While building a home, the arrangement of spaces, considering occupant comfort, and the overall design of the residence play a very crucial role. To cater to the requirement of clients, Zion Gragasin founded ZG Architects company, which is an architectural design firm in the Philippines, specializing in 3D visualization, and extensive planning as well as offering design solutions and strategies for residential, commercial, and industrial establishments.

Zion Gragasin is a registered and licensed Architect who runs an architectural firm in the Philippines. Her expertise in 3D visualization paved the possibility for clients to see through the design process remotely, allowing her to establish her own company. She has obtained a bachelor's from one of the top universities in the Philippines, the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) where she acquired great knowledge and expertise in her field.

Zion Gragasin engages in an exclusive interaction with the Women Entrepreneur Magazine, here’s the highlights.

What motivated you to establish ZG Architects? Tell us about the underlying idea behind the firm and some of its most unique features.

In the Philippines, most architectural & interior design firms are founded by professional and renowned male architects. In general, architecture has traditionally been a male-dominated field, but women have made a concerted effort to be professional architects and have progressed to become team leaders. Establishing my architectural firm has been my dream since I was young. Because of my great passion for this field and strong leadership skills, I worked hard to become a licensed architect and developed my skills in designing and virtual modelling.

ZG Architects provide architectural and interior design services. The technical innovation revolutionized Architecture in such a manner that users could virtually experience the design process through 3D modelling, realistic rendering, 360-degree panoramas, and walk-through animations in less time than the conventional manual drawing method which also allows the customers to modify their buildings prior to construction. In terms of advanced software, we were able to view and accurately measure an existing structure or a site with the use of Scanifly, a powerful tool that combines survey photos obtained by a drone to create an exact 3D model of the building. As a result, we could be able to work on projects without ever having to visit the location, especially abroad. Moreover, we are usually provided by clients with a complete set of plans as well as actual images of the site or existing building. From there, my talented team can start with the 3D visualization process.

Everything is now done remotely, which is how my architectural firm operates since this is more convenient and efficient for my employees, giving everyone a better work-life balance and higher productivity levels. Furthermore, adapting to this new work generation is one step forward to our firm’s success.

What are some of the key business strategies and tools that you leverage to ensure organizational success?

As the Principal Architect, I oversee the team and make sure that every output is completed in accordance with the client’s needs and the company’s standards. Operating the business remotely is difficult at first, but after much trial and error, I established a written policy that served as a guideline to set performance standards and at the same time make employees fulfil their roles. Our firm doesn’t advocate an 8-hour shift, rather, employees can clock out after they’ve completed their daily tasks. This has proven high productivity level as employees want to finish their job as soon as possible, but as part of the policy, the quality of work should not be compromised.

Currently, I have an exceptional team composed of efficient and talented individuals and motivate them through additional remuneration and verbal encouragement, this results in the retention of proven talent. Moreover, a collaborative approach to business is more effective in a modern corporate since it provides employees with their own voice for better communication, promotes productivity, and stimulates growth. As a leader, I value my team members just as much as I do our clients and, in my belief, a highly motivated team is the foundation of success in our company.

“Intense enthusiasm and tremendous passion in what you do will lead towards success”

Tell us about the pressing challenges faced by you in your entrepreneurial journey so far and how you overcame them.

Marketing your products and services takes a lot of work and the correct target audience. This is when I realized how crucial learning about entrepreneurship is, as I can’t sell my skill if I don’t know how to promote it. In this digital age where everything is shared online, I saw an opportunity to exhibit my portfolio to the target audience in a particular group. I experimented with creating 3D models from various scenes and doing realistic renderings instead of traditional manual drawings. This is when clients began to approach me with offers because they valued a contemporary approach to presenting over the conventional one.

Every entrepreneur must invest a significant amount of time, energy, and commitment into both starting and running their company. Furthermore, when the product or service reaches the right target market, then it will succeed.

What are some of the most significant milestones that you have achieved throughout your professional journey? What has been the driving force behind your success as an entrepreneur?

The greatest milestone in my entrepreneurial career was expanding our services from the domestic to the international market. Never did I realize in the first place that offering services abroad can be possible, but with the help of advanced technology and social media, we were able to do projects ranging from simple residences to complex commercial, hospitality, and industrial buildings.

As an architect, I am not just a designer but also a problem-solver who creates strategies and develops innovative concepts. Rather than just doing it out of necessity, I work because I love what I do. For all the success I have attained as the founder and Principal Architect of my own company, I credit my intense enthusiasm and tremendous passion for architecture and interior design.

“As a registered and licensed architect, zion gragasin has extensive experience in the design industry which motivated her to establish her own architectural firm, zg architects, at the young age of 26 years old”

What would be your advice to young women who also aspire to become entrepreneurs?

I want to inspire aspiring young architects and interior designers to reach their full potential and not be afraid to take risks. Success in a career path is determined by one’s abilities and perseverance and not by one’s gender. Women are powerful instruments of change, and we should not work in the shadows and become invisible.

Zion Gragasin, Founder & Principal Architect, Zg Architects

Quick Facts:

Educational qualification: bachelor of science in architecture.

Registered and licensed architect.

Member of the united architects of the philippines.

Headquarters & other office locations: caloocan city, metro manila, philippines

A business leader you admire: zaha hadid