Devin Gillette
VP, Business Development | Vitruvius Built
What unique strengths do you bring to your professional and other roles?
I bring a combination of strategic thinking and emotional intelligence that allows me to lead in a way that is both effective and deeply human.
I am naturally wired to think big picture and long term, to think about how everything connects between people and processes, experiences and operations. And then, I take all that and translate it into a clear execution plan. What sets me apart is how I lead within that mindset. I don’t rely on the pressure of the hierarchy or trying to prove myself. I create clarity, calm and trust, especially in high-stakes environments like construction, where there are a lot of moving parts and strong personalities.
I also have a strong ability to build relationships across architects, clients, designers, owners reps and our internal teams — and then bring everyone around an internal vision.
But one thing I also have a strong strength in is that I lead with intention. I care deeply about my work and the experience that people have working with me — not just the end result.
Can you share a pivotal moment in your career that significantly shaped your path?
One pivotal moment in my career was when I sold my first company, moved to Hawaii — where no one knew me or my successes — became a newly single mom, and had to face the decision of what was next.
It forced me to stop relying on momentum and instead rely on my skillset, my knowledge and my intelligence. I couldn’t rely on my network anymore. I was alone. I had to create value from the ground up. I looked at it as a challenge. I didn’t mention my company. I didn’t mention selling a brand. I started over. I rebuilt myself.
That experience reshaped how I view leadership. It taught me that titles and environments change, but your ability to build, adapt and lead people through uncertainty is really what truly defines you. It also gave me a deeper level of confidence; not just in what I have done, but in what I am capable of creating moving forward.
When you go from selling a brand that you built from nothing — that you were on the Today Show, filmed with the Sharks, were in Shape magazines, and had celebrities wearing it — to starting over, you humble yourself to the fact that you can really achieve anything.
What key advice would you offer to other aspiring leaders?
Be you. Focus less on proving yourself and more on becoming someone people trust. Leadership isn’t about being the loudest in the room — it is about being the most grounded, the most clear and the most consistent.
As female leaders, we don’t need to adapt the roles and the leadership qualities of our male counterparts. Be true to you. See the gaps, and fill them. Don’t take the traditional path. Find the seat at the table, sit there and own it. More than likely, it’s waiting for you.