Growing up in Tokyo, Koko Nomura was inspired by the city’s layered urban fabric, where modern and traditional architecture coexist and continuously adapt. This perspective shapes her approach to design and change management—seeing spaces as evolving systems that benefit from thoughtful collaboration. A licensed architect since 2008, Koko is a Technical Director in an interiors studio and an alumna of the AIA Emerging Leadership Class (2017). She speaks frequently on partnership and collaboration, including on the "I Hear Design" podcast, and is currently pursuing an Executive MBA at The University of Texas at Austin.