As a designer with a passion for meaningful architecture, Elmira Aghsaei has always been interested in creating designs that transform communities, prioritize social sustainability, and enhance health and wellness. 

Elmira’s journey into the field began with an interest in art, science, and wellness. She found the perfect balance in architecture, allowing her to be creative and technical while building spaces that positively impact people’s physical and mental well-being through Architecture.

Always having an entrepreneurial spirit, Elmira was drawn to starting her own architecture firm, but felt uncertain due to the risks involved, especially with the liabilities of her field. Her journey started with connecting with people outside her architecture and construction network and a partner at a law firm introduced her to WeBC. She began taking WeBC’s free programs, workshops, and events, where she was referred to the Peer Mentorship Program for Women Business Owners.

She was matched with a mentor through the Peer Mentorship Program and later connected with a few other mentors through WeBC and her growing network. Each mentor brought a unique perspective and expertise, whether it was goal-setting, branding, business planning, or navigating the architecture industry.

Elmira also appreciated working with a mentor who understood her industry, and learned how to build a brand that would align with her big dreams. Beyond professional advice, Sarah’s positivity, mental support, and reassurance were vital during the start-up’s early days.

Elmira decided to take the leap and start Elmira Aghsaei Architecture in 2023 and now runs a full-service architecture firm serving metro Vancouver and beyond. In her 13 years of practicing architecture, she has contributed to projects shaping both British Columbia and Canada, including a 42-story residential tower in downtown Vancouver and a 52-story mixed-use tower as well as BC’s largest school developments in history.  She is currently working on one of y, furthering her mission to create spaces that make a lasting positive impact.

Client Q&A

Q: What made you want to become an architect?

I’ve always been very interested in the arts, math, and physics, but I was torn between those worlds. I was also interested in psychology and health. I know that a lot impacts our health, like something as simple as the light we’re exposed to, and as a very sensitive person, I’m impacted by the space I’m in. That’s why I thought: I’m sure other people are being impacted too, but they might not be aware of it. I realized I could study architecture and be creative while being very scientific. It’s a combination of everything I’ve always been interested in.

I now know that it’s even more multifaceted than I thought. It includes psychology, sociology, and health, so I became interested in understanding the impact of architecture on the well-being of the people who use the space, and how they feel in that environment. 

Q: What made you want to join the WeBC Peer Growth Mentorship program?

I reached out to WeBC, and they told me about their free programs, so I started attending events religiously. I had incorporated my business, but I hadn’t officially started at that time.

While taking these courses with WeBC, I realized that I had to take the leap and just do it. I had to jump off the cliff, so I started full-time in the summer of 2023. That’s when WeBC recommended their mentorship program.

That’s when I joined the Peer Mentorship Program and was matched with a mentor. Over time, I also connected with other mentors through my network. Each one helped me in a different area—from business fundamentals to mindset, branding, and marketing. I’m so grateful to all of them.

One of my main mentors, Sarah Wang, met with me weekly (even though it was supposed to be monthly!) because I had so many questions and was hungry to learn. She helped me believe in myself and guided me through the early days. Since then, my revenue has grown 12 times in my second fiscal year, and mentorship was a big part of it.

Q: What were the outcomes of working with a WeBC mentor?

What I loved about my mentor was her very positive mindset. We had a couple of sessions at the beginning focused on just writing down my dreams and my goals, without any limitations and just thinking however big I wanted.

That was a fun experience because our minds usually put limits on our dreams; whereas, when you think, there shouldn’t be any limit. She taught me that there is no limit to your dreams.

She also shared her insights on architecture. Her father was an architect, so she was exposed to it and had first-hand experience. She taught me that once you enter a niche, you need to stick to that niche. In terms of whether you want to do high-end or low-end, the way you start and how people get to know you is going to be your brand. It will be very difficult to start in the low-end market and then work your way up to the high-end. That was a really important lesson for me. Having mentors with experience in different industries and business models gave me a more holistic understanding of entrepreneurship. Most of all, they gave me the emotional support I needed—especially during the uncertain early days of launching my firm. 

Q: What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

I think the biggest lesson is to just trust yourself and not be scared. There are so many opportunities out there, you just need to seek it out. WeBC is a great example, there are many ways to find support along the way. 

It’s hard to start, and entrepreneurship is a test of resilience. The more resilient you are, the more successful you’ll become.

Where to find Elmira Aghsaei Architecture

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