Charlotte Shields

At PeopleDem property we believe in celebrating our community by spotlighting black excellence in property. Today we are celebrating Charlotte Shields.

Charlotte is the Founder of CS Archi + Design, a Chartered Architect, and a dedicated mentor. She is deeply passionate about helping architects, designers, and creative professionals navigate their careers with confidence while delivering purposeful, high-quality design. Drawing from her experience across leading UK and international practices, she blends technical expertise with practical, thoughtful guidance. Her approach is personal, hands-on, and tailored whether she is supporting a design team or mentoring an aspiring creative, Charlotte is committed to promoting culturally aware, inclusive, and intentional design.

Her love for property began at an early age. Inspired by her childhood obsession with The Sims, she knew by age 11 or 12 that she wanted to shape spaces and build environments. But even then, Charlotte sensed she wasn’t destined to be a “traditional” architect. She has never confined herself to the title. Instead, she has always felt aligned with being a designer and entrepreneur someone who uses creativity, strategy, and business to bring meaningful ideas to life.

For Charlotte, architecture is naturally multidisciplinary. As she explains, “Architecture doesn’t exist in isolation. It intersects with business, finance, technology, planning, law, interiors, construction, digital design, and even storytelling.” This multidimensional nature is what drew her toward the property industry a space where she could bring all those disciplines together. Property allows her not only to create thoughtful spaces, but also to build value, shape communities, and design a lasting legacy.

Charlotte began her professional journey at Formation Architects, later taking on Project Leader roles at Fuse Architects, Chapman Taylor, and Broadway Malyan. She has worked on an impressive range of projects from Grade I listed restorations to large-scale masterplans and residential developments. Today, she offers remote consultancy, freelance support, and contract services to design teams across the UK and internationally.

Running her own company, CS Archi + Design, was not an easy path. Charlotte openly shares that one of her proudest moments was turning redundancy into a launchpad. “What could have been a setback became the moment I learned to stand on my own two feet as an entrepreneur and business owner,” she said. “It pushed me to trust my skills, back myself fully, and build something aligned with my purpose.” That turning point taught her resilience, confidence, and the true meaning of self-leadership.

Charlotte’s mission now is to empower individuals and teams to redefine success, think like architects, and build intentional, fulfilling careers. She seeks partnerships with clients who share her values and vision, trusting that the right opportunities will align at the right time. Her faith grounds her journey, and she believes God will always provide the clarity and courage she needs. For Charlotte, it’s all about meaningful collaboration, shared purpose, and creating impact together.

Though she has achieved a great deal, Charlotte never forgets the importance of community. She deeply appreciates the mentors, leaders, and supporters who challenged her to grow, encouraged her to dream bigger, and helped her trust her own voice especially during moments of uncertainty. Her family has also been a pillar of strength. “My parents have played a huge role,” she shared. “Their support grounded me. Knowing I had people who always told me I could do anything gave me the courage to take risks and build a career that reflects who I am, not just what I do.”

Charlotte continues to reach for more. One of her biggest goals is to build her own property portfolio and fully step into the property development space. With her architectural background, it feels like a natural evolution an opportunity to bring together her design expertise, creativity, strategy, and long-term vision. In ten years, she sees herself as a fully established architect, entrepreneur, mentor, and business owner with a thriving property portfolio. Her dream is not only to create high-quality homes but also to empower others especially women to step into their potential and design lives they define as meaningful and successful. For Charlotte, success is about impact, legacy, and uplifting others along the way.

Her passion for helping the next generation is evident in everything she does. As she says, “Supporting the next generation will never be something I gatekeep.” She recalls a memorable moment when a Part 1 Architect reached out to her on LinkedIn overwhelmed, falling behind, unsure how to personalise applications. Charlotte immediately saw her younger self in this aspiring professional. She guided her through her goals, worries, and strengths, encouraging her to shape a career aligned with her creativity and lifestyle rather than following a rigid path. Weeks later, the architect messaged her with news: she had secured opportunities at leading companies an experience that could redefine her entire career. Charlotte reflects, “This is why I do what I do. This is why mentorship matters. And this is why I will always be a safe space for under-represented women navigating architecture, construction, and the creative industries.”

Beyond mentoring individuals, Charlotte shares her knowledge widely through speaking engagements. She is a professional mentor at Westminster University and has spoken at events such as Life After Uni, supporting graduates as they transition into professional practice. She has hosted and presented at industry events with audiences of over 300 people, offering insights on empowerment, career development, and purposeful design.

When asked to recommend a course that has significantly impacted her, Charlotte spoke highly of the Landmark Forum. She completed it in 2020 during her personal development journey, and it fundamentally shifted her mindset around abundance, possibility, and self-belief. Her biggest takeaway was recognising how often our behaviour is shaped by limiting stories we tell ourselves stories that hold us back without us realising. Landmark helped her rewrite those narratives, strengthening the confidence and self-leadership she embodies today.

It has been a pleasure sharing Charlotte’s story. She is a woman dedicated not only to her craft but to empowering others to think bigger, believe in themselves, and realise the opportunities available to them. Her journey will undoubtedly inspire others not just to pursue architecture, but to build businesses, shape communities, and create lives aligned with their most authentic selves.