Alison Killing | The Legacy Project became an architect because she likes making things. She read architecture at King’s College, Cambridge and Oxford Brookes and on graduating was shortlisted for the RIBA Silver Medal.
She then went to work for a number of international design offices, including Buro Happold and Kees Christiaanse, on architecture, public space and urbanism. She started Killing Architects in 2010, where her work incorporates design of buildings and urban strategies, as well as research, film making and exhibitions that help to connect people with their built environment. She is a TED Fellow.
Alison Killing Highlights | Becoming a TED fellow – it’s an incredible community to be part of, for inspiration, support and friendship.
A Key Talent | Perseverance. Any significant goal is going to take time to come to fruition. To a certain extent, just keeping going with something can get you to where you want to be and I do tend to stick with things passed the point where a lot of people give up.
But it’s important to recognise that perseverance can mean other things too – there may be very good reasons to stop any given thing, to lower the bar sometimes, or to put something on pause while you focus on something else which requires attention. A willingness to take smaller steps, pause, and to resume something after a break are all things that can get you to where you want to be.
Principles I Live By | Having integrity and respect for other people.
Critical Skills I Develop | This is an ongoing project – obviously architecture, design and research skills are key, plus skills from related fields such as film making, journalism, interactive design or curation, which are about communicating the architecture and design work – that’s the technical skillset.
There’s the business side on top of that and that’s something that I’ve been putting serious time into over the past couple of years, because I need to look after business development, finance, marketing etc in order to make my work sustainable. These are things that I’m less good at, and that I therefore need other people to help me with, but it’s also important that I understand them properly so that I can ask good questions of, and work effectively with, the people around me.
Lessons I Have Learnt | To make sure that I have plenty of balance in my life – devoting plenty of time to family and friends and to resting enough. In the long run, you don’t get more done, or do better work if you don’t take the time to rest. I don’t always manage it, but I try hard to keep my working time to 9-6, Monday to Friday.
Performing At My Peak | I’m not sure it’s possible to always perform at your peak – you need the lower points and the slower times too. That’s not only because they provide contrast to peaks (and allow you to identify them as such), but because they set you up to be able to have those peaks in the first place.
The quieter, slower periods, and those where you feel you’re not making progress are often the times when the deep thinking and recharging is happening and they provide the pre-conditions for having peaks. Beyond that, it’s like your parents told you – get plenty of sleep, drink water, eat vegetables, take regular exercise and try not to work in the evenings and at weekends if you can.
Resources I Use To Stay Inspired | I read a LOT. It’s something I enjoy for its own sake, sometimes the content can be in some way relevant for a project I’m thinking about, but it also offers a really good way for me to find that relaxed, but focused place where I can do some proper thinking. I don’t tend to have ideas when I take a shower, or when I go for a walk, I have them when I’m reading.
My Future Dreams And Ambitions | To learn to drive again, since I haven’t driven since I passed my test, quite some time ago.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and click here to find more Motivational Speakers
Beatrice Witzgall is the CEO and founder of LumiFi, is an accomplished, award-winning lighting designer with more than 20 years of global experience. She has worked on countless lighting design projects alongside renowned architects including Frank Gehry and Steven Holl. Having worked as a German trained architect and graphic design and digital media teacher, Beatrice […]
Adrian Gore is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Discovery Group. He launched Discovery in 1992, with a simple and core purpose of making people healthier and enhancing and protecting their lives. Discovery has since evolved into a diversified and multinational financial services group. Discovery is widely acknowledged as a global thought leader […]
Kirsty Chadwick is an educator, public speaker and leader, who has spent almost two decades involved in the field of education. Founder of The Training Room Online, which designs and develops innovative tailor-made e-learning material for the corporate, industrial and private sectors, Kirsty has trained, developed and inspired people across three continents. Kirsty Chadwick Definition […]
Dr Marlene Wasserman is an internationally trained Clinical Sexologist & Couple and Sex Therapist in Private Practice in SA and New York and founder of the Dr Eve brand and enterprise. She is an Academic, Educator, Author of 4 books, a well known media celebrity on both TV and radio and a single Mum to […]
John Klukas was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. After receiving his B.A. in Psychology from the University of Minnesota, his interest in pursuing photography brought him first to Bangkok, Thailand and presently to New York City. Klukas works primarily in fashion photography and his work has appeared in a range of art and editorial publications […]
Lloyd Blankfein has been the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. since June 2006, and a Director since April 2003. He serves as a member of the Goldman Sachs Management Committee and Board of Directors. Previously, he had been the firm’s President and Chief Operating Officer and prior to that, […]
Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer and the World Cup winning coach of the Indian Cricket Team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. He has recently established a cricket academy named the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy (GKCA). Kirsten […]
“Let me help you create an unforgettable experience at your conference.” As an experienced keynote speaker, Vinh Giang TLP knows that what transpires on stage is not about him. It’s 100% about the audience. It’s about the life-changing lessons he’s been so fortunate to learn along the way and sharing them in a manner that […]
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
