value you bring to the industry.
Architects often have to compromise their wellbeing to be seen as successful. How do you help creatives build careers that are sustainable holistically, not just professionally?
I help creatives understand that sustainability in a career starts with sustainability in self. That means designing a work life that supports your mental, emotional, and financial wellbeing… not drains it. Through my writing and mentorship, I encourage people to set boundaries, build financial literacy, explore what they love to do in practice, and choose roles that align with their values. I also remind them that rest and reflection are not luxuries; they’re strategic tools. A creative mind cannot thrive in survival mode. When you prioritise your wellbeing, your work improves, your confidence improves, and your career becomes something you can build with longevity.
Tell us about a project you have worked on that you are proud of.
A project I’m particularly proud of is Dropmore Estate, a Grade I listed 200-acre private country estate in Buckinghamshire and my first major project as a Part I. I supported the client from new planning permissions through to technical design and coordination. It was a complex project involving tight planning constraints, multiple consultants, and a high profile client. Guiding them, building trust, and ultimately delivering a clear, and elegant design reminded me why I love architecture. It wasn’t just the outcome, it was the transformation. Watching my drawings evolve into something buildable and meaningful is incredibly rewarding. It reinforced my belief that great architecture is as much about people as it is about buildings.
What are you currently learning, unlearning, or challenging in yourself as you build CS Architecture + Design?
I’m learning to embrace being a leader, not just a practitioner. Entrepreneurship requires you to think long-term, build systems, and trust others with your vision. I'm unlearning the idea that productivity determines worth or that time spent equates to value, a mindset ingrained in traditional practice. And I’m challenging myself to take up more space: to speak more boldly, charge confidently for my expertise, and position my business for growth. Building CS Architecture + Design is teaching me that expansion happens when you step outside of comfort and allow yourself to be seen not just as capable, but as valuable.
Mentorship is a big part of your work. What makes a mentorship relationship genuinely beneficial for both parties?
Mentorship is most powerful when there is honesty, reciprocity, and shared intention. It’s not just about giving advice, it’s about creating a space where someone feels safe to ask questions, explore uncertainty, and grow authentically. For mentorship to work, both parties need to be transparent about their goals. The mentee brings curiosity and commitment; the mentor brings experience and perspective. But both should walk away stronger. Great mentorship is a relationship, not a hierarchy. I tend to think also about the advice I wish I could have at stages in my career which those are at when I mentor.
How do you maintain confidence in environments where you may be the only Black woman, or one of very few?
I ground myself in the understanding that I earned my place in every room I walk into. I also remind myself that representation matters, my presence isn’t just for me, it’s for those after me seeing what can also be possible. Confidence, for me, comes from preparation, self-awareness, and anchoring my identity in something deeper than external validation. I don’t shrink myself to fit the room; I bring my full voice and perspective because diversity strengthens design. And when environments feel isolating, I lean on my community and mentors who give me perspective and remind me that my difference is a strength, not a disadvantage.
What’s a piece of advice you wish someone had told you when you were a Part I or Part II?1.
I wish someone told me that your career doesn’t have to follow a straight line, there are multiple different routes to explore in architecture based on the skills you have and enjoy, that it’s okay if your journey doesn’t look like everyone else’s. There is no “perfect route,” only the route that aligns with who you are becoming and what you want your life to look like. I would also tell my younger self to be bold: speak up more, ask for opportunities, negotiate, and build relationships early. Don’t wait to feel ready. Confidence is built through action, not overthinking. And lastly, protect your wellbeing, the industry will take everything if you let it, so learn to prioritise yourself from the start.
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