Team

Maria Fernanda Liao

Where were you born?

Panama City, Panama

Where is your favorite travel destination?

Asia, but I’ve just been to China. Would love to visit Japan and Southeast Asia!

What’s something you’d still love to learn?

I’d love to learn to speak Mandarin and I want to cook like a chef and master professional techniques.

Describe Mancini’s company culture in one word?

Trailblazing

What do you hope to see in the future in the world of architecture and design?

I hope to see architecture that prioritizes long-term well-being over short-term trends.

When did you know you wanted to be an architect/designer?

I realized architecture was the right career for me when I discovered that I love coordinating people, solving complex challenges, and turning ideas into reality. What makes it even more meaningful is knowing that the spaces we create can have a lasting, positive impact on the community.

What is something you collect?

Enamel pins and postcards

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

You don’t have to have all the answers, you just have to ask the right questions.

What is your favorite hobby?

Cooking

Who inspires you the most in your field?

Shigeru Ban

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can build an entire travel itinerary around where to eat.

Any other interesting fact about you?

After graduating as an architect, I decided to pursue another dream and started flight school. I trained for about a year but was getting motion sickness while flying, so I had to pivot- but it was definitely an unforgettable experience!