A seasoned architect and academician with 25 years of experience, Dr. Tanaya Verma currently serves as Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture and Design at K.R. Mangalam University. Initially starting her career in industry, she later found her calling in academia, where she inspires and mentors the next generation of architects. Dr. Verma continues to make significant contributions to architectural education, research, and curriculum development, encouraging students to embrace challenges and pursue innovative career paths.

An accomplished Architect and Designer, Dr. Tanaya Verma has been working in the fields of Architecture, Design, and Academics for the past 25 years. She currently serves as the Professor and Dean of the School of Architecture and Design at K.R. Mangalam University in Gurugram.

Dr. Verma says, although she had never initially imagined herself in academia, architecture was always a skill and passion she aspired to pursue. Her journey, however, began in the industry, where she worked on numerous interior design and architectural projects.

Dr. Verma’s passion for inspiring the younger generation led her to deliver lectures, gradually introducing herself to the academic world. Starting as a faculty member, she climbed the ranks to Program Coordinator and eventually Dean, where she now guides and motivates both young faculty members and students.

As a young girl, Dr. Tanaya Verma was unsure of the career path she wanted to take, but exposure to design and creativity sparked her interest. Her parents supported her journey, holding her hand and introducing her to the profession. For Dr. Tanaya, architecture became a natural calling, and her career reflects her deep connection to the craft.

Reflecting on her inspiration for choosing Architecture as a career, Dr. Tanaya Verma shares that her early exposure to diverse cities played a crucial role in her decision. Her parents had transferable jobs, and throughout her childhood, they travelled across the country. Every new city they visited introduced her to different types of buildings and historical landmarks, which planted the seed in her mind that architecture was an everlasting tale of human heritage. She realised that these places were not just structures but stories of the people who built them, showcasing a unique blend of creativity and legacy.

Dr. Verma learned that architects are the modern-day creators responsible for not only the aesthetics of these spaces but also the comfort and functionality of people's lives. For her, architecture did not fit neatly into either arts or science—it was a perfect balance of both. The profession involves daily challenges, such as working closely with labourers, craftsmen, dealing with policies, and incorporating cutting-edge technologies. It gave her the chance to indulge in aesthetics, play with colors, and draw inspiration from nature.

These interests, along with her passion for creative and intellectual pursuits, led her to architecture. Her five-year journey through the course was a fulfilling experience, filled with international site visits and exploration of architecture in various contexts—from villages to metro towns. Building models and studying the evolution of architecture opened her eyes to the endless possibilities of this career, suited for anyone willing to embrace a creative and challenging path.

Discussing her early days, Dr. Tanaya Verma says that she was born in Banaras, a holy place which exposed her to spirituality and many learning opportunities. After spending her early childhood days in Banaras itself, Dr. Verma moved to Nagpur where she completed her school education at St. Joseph Convent School. Dr. Tanaya was also in Chandigarh and southern states for a brief period which further exposed her to the vernacular and architecture profession. Her college years brought her back to Nagpur where she studied at Lad College of Architecture.

Dr. Verma further shares how she was very enthusiastic about her internship experience which was part of the curriculum. She also reached out to Architect Vivek Pathak to learn from his experiences. Her summer break culminated into lifelong learnings that she gained as an architecture student and made her understand this profession better. In her final year, Dr. Verma did an internship with B.K. Associates, a well-known architectural house in Nagpur, which introduced her to various important projects.

Dr. Tanaya Verma’s teaching journey kicked off with some guest lectures at her alma mater and by mentoring the students of architecture. Appreciation from her students brought her to the field of academia. Thereafter, she got an opportunity in Kolkata where she worked with Vardhman University designing their curriculum for Interior Designing. This, she says, was a very important aspect of her career as a curriculum for Interior Design was not available anywhere. She strived to design the curriculum for these creative fields when they were considered more as hobbies than a profession. The curriculum designed by her later rolled down as a BSc program at the university.

Dr. Verma then moved to Mumbai in search of more exposure and opportunities in architecture. Fortunately, she came across Raffles Design International, a Singapore-based design education firm. Dr. Tanaya feels proud to share that she was the only Indian in their faculty team and was responsible for teaching interior design students who came from China, Singapore, and Australia. This opportunity gave Dr. Verma international exposure and validated her education and learnings. She also learnt the international method of assessment and curriculum delivery. Spending five years with Raffles truly enriched her.

Her next stop was Indore, a city she describes as the perfect blend of culture and modernity. Dr. Verma became one of the founding members of a design institute and collaborated with various institutions seeking to launch architecture programs, where they sought her expertise to help them get started. Dr. Verma also saw this period as the perfect time to pursue her masters and PhD.

After her brief stints at these cities, Gurugram was waiting for her expertise. Surrounded by high rise tech buildings, Dr. Verma stepped into a new role at Sushant School of Architecture, the first private architecture school in India. The institute provided her with greater exposure, where she had the opportunity to work with a large number of enthusiastic students, gaining a wealth of valuable experience over the twelve years she spent there.

After Gurugram, Dr. Verma served at Amity University, Jaipur for two years, nurturing and building their architectural program. She has been currently heading the School of Architecture, K.R. Mangalam University for the past one year.

As an academician, research is a natural calling for Dr. Verma. She is also guiding a few PhD and research scholars, and has authored various national and international research papers which were published in reputed journals. Dr. Tanaya has also worked on book chapters for international publications. She has also worked on government projects in the field of architecture.

Shedding light on K.R. Mangalam University in Gurugram, Dr. Tanaya explains that the university was established in 2011 and introduced its architecture program in 2013. Initially dominated by Engineering and Management courses, the university has since shifted its focus to include creative disciplines. In 2013, the university launched programs in Architecture, Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Gaming and Animation, UX/UI, and Finance, all of which are now part of the School of Architecture and Design.

This department has become the creative hub of the university, featuring well-equipped labs and workshops for students. The faculty is highly qualified, with members from leading institutions in the industry. Emphasizing a ‘learning by doing’ approach, the department encourages students to take initiatives on their own.

It also boasts an incubation lab and provides seed grants to support students' startup dreams. The curriculum includes competitions, guest lectures, and a focus on holistic education. Additionally, students have established 13 self-initiative clubs, covering a range of interests from finance and cultural activities to modeling and journalism.

Delving into her share of struggles, Dr. Tanaya Verma says that when she started 25 years ago, architecture was a male-dominated profession. At that time, getting instructed by a young girl didn’t go along well with the workers working at the sites. Compared to a skewed distribution of male faculty members back then, Dr. Verma feels happy to observe an equal proportion of male and female faculty members at institutes now. She encourages young girls to come to the field of architecture citing her own example as the first architect in her family.

Highlighting her achievements, Dr. Verma shares that as an architect she feels proud to see her name attached with buildings. She also feels elated to witness her students excel and achieve their goals in life. Dr. Verma has also presented her research at various national and international forums, and earned the ‘Best Researcher Award.’ She has also been nominated as the Best Faculty by the academic community.

Dr. Verma highlights one significant achievement that brings her immense satisfaction: helping a student through a difficult time and witnessing his success three years later. In addition to this, she has contributed to the development of curricula for the Haryana government and Vardhman University. Her commitment to serving society gives her a deep sense of accomplishment.

When asked about her role models, Dr. Verma cites Indra Nooyi, the CEO of Pepsico, as a source of inspiration, admiring her ability to balance personal and professional life. Dr. Tanaya also expresses deep gratitude to her family, especially her mother and mother-in-law, both of whom are in academia and have excelled in their careers. They have supported and encouraged her throughout both her student and professional life.

Dr. Verma is grateful to her first teacher at the School of Architecture, Dr. Chakradeo, who is currently the Vice-Chancellor at SNDT University, Mumbai. For Dr. Verma, Dr. Chakradeo has been her guiding light who always encouraged students to explore and pursue everything with great passion. Dr. Verma’s motto to execute every task with efficiency and passion and see herself succeed in her endeavours was inspired by Dr. Chakradeo. The support and encouragement of her mentors have groomed her and brought her to the field of academia.

“Be the change you want to see” is the motto Dr. Verma follows. She advises people to first observe the change in themselves before expecting it in others. Dr. Verma also finds motivation in the song ‘ Chale chalo badhe chalo’ from the movie ‘Lagaan.’ She also finds the song ‘Unstoppable’ equally motivating, and suggests everyone to listen to it in their low times.

Dr. Verma reflects on the evolution of career opportunities, noting how agriculture once played a central role in shaping livelihoods. In earlier times, many opportunities arose from agriculture, but with the onset of the Industrial Revolution, the focus shifted to engineering jobs. Following the industrial boom came the IT revolution, which spurred an increased demand for IT and infrastructure roles, becoming the new aspiration for many students.

However, as these traditional fields reached a point of saturation, creative professions began to gain prominence. Today, students are increasingly drawn to new-age careers such as UX/UI Design, Game Design, Architecture, Interior Design, Fashion Design, and Product and Communication Design. These fields are steadily rising in importance, with companies like Infosys and Microsoft also seeking skilled designers. Dr. Verma encourages students to explore and pursue these emerging creative courses, as they offer exciting and innovative career paths in the modern world.

Dr. Verma advises students to excel, explore, and experiment with their career choices rather than solely relying on the advice of elders. She emphasises the importance of identifying one’s true calling and key passions. As the saying goes, “If you love your profession, you won’t have to work a day in your life.” Dr. Verma believes that when you genuinely enjoy what you do, every day at work feels fulfilling rather than burdensome.