Hayes is a licensed architect in NY. In addition to the work at her practice, she teaches interior design at Parsons the New School for Design and serves as co-chair of the Interiors Committee of the NY chapter of the AIA. She has a Bachelor of Science and Master of Engineering degrees in civil/structural engineering from Cornell University as well as a Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of Business. Prior to Slade Architecture, Hayes worked at Arup in London and NYC, and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in NYC as well as Boston Consulting Group.