Samantha Hill on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with Samantha Hill and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Samantha , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
Honestly, yes and no. I often wish I could act faster in a lot of my work. I have projects that have been in development for years, and it’s incredibly challenging and frustrating how long it takes to build, especially housing, in California. The layers of regulation, financing, and review can slow even the most well-planned project to a crawl.
But I’ve also learned that the waiting can clarify things. When something drags on long enough, the noise fades and what really matters comes into focus—what’s essential to the project, to the mission, and to the people it’s meant to serve. Those pauses often reveal better solutions, stronger partnerships, or smarter ways to execute.
So yes, I wish things moved faster, but the truth is, good development and good design take persistence. Acting fast might feel productive, but acting with clarity builds projects that actually stand the test of time and, ideally, make housing a little more affordable to build along the way.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Samantha Hill, founder and principal of Hill Architects, PC (dba Design With Skill) and Develop With Skill, two sister companies focused on housing that’s both attainable and meaningful. Design With Skill is a full-service architecture firm, and Develop With Skill is our development arm. Together, we design and build multifamily and mixed-use projects that elevate everyday living while addressing the real economics of construction.
My background spans Gehry Partners, Gensler, and Arquitectonica, where I worked on projects from Hawaii to New York to Abu Dhabi. Those experiences gave me a deep respect for design excellence but also a clear view of how disconnected the process can be from financial and social realities.
That’s why our mission is simple: to create housing that’s affordable to live in and affordable to build. We believe that good design and cost-efficiency aren’t opposites; they’re partners when done right. By integrating architecture and development, we align vision, feasibility, and impact from the start.
Right now, our team is expanding a portfolio of affordable and modular housing prototypes across California, projects designed to push construction innovation while keeping communities livable, contextual, and within reach.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Trust erodes quietly at first. It’s not usually one big event; it’s a slow unraveling when values stop aligning. I once had a business partner who began making financial decisions that didn’t feel right. My gut told me something was off, and over time, that instinct proved true. Numbers stopped lining up. Choices were being made in his best interest, not in our clients’.
The breaking point came when I received a notice from the IRS stating they were garnishing his wages for unpaid back taxes connected to projects we were involved in. That was it. I knew I had to step away. You can recover from mistakes, but you can’t build anything lasting on compromised integrity.
For me, trust and the restoration of it come down to values. Honesty, transparency, and protecting our clients’ best interests aren’t negotiable. In architecture, development, and leadership, our word and our work are the same thing. Once that’s broken, the only way forward is to act decisively, realign with your principles, and rebuild from a place of clarity.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I’d tell her to take the opportunity, even when it doesn’t look perfect. I was too rigid early in my career, too focused on following a straight path and doing things “the right way.” I thought growth came from control and precision, but the truth is, so much of life and work can’t be controlled, and that’s okay.
Some of the best opportunities don’t look like opportunities at first. They might show up as detours, side projects, or even setbacks, but every one of them teaches you something you’ll need later. Learn from them. At the same time, keep honing your filter. Learn to recognize what truly aligns with your goals and values, and let the rest pass by.
And most importantly, don’t try to do it all alone. You need people to grow; it’s the only way. Collaboration, mentorship, and even the hard relationships are what sharpen you. You can build a lot on your own, but real growth happens with others.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, but it’s just one layer. The public me is the architect, the founder, the person leading projects, sitting on panels, and representing a brand. It’s authentic, but it’s the distilled version that carries responsibility and focus.
The fuller picture is a lot more layered. I wear many hats: wife, mom, community member, and athlete. Those roles constantly inform how I lead and create. The discipline I learn in the gym shows up in my business. The empathy I practice as a parent shapes how I manage teams. The same curiosity that drives me as a designer is what keeps me connected to my community.
So yes, the public version is real, but it’s edited for clarity. The private version just holds more of the chaos, humor, and humanity that make all of it possible.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I’d stop waiting for the “right” time, and I’d stop entertaining anything that isn’t aligned with my values. Early in my career, I stayed too long in situations that didn’t feel right because I thought patience was professionalism. But I’ve learned there’s a difference between endurance and integrity.
I once had a business partner whose choices started to stray from what I believe in—honesty, transparency, and representing our clients’ best interests. It reminded me that life’s too short to compromise on principles, in business or otherwise.
If I had ten years left, I’d lead with even more clarity and conviction. I’d keep building housing that’s accessible, sustainable, and truly affordable on both sides of the equation, but I’d also protect the energy and people that make that mission possible.
Whether it’s business, family, or community, alignment matters. When your values and your actions move in the same direction, the impact and the peace of mind are immeasurable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.designwithskill.com/
• Instagram: designwithskill
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-hill-97899a4