Mara Sabatini, Vice President and Senior Project Manager, was recently featured in BD+C’s article, Leadership in Practice: How 40 Under 40 Alumni Foster Collaboration and Culture. In the article, Mara underscores communication as the foundation of effective teamwork, whether through clear documentation, consistent follow-through, or building trust across disciplines and offices. She highlights the importance of creating environments where teams “talk to each other rather than work in silos,” ensuring every voice feels heard and valued. Mara also points to the impact of early, consistent communication in cross-disciplinary work, noting that it prevents conflicts and results in more innovative solutions. As a leader, she emphasizes listening as much as directing, viewing mentorship not as providing answers but as asking the right questions to bring out the strengths of others. Mara credits designer Amanda Pirlot as a key influence whose empathetic and balanced leadership helped shape her approach.