Daily Inspiration: Meet Diane Kayembe

Today we’d like to introduce you to Diane Kayembe.

Hi Diane, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I have sought out creative outlets for as long as I can remember. I was born and raised in Idaho to an immigrant mom, who worked incredibly hard to provide for my brother and me. She didn’t have the luxury of prioritizing the arts, but was supportive of my journey.

I grew up flipping houses with my family for supplemental income and would use scrap construction materials to paint on, play with, and build models. I found great joy in expressing myself and continued to search for more ways to do so. It takes a village, so I was raised by powerful, intelligent, and strong women that were incredibly influential in introducing me to different forms of art. They gave me the confidence and courage to believe in myself and pursue my interests.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like many people, I have earned my sense of humor from my life challenges. I grew up in a landscape that had very little diversity and was faced with much ignorance. I wanted to be like everyone else so badly, that I assimilated like many black girls do i.e. straightening my curly hair, hiding my culture, and extreme dieting.

It was difficult to express what I was going through in life as my mom was trying to support my brother and me. Home life was overwhelming, so I sought out extracurricular activities. In my earlier years I played the violin and participated in 4H. I created a sunflower art piece made out of bread dough that won a ribbon at the county fair. I then transitioned to gymnastics and cheerleading. These sports are both physical, demanding, and require a certain physique. Unfortunately, my self image was at an all time low during this period of my life. I became more positive minded and nicer to myself as I started to find my community of like minded individuals who could relate to my life experiences.

Architecture was introduced to me by a family member when I was a kid, and I made it my life’s goal to be a part of the profession. Little did I know I was entering a profession where I’m highly under represented. I didn’t meet a single black architect until the second half of college, and even now, that number has not grown by a lot. The lack of representation can be discouraging, but I remind myself of how hard I have worked and that I love what I do.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a project manager at two different architecture firms. One based out of Utah and the other one is based out of Texas. Prior to these jobs, I worked at an architecture firm for seven years that focused on residential and commercial. I love how I get to solve problems of varying scales, and to see the solutions be built and experienced by others. (Image: Construction Site)

I mainly work on custom residential projects. There is much reward in designing a home for a family to grow and make memories in. I appreciate the scale of residential architecture and the type of detailing it requires. I enjoy the process of creating beautiful designs that become someone’s oasis. It takes skill, insight, and creativity to design spaces that embody these elements in both two dimensions and in real life.

I have been a part of many projects that I am proud of, however there is one project that I am proud of on a personal level. It is my home that I purchased, fixed up, and sold. I lived in and worked on the home during construction. At the same time, I worked at an architecture firm full-time and taught at a University. It was one of the most difficult times of my life, yet it was very fulfilling to complete a project like this.

How do you think about luck?
Good luck has gotten me this far to be honest. Yes, I’ve worked very hard to get where I am today, however so many of the opportunities I’ve come across were dependent on timing, people, and places I’ve been in. I was introduced to architecture by a family member, and meeting the right people helped me land my first job at an architecture firm.

With good luck and courage I left a familiar lifestyle to move to California. I had to be honest with myself and admit that I wasn’t happy with where I was in my life. I wanted a stronger sense of community and to live around more diversity. It was daunting to try to make new friends and put myself out there. LA has so much culture, events, and atmosphere to explore that it can be difficult to know where to start. I had to remind myself that I was brave enough to move across state lines to get here, so I was brave enough to try new things.

I was lucky enough to cross paths with new and old friends. I have pushed myself out of my comfort zone and have found success in finding my happiness. I’m a relatively new resident to Los Angeles, however I finally feel like I am home.

 

Image Credit:

Headshot: AOI Production