Tiffany Mok, a Hensel Phelps senior design manager, has built a career that bridges global insight with local sensitivity, always leading with empathy, precision and a commitment to excellence. What distinguishes her is not just the scale or scope of the projects she manages but her dedication to shaping a profession and a built environment that centers on people first.
As a 2026 Engineering News-Record (ENR) National Top 20 Under 40 Young Professional, Tiffany was named among the top 40 of the most industrious young minds from more than 400 entries received last summer during the regional competitions, with winners representing construction markets across the United States and Puerto Rico.
Technical Career
Tiffany’s architectural career spans over 14 years and three continents, rooted in the belief that good design should elevate and reflect the communities it serves. She began her career contributing to projects across the Middle East, including a 150,000 SF shopping center in Jordan and villas in Azerbaijan. In 2011, Tiffany transitioned to work on a 184-acre mixed-use development in Amman. This project deepened her understanding of place-based design and global collaboration. She eventually led large international teams as a project manager across 10 countries, working to align project goals with the diverse needs of end-users.
Tiffany’s domestic work became more prominent throughout California where she served as senior project manager for the $536 million, 972,000 SF Ridge Walk North Living and Learning Neighborhood at UC San Diego. Coordinating with 25 consultants and 20+ user groups, she led the design team in delivering the project on an aggressive four-year schedule while maintaining the budget and adhering to strict campus standards.
Once she joined Hensel Phelps, Tiffany was named the lead design manager for the $1.5 billion Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Terminal 5 Redevelopment project. Targeted for completion ahead of the 2028 Olympics, the project will integrate off-site construction and aims for both an IATA Level Optimum and a Skytrax 5-Star rating, aspirations that have never been achieved at LAX.
Across roles, Tiffany has invested in personal growth and systemic improvement, advancing licensure, evolving team systems and influencing broader conversations in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry around empathy, efficiency and equitable leadership.
Community Engagement
Tiffany’s community work is deeply personal, driven by her experience of growing up as a first-generation Asian American woman and the rarity of seeing people like herself reflected in professional leadership. This has shaped her passion for mentorship, youth outreach and creating sustainable pathways for underrepresented voices.
She serves as co-chair of the Urban Land Institute Los Angeles (ULI-LA) Recruit, Empower, Access, Connect, Hustle (REACH) Initiative, a program dedicated to creating opportunities in the commercial real estate sector. Under her leadership, the program has provided 104 underrepresented professionals with tailored one-on-one mentorship, hosted over 50 development and networking events and facilitated more than 20 job transitions and promotions.
Tiffany speaking at the kickoff event for a ULI REACH mentorship cohort, where she serves as co-chair of the program focused on expanding access and pathways for professionals in commercial real estate.
Tiffany volunteers with the LA Promise Fund, working directly with high school students from local underserved communities. Through their Career Day and Career Pathway Connections programs, she shares her journey, conducts mock interviews and provides feedback on resumes. Her goal is to offer visibility into a profession that many students may not be aware of and to help them recognize their potential within it.
Tiffany has also volunteered with Architecture for Communities Los Angeles (ACLA)’s Design by Diversity Day, teaching K-12 students about architecture via hands-on interaction. She has also raised over $30,000 for rare cancer research through Cycle for Survival and was honored to share her story at the West Los Angeles event, turning personal hardship into advocacy and hope.
Tiffany at ACLA’s Design by Diversity Day, volunteering with K–12 students and using a laser-cut puzzle from the University of California, San Diego Ridge Walk North project to help them understand how two-dimensional drawings translate into three-dimensional space.
Tiffany volunteering as part of LA Promise Fund’s Career Pathway Connections program, conducting mock interviews to help underrepresented students build confidence and gain real-world interview experience.
Tiffany’s career work is integrated into her definition of leadership. She makes time for volunteering by aligning her professional efforts with her values, building partnerships with like-minded peers and choosing firms that support civic engagement. Community service reminds her why she entered this field: to uplift, empower and build a future that reflects the people we serve.
