Priya Daniel has been in the field of architecture for nearly 18 years. She is a trained architect, an artist, an urbanist, and a green building professional. She is the founding principal of Five Scale Design, an architectural practice based in Singapore. Her firm designs and delivers projects across various scales and sectors, not only within the region but also internationally. Born and raised in Oman, she completed her architectural studies in Mumbai and London before settling in Singapore, where she has been living for the past 15 years. We at CIO Global, are proud to introduce Priya Daniel as one of the Edition: Promising Women in Business, 2025.
She always had a strong interest in architecture and wanted to gain substantial experience working with international design firms before starting her own business. She believed that practical experience was crucial in the field of architecture, where hands-on knowledge plays a vital role. After working with different firms, she decided to establish her own practice, giving her more creative control and independence. This allowed her to focus on blending client satisfaction with artistic expression and functional design. Her journey in architecture has been both rewarding and fulfilling.
“Passion and perseverance drive an entrepreneur through difficulties.”
Her firm primarily focuses on green building and sustainable principles. Through her projects, she aims to create a positive environmental impact, whether small or large. Her work improves operational efficiency in buildings and enhances people’s lives by designing residential, commercial, and hospitality spaces. She ensures that her projects contribute to better user experiences while also making a meaningful social impact. Starting a business came with its challenges. Before becoming an entrepreneur, she was a design professional with little experience in finance, marketing, operations, and taxes. Learning these aspects was a steep curve, and some mistakes were costly. Assembling a team of like-minded professionals with the same vision was another challenge. She also had to balance multiple responsibilities, including being a new mother, managing operations, marketing, and executing design projects. At times, these responsibilities led to burnout. Over time, she overcame these challenges through careful planning, adaptability, and guidance from mentors and professional networks.
Her architectural practice stands out because of its business model. Unlike firms that take on a large number of projects, she prefers to handle only a few each year to maintain high-quality standards. By focusing on five to seven large projects and about ten smaller ones annually, she ensures that each client receives personal attention and exceptional service. Her approach is not about gaining social media popularity but about delivering well-thought-out projects that often lead to repeat clients. Additionally, her expertise in green building solutions adds value to her work, offering meaningful and sustainable architectural designs.
One of her proudest moments as an entrepreneur comes when clients refer her to new projects. Such referrals confirm that her work is appreciated and meaningful. Since architecture begins with ideas and drawings, seeing those ideas take physical form on construction sites is a fulfilling experience. Watching a vision become reality and knowing that her firm has contributed to a well-designed space brings her immense pride. The challenges along the way make the final outcome even more rewarding.
During tough times, she remains motivated by focusing on solutions rather than dwelling on problems. Whether it is a project delay or an on-site construction issue, she approaches it with a problem-solving mindset. This attitude encourages innovation and keeps her moving forward. Challenges push her to improve and avoid stagnation, which she believes is essential for growth and progress.
“Bringing dreams to reality gives a sense of pride.”
Balancing work and personal life is challenging, but she makes conscious efforts to take breaks and vacations. Even while traveling, she finds inspiration in different cultures, people, and places. Setting boundaries and clear work expectations helps maintain a distinction between personal and professional time. Managing time effectively and learning to say no when necessary have been important lessons in maintaining balance. Throughout her journey, she has drawn inspiration from various experiences rather than a single role model. Cultural sensitivity, social impact, and innovative design are values she admires in professionals across industries. Living in different countries has influenced her approach to design, allowing her to integrate diverse perspectives into her projects. These experiences keep her motivated and contribute to her professional growth.
For her, key qualities of a successful entrepreneur include strong leadership, effective communication, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Leadership fosters motivation within a team, and clear communication ensures alignment with clients, employees, and stakeholders. Creativity helps differentiate a business, while problem-solving skills allow an entrepreneur to handle challenges effectively. Passion and perseverance are also crucial, as they drive entrepreneurs through difficulties. Adaptability and resilience help in adjusting to changing circumstances and finding strategic solutions to problems.
Looking ahead, her business goals include both short-term and long-term objectives. In the short term, she aims to increase revenue, expand her client base, and improve client satisfaction. She is also integrating emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into her business model and designs. Sustainability is a major focus, with long-term goals centered around environmentally responsible practices in operations and materials sourcing.
To stay updated with industry trends, she leverages technology, including AI, AR, VR, and building information modeling. She keeps herself informed through industry publications and journals, attends industry events, and mentors students. Engaging with academia and young professionals allows her to continuously learn and stay innovative. While staying informed about trends is important, she also believes in stepping back occasionally to create unique solutions rather than simply following industry trends.
She encourages aspiring women entrepreneurs to prioritize work-life balance. Women often face expectations to contribute more to family responsibilities, making it essential to set boundaries. Financial independence is another key factor, as securing the necessary funding reduces stress. She advises women to develop a solid business plan with clear goals and target markets. Most importantly, she encourages confidence and persistence. She believes that failure is part of the learning process and that overcoming obstacles eventually leads to success.
“Challenges push me to improve and avoid stagnation.”
Through her architectural practice, she continues to make a lasting impact on the industry. Her dedication to sustainability, innovation, and thoughtful design ensures that her work remains meaningful and contributes positively to society.