Michelle Pinkston

The New Year should begin with a bang… so Ladies and Gentlemen let me introduce Michelle Pinkston! A landscape designer for the Planning Group who is based in St. Louis, Michelle is a dedicated and incredibly creative team member with an endless supply of positive energy and ideas. Her attitude is infectious and you can’t help but feel inspired to be at your best when working alongside Michelle.

 This graduate of Iowa State University who grew up in rural Iowa could also be a professional seamstress. While most of us struggle with sewing a button, Michelle could create a runway line for cats or tissue box covers for your grandmother. (She also takes on extremely ambitious DIY projects at her adorable house.)

 I hope all of you enjoy getting to know my colleague and friend a bit better!

 Q:  Who or what inspires you? 

I am inspired by people who are passionate.  Passionate about what they do, something they saw, something they hate, something they are eating – whatever. I so admire people when they are outward expressions of their true selves and I aspire to do the same.  I am inspired by things that are a little silly where perhaps they shouldn’t be.  I am inspired by people who don’t take themselves too seriously.  I am inspired by little niceties that happen quietly. 

 Q:  What is your favorite natural landscape?

Natural? Growing up in rural Iowa we consider huge corn fields as natural landscape, so I would have to say my grandparents’ farm.  My aunt and uncle live there now, but it’s the place I think of when I think of the formative experiences of picking up rocks, playing in dirt, laying around in the grass, checking out bugs.  That place is such a vernacular part of my history that when I reflect on an explorative and educational landscape, that’s what I think about.

Michelle & Tom

Q:  If you had one day completely to yourself, how would you spend it?

 I would sew.  That’s right. Sew.  I love to sew so many random things…I-Pod monsters, baby quilts, draft snakes, pillows, curtains, wonky dresses… it’s such a colorful way to MAKE.  I do creative things all day, but so rarely do I use my hands to MAKE something and then get to hold, critique, covet that made item. I love the sense of satisfaction that comes from a completed project. Also, I like buttons. Old, weird buttons. 

 Q:  I would say you have a bubbly and effervescent personality.  Why? How do you maintain it?

What do I have to be so cranky about!?  I figure that if I keep smiling and laughing I’ll make it through whatever. I feel guilty I haven’t had to “make it through” too much, but even when things seem particularly sucky, my smile will just sort of fake it till it takes.  Although…it’s pretty clear when I’m not happy.

Michelle and her kitty cat Nixon

 Q:  You and I are fans (understatement) of TV and avid readers of celebrity gossip. What one show current or in syndication do you want to star in? And, what character would you want to be?

Uh……  GLEE!!!!!! I L-O-V-E it! and I would want to be the main character, Rachel Berry.  (Although I covet the wardrobe of the Emma character)  I love Rachel so very much! Although now I’m super cool and popular (sarcasm), I guess I didn’t always feel that way – and I love that she embraces her weirdo-ness and just sings it out.  I mean she literally blows her chest off practically every episode! Ah, if only I could actually sing (not that that stops me!)

 Editor’s Note (and opinion): GLEE is easily one of the most exciting new shows of the season. I mean check out Rachel’s solo at Sectionals. Uh-may-zing!

 This interview is part of HOK’s ongoing series highlighting inspiring women across the firm!

Glam gal Jeannette shows off her supermodel moves at the Life@HOK photoshoot

Q: What’s a typical day in the life of Jeannette Thompson?

A typical day involves a morning routine that is anything but typical, which is what happens when you are raising a family and working outside the home. In fact, if we have two days in a row where things go as planned, I would consider it a record. My husband travels a lot so often I am doing my best just to get all of us dressed and out the door on time. With a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old, getting out the door can either be smooth and easy or the hardest thing ever. Many times I feel as though I have lived two lives before I ever even make it into the office.

Q:  You’re a mom, a realtor, a key member of the HOK Planning Group, superstar HOK event planner, and a ringleader of Life@HOK. How do you keep all the balls in the air?

I like having lots going on at a time. That’s not to say that I like multi-tasking. I try hard every single day to give whatever I am doing at the moment the attention that it deserves. But that means having to very quickly have to shift to another subject, or need, or whatever it might be. So I think the important thing is intense focus on what’s at hand — doing the best you can do to anticipate what will come next and what might be needed so you can prepare and have time to get it all done or get help to get it done. Blocking time on a calendar by the day/week/month, trying to set realistic expectations and making lists are my strategies. And the key to everything is having a hobby that you love. Mine is sewing. Note: she’s amazing – can you imagine trying to create a “candy corn fairy” dress just days before Halloween? Superwoman Jeannette did it and had one happy fairy! She has also just finished up this year’s special Christmas pajamas! I suspect we’ll be seeing her on Project Runway in no time!

Christmas PJs hot off the machine with a couple days to spare!

Q: Who or what inspires you?

I find inspiration pretty easily. Maybe too easily, because it has been said that I can get excited over what some might see as very mundane. But somewhere along the way I picked up the ability to enjoy even those little things and celebrate them. I think this is especially important in our world today. HOK’s relationship with the Biomimicry Guild has been particularly inspiring to me. Nature has it all figured out and we have so much to learn. The idea that we could apply that knowledge — the wisdom that could come from a creature smaller than my fingernail —  to change the way we solve problems or even build cities, that is so powerful to me.

The Thompson Family Unit

Q: What advice would you give to other young women looking to have it all?

I don’t know what I could offer that isn’t already written about in blogs, books and explored to the nth degree on Oprah. I guess knowing what your own “it all” is would be the best first step. For me, “it all” really centers around my family and the home that I want to make with them. That has definitely meant making choices about how, how much and where I work. Fortunately, I have had the incredible opportunity to explore those options here. I have been part-time at HOK for 10 years now. During that time I have been in grad school, had both of my children and even spent three years in Little Rock, Arkansas. Working in a flexible environment has given me the space to create the best balance that I can. My hope is that I will look back on this time with no regrets about not being there for them and I will have still had the opportunity to contribute to a profession that can make a positive difference in the world.

Q: What do co-workers say about you?

Well, I took a little survey to find out. I asked 10 people I’ve worked with from around the firm, from San Francisco to Toronto to Atlanta, to take 10 seconds to come up with one word about me. Here’s what they had to say (in order of how I received them). By the way, this was kind of fun and I recommend it if you need a laugh.

• Innovative
• Finicky
• Cheerful
• Energetic
• Organizer
• Wicked-Smart
• Focused
• Creative
• Intuitive
• Persuasive

Editor’s note: I couldn’t agree more with Jeannette’s survey responses, and would like to add a couple more: kind, caring, and SUPER FLY!

This interview was part of our ongoing series on Women Across HOK. For more inspirational stories, click here.