2025 Women in CRE: Theresa Genovese, CetraRuddy

What has been the most rewarding project or deal you’ve worked on in your career, and why?

An exciting aspect of our practice at CetraRuddy is that we work on a wide range of project types at all scales. I’ve helped lead climate-resilient schools in India, the cultural hub Fotografiska, high-profile residential developments including 443 Greenwich, a master plan vision for Staten Island, innovative new mixed-use waterfront districts, and major public sector projects. What motivates me is that every project is unified by a focus on human connection and bringing people together. Creating this sense of home in the built environment is the approach and ethos that I find most rewarding.

What skill or quality do you believe is essential for success in your field today?

Collaborating and embracing interdisciplinary expertise is more essential than ever before, and in fact design excellence today requires a deep commitment to this approach. I feel fortunate that CetraRuddy has always emphasized interweaving disciplines - architecture, interior design, urban design, landscape. It’s part of our firm’s DNA to work in an integrated way across all scales and develop holistic solutions that are inclusive and greater than the sum of their parts. This is a challenge, but it’s how the richest and most successful results come about, and where our ambition always lies.