Liz Snyder

Director of Product Marketing

NanaWall Systems

14 years in the industry

What initially inspired you to pursue a career in architecture, and who or what influenced you most along the way?

My career has never followed a straight line, and I see that as one of my greatest strengths. I was raised with the belief that if you work hard, stay curious, and ask questions, opportunity will follow. Life presents a series of doorways, and I’ve been fortunate and intentional about choosing which ones to open.

I graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in art history, focusing on both modern and Asian art. My thesis centered on Borobudur, and traveling to see it after graduation solidified my desire to pursue photography. I returned to school to earn a degree in illustrative photography, leaning into the intersection of art and science—black-and-white film, chemistry, light, and timing.

Alongside my creative career, I grew up in a family that renovated and flipped homes, which gave me early exposure to architectural plans, the trades, and how buildings come together. Over time, I have worked as a photographer, designer, and business owner. I ran a real estate staging company for a decade and even redesigned the interior of a historic hotel, without formal design training. I joined NanaWall at a pivotal moment in my life. With 14 years at the company and a role that has evolved into Director of Product Marketing, my career now sits at the intersection of engineering, the built environment, and storytelling, bringing technical performance to life for architects and designers.

Can you share a project you’re especially proud of and explain what made it meaningful—either professionally or personally?

During my time at NanaWall, I’ve helped bring fourteen products to market, each requiring deep collaboration across engineering, leadership, sales, and the architectural design community. What I’m most proud of is not a single product, but the process we’ve refined together.

I sit at the table with engineers and leadership, asking what I often call the most crucial question: Why do I care? That question helps translate complex performance data, testing standards, and engineering rigor into messages that resonate with architects and designers, our primary specifiers. It’s where technical credibility meets human experience.

What makes this work meaningful is knowing that the stories we tell are accurate, responsible, and valuable. We’re not just launching products; we’re shaping how people understand performance, sustainability, and the role of fenestration in how buildings function and feel.

How do you see diversity and inclusion influencing better design outcomes in architecture today?

The built environment is a complex problem-solving exercise, and every project comes with its own set of variables. Diversity, across gender, background, and experience, directly improves outcomes by broadening how problems are understood and solved.

Women often bring a unique ability to synthesize information, multitask, and process nuance. Intuition, to me, is not a gut reaction; it’s a synthesis of subtle cues and experience. That skill is invaluable in product development, marketing strategy, and leadership.

Inclusive teams ask better questions, challenge assumptions, and ultimately create solutions that serve a wider range of people more thoughtfully.

Have you had mentors or advocates who played a key role in your career growth, and how important is mentorship for women entering the field now?

Many people have inspired me throughout my life, but I’m especially drawn to driven, intelligent women who forge their own paths. At NanaWall, having leadership that recognized my skill set and leaned in made all the difference. Advocacy matters, especially in male-dominated industries. For women entering the AEC industry today, mentors and advocates can help normalize ambition, encourage risk-taking, and reinforce that their perspectives belong at the table.

How do you balance creativity with the technical, regulatory, and business demands of architecture?

My entire career has lived at the intersection of creativity and discipline. Photography taught me patience, precision, and respect for process. Business ownership taught me adaptability. Product marketing demands both.

My job requires an understanding of performance requirements and engineering constraints while also crafting narratives that make those realities accessible and meaningful. Strong communication is as critical as technical accuracy, and the goal is to respect both equally.

What changes have you seen for women in architecture over the course of your career, and where do you think progress is still needed?

Early in my career, disparities in recognition and compensation were more pronounced. Progress has been made, and being part of that evolution has been meaningful. However, there is still work to be done, particularly in leadership representation and decision-making authority.

Visibility matters. When women are seen leading, shaping strategy, and influencing outcomes, it creates momentum and opens doors for others.

How do you see the conversation on sustainability going in our industry?

Sustainability has shifted from a niche concern to a fundamental industry expectation. Codes are intensifying, net-zero goals are becoming standard, and material performance is under greater scrutiny.

Product marketing plays a critical role in advancing this conversation responsibly, grounded in data, transparency, and real performance. At NanaWall, we focus on engineering products that are backed by performance metrics, durable, energy-efficient, and aesthetically refined. It’s about aligning sustainability claims with measurable outcomes and long-term value.

What advice would you give to young women or girls who are considering a career in architecture or the broader AEC industry?

Be bold. Advocate for yourself. Know your worth. Ask for what you want and make sure your work supports that ask.

Embrace industries dominated by the opposite sex and view your perspective as an asset, not a limitation. Stay curious, stay informed, and invest your time where your contributions genuinely shape positive outcomes. Strong communication, integrity, and leadership skills are just as important as technical knowledge.

During International Women’s Month, what does recognition like this mean to you, and how can the industry continue to better support and elevate women’s voices year-round?

Recognition like this is meaningful not just personally, but symbolically. It reflects how far the industry has come and how much further it can go.

Supporting women year-round means creating space for their voices, trusting their expertise, and ensuring they’re represented where the decisions are made. For me, there’s a certain irony and joy in working in the fenestration industry, quite literally creating doors that transform how people experience space. Walking through doors and helping open them for others has defined my career.