Welcome to a new edition of our Spotlight series where we get to know the people that make the magic happen in our creative collective. Pull up a chair because we’re sitting down for a Q&A with Client Development Director Arianna Leopard.
Arianna brings a strategic, design-driven perspective to Streetsense, with a career rooted in real estate economics, market intelligence, and development strategy for complex, experience-led environments. Her background spans senior roles at leading architecture firms, where she partnered closely with developers, operators, and design teams to evaluate concepts, shape development strategy, and align market realities with creative vision.
Working across hospitality, mixed-use, and entertainment projects in the U.S. and internationally, Arianna is known for translating data into clear narratives that support decision-making and elevate placemaking outcomes. Her work sits at the intersection of economics, human experience, and design — helping teams understand not just what is feasible, but what will truly resonate.
At Streetsense, Arianna is excited to collaborate within a fully integrated platform where strategy, creativity, and execution come together to create places that are economically sound, culturally relevant, and deeply engaging.
Q: What prior experience or interests lead you to Streetsense?
A: My career has always lived at the crossroads of real estate strategy and experiential design. I’ve spent years working alongside architects, planners, developers, and land owners to assess market potential, test concepts, and strengthen the economic foundations of place-based projects. Streetsense’s ability to seamlessly integrate strategy, placemaking, branding, and real estate thinking felt like a natural next step — and an opportunity to be part of a team shaping places holistically, not in silos.
Q: What do you do in your free time that inspires your work here?
A: I spend a lot of time exploring cities — walking neighborhoods, observing how people move through and inhabit spaces, and noticing the small details that make places feel intuitive, welcoming, or memorable. Travel is a constant source of inspiration for me, especially the experience of great hospitality and cultural spaces. I also paint and write in my free time.
Q: What topic, thought, or hobby is piquing your interest right now?
A: I’ve been thinking a lot about how culture, creativity, and the natural world shape how we experience place — from street life in historic cities to the ways landscapes, gardens, and public art contribute to a shared sense of identity. Travel continues to inform this: each new town, alley, sidewalk, shoreline, and trail teaches me something about how people connect with their surroundings, socially, emotionally, and ecologically. Cooking, gardening, and painting, too, have become creative lenses I bring into my work — heightening my awareness of texture, color, rhythm, seasonality, and atmosphere, and how these elements come together to shape both spaces and narratives.
Q: What do you wish you had known when starting out in this industry?
A: That the strongest insights come from listening more than proving a point. Early on, it’s tempting to focus on having the right answer. Over time, I’ve learned that the best outcomes emerge when you create space for curiosity — about people, markets, and perspectives that challenge your own.
Want to connect with Arianna? Email her at ALeopard@streetsense.com
Interested in joining our collective? View our career listings.
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