Robin Klehr Avia

Ms. Avia, 60, is a regional managing principal of the design firm Gensler, which was founded in San Francisco. She oversees business in the Northeast and Latin America, including offices in New York, where she is based; Boston; Pittsburgh, Toronto and Mexico City. Some of the notable projects that Gensler has worked on in the New York area include the JetBlue Airways international terminal at Kennedy Airport and Condé Nast's new office space at One World Trade Center.

Interview conducted ...