Spotlight on Diversity
November 2024
The Power of Affinity: Patricia Vallejo Ojeda’s Many Roles in Lighting
Patricia Vallejo Ojeda
Director of Specification Sales and Marketing
THEA Lighting & Controls
“When I graduated college, my immigration status didn't allow me to work, which was very difficult financially and took a toll on my career,” recalled Patricia Vallejo Ojeda, now Director of Specification Sales and Marketing at THEA Lighting & Controls. “I got by with some help from friends. Fortunately, I was able to get my permanent status fixed and started working at an architecture firm.”
Vallejo, as an immigrant and a woman, found many obstacles in a highly competitive industry. "In those days you didn't see a lot of women in high architectural positions. Now in lighting, I have seen more women own and run design studios. I feel like people are more accepting. It's been a good experience to pivot into lighting, because it is definitely more diverse.”
But Vallejo still notices a lack of Latina representation. “In the lighting industry, we're lucky to have a lot of people that come from different backgrounds to study. Just going through the program at Parsons, most of the students are from Latin America or Asia and return after completing their studies. So that's been interesting.” Vallejo has built lasting relationships from her time in school. “A lot of my friends from school and in the industry are now my clients."
Affinity groups bring community
“I feel like I'm easy to talk to and can relate to designers who share their challenges and experiences in their career with me.” Some undocumented workers are paid under the table (often grossly underpaid) and dependent on freelance work or side hustles. This is similar to her father's experience. He was a civil engineer in Ecuador; but after moving to NYC, he had to work as a construction worker for the first 2 years due to his immigration status.
Vallejo has found support in the NYC Lightinas meetup group, a community of Latina lighting professionals in New York. “Representation is important, and I think now it's very apparent that there is a strong community of Latino professionals in New York,” she said. As someone who frequently hears about job openings, Vallejo does her part by connecting colleagues with new opportunities.
In addition, Latinos In Design recently formed an affinity group in NYC. “It's becoming an important, well-attended group that welcomes Latinos from architecture and other design fields. One event had six panelists, including Francesca Bastianini of Sighte Studio. The panelists spoke about their journey and careers. It was interesting to hear different perspectives and career paths in the design and construction industry. These events are great for networking.” Their mission is to foster connection and champion diversity in the future of design.
“I always try to help people that are having immigration issues. There's only so much I can do, but at least I can share my experience and encourage them to stick with it until their status changes.” She explained that a lot of lighting firms will sponsor immigrant graduates, giving them a path to legal employment.
When immigrants graduate from college on student visas, they are seeking sponsorship in addition to employment. This can tie them into an employer for an extended period or give less leverage when vying for career advancement or salary increases. Visa restrictions can also limit travel, further isolating them from family and friends back home. “I'm hearing plenty of that happening now. Less from Latinos that I meet; more from the Asian community.”
Her passion for cross-cultural support extends beyond her own community. “I think that influences how I carry myself and the way that I approach other cultures and support them. I have so much respect for what the Asian Lighting Community (ALC) group is doing. It’s a privilege to support different communities, not just Latinos in the industry. There is a lot of valuable cross-pollination.”
As a lighting designer
Back in the day, Renée Joosten was the lead in the lighting design team (now called Journey Lighting) at ICRAVE, and was on the faculty at Parsons. Joosten hired Vallejo after she earned her dual Master’s in Architecture and Lighting Design. “The team consisted of three lighting designers. It was heavily focused on hospitality, but we did branch out into other types of projects.” Vallejo mentioned that she was proud of her work bringing hospitality into the David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Her career continued at Lumen Architecture, where she expanded her technical expertise. “I got to work on some interesting jobs at different scales. It felt far more technical, with a lot more controls. I became a well-rounded designer.” Vallejo’s meticulous notetaking and sharp memory quickly made her the office’s “walking fixture catalog.”
Seeking more flexibility and variety in her workday, she started to look into sales. “I think it was a good move for me. Originally, I was looking for the flexibility of the schedule and being able to be in front of people at any given moment; rather than being in front of a computer. Now, I appreciate seeing all different types of projects and design styles from my clients. It's a great and fun part of sales.” She continues to thrive in sales, while managing to keep a work-life balance.
