Sustainable Urban Planner & Storyteller
Liora "Lia" Naveh
I’m Lia, a planner and storyteller. I design cities that sustain both people and the planet, weaving narratives that connect communities to their spaces.
Key Takeaways
Strengths
Visionary design, community engagement, narrative-driven innovation. Liora excels at creating sustainable urban solutions and inspiring buy-in through compelling storytelling.
Challenges
Tends to overcommit, struggles with saying no. Her enthusiasm for projects can stretch her thin, impacting work-life balance.
Achievements
Led the redesign of a flood-prone district, reducing water damage by 50% and earning a national sustainability award. Her work transformed a community while setting a benchmark for eco-friendly urban planning.
Communication
Warm, persuasive, and inclusive, but can be verbose. Liora captivates audiences, though she occasionally over-explains, risking loss of focus.
Vouch Summary
Clarity of the Elephant: 90%
Clarity of the elephant is a score given by the endorsers and grades the accuracy of our Vouch summary. Learn more
Lia is a visionary urban planner who seamlessly blends creativity with functionality, shaping spaces that are both innovative and practical. Her ability to see the bigger picture while mastering the details sets her apart.
​
She’s a natural leader, engaging teams, stakeholders, and clients with clarity, enthusiasm, and strategic thinking. Lia doesn’t just direct—she inspires, making people believe in a shared vision.
​
Calm under pressure, she approaches challenges with insight and precision, breaking down obstacles into smart, actionable solutions. She turns setbacks into opportunities, ensuring every project stays on track.
​
Lia has evolved as a leader, mastering the balance between hands-on execution and empowering others. Her influence is evident in award-winning projects that have transformed communities and earned industry recognition.
​
More than just skilled, Lia brings an energy that’s motivating, collaborative, and uplifting. She elevates not only her projects but everyone around her—making her an invaluable force in urban planning.
Interview Transcripts
Zara Kim
Former Manager
Interviewed May 2024 by Patrick Greene
Role & Relationship:
Lia serves as an urban planner and manages a team of three. She’s responsible for designing urban spaces that are both innovative and practical, guiding her team to create environments that enhance communities. It’s a role she thrives in, and her leadership is evident in every project.
Key skills and qualities:
Lia stands out because of her remarkable ability to blend creativity with pragmatism. She has a visionary approach to urban planning—imagining spaces that are beautiful and functional—while also ensuring the details align perfectly. Her communication skills are exceptional; she engages clients, team members, and stakeholders with clarity and enthusiasm, making them believe in her ideas. On top of that, her leadership inspires her small team to perform at their best, which is no small feat in a field as complex as this.
​
Problem Solving and Challenges:
When faced with a challenge, Lia approaches it with a calm and systematic mindset. She takes the time to fully understand the issue, asking insightful questions and gathering perspectives from her team. She’s collaborative, encouraging input and brainstorming sessions, but also decisive when it’s time to settle on a solution. Her ability to break down complex problems into manageable steps ensures that obstacles are not only addressed but turned into opportunities for improvement. It’s a strength that’s served her projects well.
Areas for development:
Early in her career, Lia occasionally took on too much herself rather than delegating tasks. It stemmed from her confidence in her own abilities and a desire to ensure everything was perfect. Over time, though, she recognized the value of empowering her team and has worked diligently to refine that skill. Now, she delegates effectively, which has strengthened her leadership and allowed her team to grow alongside her.
Impact and achievement:
Lia has achieved some truly impressive things. One standout was her leadership on a project that revitalised a neglected urban neighbourhood. She transformed it into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly area with green spaces and local businesses—a place people now love to call home. That project not only earned praise from the community but also led her team to win a prestigious urban planning award last year. It’s a testament to her ability to deliver results that make a lasting impact, both practically and aesthetically.
Personality and Vibe:
Lia is a genuinely warm and inspiring individual. She brings a confident, uplifting energy to her team that’s both motivating and reassuring. She’s approachable and kind, with a sense of humor that lightens the mood when things get intense. At the same time, she exudes a quiet strength and optimism that encourages those around her to rise to the occasion. Her presence fosters a sense of unity and purpose—she’s the kind of person who makes you proud to be part of her team.
Theo Alvarez
Direct Report
Interviewed May 2024 by Patrick Greene
Role & Leadership:
Lia is an outstanding leader and mentor. As my direct manager in urban planning, she provided not just guidance but a real sense of purpose. She balances big-picture thinking with a hands-on approach, ensuring our designs are both innovative and practical. Under her leadership, our team of three consistently delivered projects that truly enhance the communities we serve.
Key Strengths & Skills:
What sets Lia apart is her ability to merge creativity with functionality. She has an incredible eye for design and a deep understanding of how urban spaces shape everyday life. Beyond that, she’s a phenomenal communicator—whether she’s presenting to stakeholders, advocating for a vision, or giving constructive feedback, she makes sure everyone is engaged and aligned. More than just a manager, she’s a leader who knows how to bring out the best in her team.
Problem-Solving & Challenges:
Lia is the kind of leader who thrives in problem-solving mode. She approaches challenges with patience, insight, and collaboration. When we hit roadblocks—whether it was unexpected zoning restrictions or shifting client demands—she never reacted with frustration. Instead, she asked the right questions, encouraged input from the team, and turned problems into opportunities. She leads with confidence and decisiveness, ensuring that no challenge ever felt insurmountable.
Growth & Development:
One of the things I respect most about Lia is her self-awareness. Early on, she sometimes took on more than she needed to, wanting everything to be just right. But over time, she refined her approach, learning to trust and delegate more. As a result, our team not only worked more efficiently but also had the chance to take ownership of key tasks and grow in our own careers.
Impact & Achievements:
Lia’s work speaks for itself. One of the most inspiring projects she led was the transformation of a neglected urban neighborhood into a thriving, pedestrian-friendly space with green areas and local businesses. Seeing the direct impact of our work—families enjoying the new parks, small businesses flourishing—was incredibly rewarding. The project even won a major urban planning award, a reflection of her ability to turn vision into reality.
Personality & Team Dynamic:
Beyond her skills, Lia is just a great person to work with. She has a warm, encouraging presence that makes the workplace feel both focused and enjoyable. She knows when to push for excellence but also when to inject a bit of humor to keep morale high. She creates an environment where people feel valued and supported, making it easy to stay motivated and do our best work.
Final Thought:
Having worked under Lia’s leadership, I can say with certainty that she’s not just a great urban planner—she’s an exceptional leader who elevates those around her. Anyone who gets the chance to work with her is lucky.
Maya Hassan
Peer Planner
Interviewed May 2024 by Patrick Greene
Professional Relationship & Collaboration:
I had the pleasure of working alongside Lia on multiple urban planning projects, collaborating from different organizations. From the outset, it was clear that she’s a leader in her field—someone who brings both vision and practical expertise to the table. Even though we worked for separate companies, she fostered a true sense of partnership, making collaboration seamless and productive.
Key Strengths & Expertise:
Lia’s ability to blend creativity with real-world feasibility is what sets her apart. She has an instinct for designing spaces that aren’t just visually striking but also deeply functional and community-driven. She’s also a natural communicator—whether she’s engaging with stakeholders, coordinating with government agencies, or leading technical discussions, she ensures everyone is aligned and moving toward a shared goal.
Approach to Problem-Solving:
In urban planning, unexpected challenges are the norm—regulatory shifts, budget constraints, conflicting priorities. Lia navigates these with impressive calm and clarity. Instead of getting stuck in obstacles, she breaks them down, brings the right people into the conversation, and finds solutions that work for everyone. I’ve seen firsthand how her ability to adapt and problem-solve has kept projects on track, even under tight deadlines.
Leadership & Professional Growth:
While we didn’t work within the same team, it was obvious that Lia is a leader who brings out the best in those around her. She knows how to balance big-picture thinking with attention to detail, and she encourages those she works with to do the same. Over time, I’ve also seen her evolve—early on, she took a very hands-on approach, but she’s since honed her ability to empower others, creating a more collaborative planning environment.
Notable Achievements:
One of the most impressive projects we worked on together was the revitalization of an underutilized urban district. Lia played a pivotal role in shaping the vision and ensuring the planning aligned with both community needs and regulatory requirements. Her ability to balance innovative design with practical execution was instrumental in the project’s success, and it even earned industry recognition.
Professional Demeanor & Team Energy:
Lia is one of those rare professionals who is both highly skilled and genuinely enjoyable to work with. She’s approachable, sharp, and has a way of making even complex discussions feel productive and engaging. She brings an energy that’s both motivating and reassuring, making collaboration not just effective, but also enjoyable.
Final Thought:
Working with Lia has been a privilege. She’s not just a talented urban planner—she’s a strategic thinker, a strong collaborator, and a true asset to any project. Anyone who has the chance to work with her will quickly see why she’s so well-respected in the field.
Rowan Blake
Architect Lead
Interviewed May 2024 by Patrick Greene
Q: "How does Lia collaborate with architects?"
A: "Lia’s solid—she brings detailed plans and real community data, which we love. But she can be stubborn about sticking to the narrative."
Q: "Can you elaborate?"
A: "Sure. We hit a snag on a project once—design constraints meant tweaking the story. Lia resisted at first, wanting it exactly as envisioned. We talked it out, and she came around, but it took some back-and-forth."
Q: "What do you appreciate about her?"
A: "Her focus on communities. Lia’s insights make our work better, even if we butt heads sometimes."
Jonah Patel
Policy Advisor
Interviewed May 2024 by Patrick Greene
Q: "How does Lia handle policy feedback?"
A: "Lia’s a dream—she takes our input seriously and builds plans that solve real problems. That water damage reduction? That came from stuff we flagged."
Q: "Any areas she could improve?"
A: "Maybe communication around timelines. Once, a project got delayed, and Lia didn’t tell us early enough. We had to scramble to update stakeholders. She apologized, but it was stressful."
Q: "What vibe does she bring?"
A: "Lia’s calm and thoughtful—keeps things steady even when it’s chaotic. She’s a good partner."