In this episode of the WGI Unleashed Podcast, hosts Dan and Katie sit down with Amanda Wojtasiak, a Graduate Architect in our Tampa office, whose path into the profession is anything but ordinary. Amanda brings a spark of creativity, a global childhood, and a love of learning to everything she touches, and this episode shines a light on the personality behind her growing design career at WGI. From living overseas to mastering artistic crafts to racing sailboats under the moonlight, Amanda's story is filled with movement, energy, and curiosity. This episode offers a fun, vibrant look at one of the many talented young professionals shaping WGI's future. A Childhood Filled with Culture, Curiosity, and Lots of Moving Around Amanda may have been born in Maryland, but she grew up across two continents. After her family relocated to Orlando, FL, while Amanda was still in diapers, they later moved to a small town in Germany, where she attended an international school surrounded by classmates from all over the world. Her "core memories" include biking through town, weekend visits to local beer gardens, and neighborhood block parties where every family represented a different country. She bounced between English, Spanish, and German as a child, picking up languages much like she picked up hobbies. Those early experiences taught her how to connect with others, adapt quickly, and appreciate the world through different cultural lenses. Growing Up Creative Creativity was always central in Amanda's home. She spent years sketching, painting, sculpting, and playing piano. With architects sprinkled throughout her mother's side of the family, she was constantly surrounded by blueprints, model homes, and design conversations. By the time she was old enough to imagine a career, the idea of designing meaningful spaces already felt familiar and exciting. She balanced that artistic side with academics and athletics. In high school, she ran cross-country, took AP classes, and excelled in art studios, laying the groundwork for an early foundation of discipline, curiosity, and hands-on exploration. Choosing Miami and Diving Into Architecture When it came time for college, Amanda chose Florida International University for its accelerated five-year master's program. Miami felt like the perfect place to study design. The city's cultural energy, vibrant architecture, and global influence mirrored the environment she thrived in as a kid. While there, Amanda found her way into the Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab, a hands-on hub where students worked with 3D printers, industrial robotic arms, laser cutters, and more. She helped create a large-scale replica of an underwater research lab, a months-long project that combined engineering precision with artistic detail. It solidified her love of the technical side of design and introduced her to fabrication techniques that would later influence her professional work. Launching Her Career and Landing at WGI After graduation, Amanda completed a short-term role with a large A&E firm, but she quickly realized she wanted a place where she could learn, contribute, and participate in design conversations earlier in her career. When she discovered an opening in WGI's Tampa architecture group, the timing felt perfect. Within weeks, she interviewed, joined the team, and began working across a variety of project types. What she found was exactly what she hoped for: supportive mentors, collaborative teammates, and an environment where questions, sketches, and curiosity are encouraged. Seeing Ideas Come to Life in Real Projects One of Amanda's defining experiences at WGI has been contributing to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's Autonomous Innovation Center. She supported floor plan development and construction drawings, then later toured the completed building during the ribbon-cutting. Seeing her work translated into a real-world facility was both surreal and motivating, and it helped fuel her confidence as a young architect. She is also part of a project in Miami that will incorporate 3D-printed concrete components. The connection between her academic fabrication work and her current design responsibilities brings her full circle and gives her hands-on insight into the future of construction technology. A Team That Builds Confidence and Creates Opportunity Amanda credits much of her professional growth to the mentorship she has received at WGI. Whether she is huddled around a desk reviewing drawings, learning new detailing techniques, or watching a teammate sketch a solution on trace paper, she thrives in environments where knowledge flows freely and curiosity is welcomed. The trust her team places in her has helped her build technical confidence, sharpen her design instincts, and grow into her role more quickly than she expected. Life Outside the Office: Creativity, Running, Baking, and More Outside of work, Amanda's hobbies are just as colorful as her professional journey. She paints, crochets, and bakes everything from cookies to homemade Swiss Rolls. She also stays active as a runner and is training for her first 10K since high school. One of the most unexpected parts of Amanda's story is her love for sailing. After being invited to a casual cruise night at the Davis Island Yacht Club, she quickly fell in love with the sport. Within a year, she moved from learning the basics to racing weekly, competing in long-distance events, and even captaining an all-female crew for the annual Sailing Sisters Regatta. It is a hobby that blends strategy, teamwork, and adventure, and it mirrors many of the qualities that make her a strong designer. Tune In Amanda's story moves with the same energy she brings to every project, shaped by creativity, curiosity, and a lifetime of exploration. Whether she's sailing under the moonlight, 3D-printing models in the lab, or tackling new responsibilities at WGI, she approaches each experience with excitement and heart. This episode captures that spirit from start to finish. So, tune in, and as always, stay curious, stay driven, and keep unleashing your full potential! Visit your favorite podcast app now and subscribe to WGI Unleashed to receive alerts every time a new episode drops. 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