2024 Ones to Watch - Industry Leaders: Michael Hensley, Pickard Chilton Architects

Three skills that you use every day in your position: 

1) Listening to my clients, consultants, and team members; 2) Finding solutions to real estate challenges through design; 3) Setting goals to manage time and measure success.

Best book, podcast, or app for aspiring leaders: 

“Coaching Real Leaders”. Each episode of this Harvard Business Review podcast contains invaluable lessons as it presents real leaders working through real challenges with a great leadership coach, Muriel Wilkins.

Best advice for new leaders in 10 words or less:

Listen first, understand the challenges and opportunities, then act.

What recent project, transaction or accomplishment are you most proud of? 

530 Howard St. in San Francisco. Rising 840 ft. from SoMa and consisting of nearly 700 units, this residential tower maximizes the development potential of the 18,000 s/f site. Through careful coordination between the design and development team, we navigated through recent zoning modifications that permitted the project to move through the entitlement process in record time. The design balances form and function meeting the goals of our client and complementing the city’s skyline. 

What makes this nominee an Industry Leader? 

“Principal Michael Hensley is a thoughtful leader in both our studio and the profession. A talented architect, he is considerate of and a mentor to his team while delivering design excellence to his clients. Uniquely, he is a skilled manager with a keen understanding of the nuances of the business.” - Jon Pickard, principal, Pickard Chilton Architects.