Success isn't always linear and sometimes the bravest move is walking away from something you worked incredibly hard to build.

In this episode, Bryce sits down with Sharla Toller, J.D., Senior Vice President and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at CannonDesign, to talk about courage, career pivots, and redefining what success really means.

Sharla's journey to executive leadership in the AEC industry didn't follow a straight path. A former practicing attorney with a J.D. from Howard University School of Law, she made the bold decision to leave litigation behind to pursue work aligned with her passion: building inclusive, people-centered workplaces.

Since joining CannonDesign in 2021, she has:

• Led implementation of the firm's DEI Strategic Framework

• Directed the DEI Council and Employee Resource Groups

• Launched firmwide training programs

• Deepened partnerships with organizations like National Organization of Minority Architects

• Co-authored the children's book Deja the Dynamo

• Been named one of the Top 50 DEI Professionals in the OnCon Icon Awards (2025)

She also holds a Master of Professional Studies in HR Management/Diversity & Inclusion from Georgetown University and is a single mother who has intentionally shaped a career aligned with both passion and parenthood.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Leaving a prestigious profession to follow purpose

• How DEI work impacts retention, talent acquisition, and engagement in AEC

• What real executive leadership looks like

• Building a career that supports your life — not competes with it

• The courage required to pivot

This conversation is about alignment, authenticity, and redefining success on your own terms.

🎧 Listen now and share with someone who needs the reminder: it's never too late to pivot toward what inspires you.

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