Earlier this month I had the opportunity to attend the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit in Minneapolis. It was the third time I had gone to this bi-annual event and, though I always find elements I enjoy & value, the prospect of going solo to a conference always fills me with a bit of trepidation. As an introvert I get nervous about the crowds, the new faces, the small talk but this year I committed to leaning into the uncomfortable to see what the other side held. Here are my five top take aways from this year’s WLS event, not only do I enjoy relaying some great content I also appreciate looking back at this to maintain the forward momentum this event always promises.
“Every project has the inherent ability and capacity to be great and not be hindered by lack of money or lack of client vision.” Architect Julie Snow (one of my personal favorite designers!) shared this mantra as the one she used to lay the foundation to her iconic practice. Building on this, she reminded us that our role as architects are to pose interesting questions to our clients, to challenge them and offer a breadth of exploration from our experience. Architects create clarity and being able to be clear about a project’s intent with deep conviction is a learned skill that is honed through the mess of innovation.
Accept that there’s no playbook, Figure out the next thing…. not the final thing. Deliberate shifts or transformations are done by taking action. Trust that you are not lost and this is not a mistake.
Negotiation is important but pre-empt by making a 90 day plan and a target - show investment into the firm by taking on as much as you can - “do the job you have and the one you want.”
Effect change by placing these elements in motion:
Be curious
Celebrate creativity
Chat, create conversation
Coalition building & cooperation
Convene people
Keep your word, the choices you make are critical, be honest
Use common sense
Believe in chance, give it space
Have courage
Have a cause bigger than yourself
Reframe self promotion. We should broadcast the value and importance of design & the built environment on many different mediums and channels. Design has the power to change lives and help clients change their world - it is transformative. Our shared collective purpose is to shape our built environment for a better future.