AIAPV JOINS IN AIA LOBBY DAY, LEADERSHIP SUMMIT 2023
By Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC | Director of Passiv at ZA+D
AIAPV Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP) Class of 2023
The AIA Leadership Summit (formerly AIA Grassroots) was held in Washington, DC, from February 14-17. Emily Lally, member of AIAPV’s EPAP Class of 2023, attended as part of her EPAP leadership development activities. The following article recounts and reflects upon Emily’s experience.
AIAPV’s Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP) annually selects a few outstanding Emerging Professionals for a yearlong mentorship with an AIAPV Fellow, coupled with leadership and career development activities. Nominations for next year’s class will open in May—watch for details in future newsletters, e-blasts, social media posts, and our website.
The Summit began with AIA President Emily Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA speaking about the role of architects as policy advocates and how the power of design can be harnessed to address society’s most pressing challenges from climate change to social justice.
Kevin Holland, FAIA, NOMAC, LEED AP then discussed the top priorities of AIA:
- Climate Action
- Future Economy
- Equitable Communities
Kevin left us with this thought: “We want to do well while we do good.”
AIA EVP/Chief Executive Officer Lakisha Ann Woods, CAE, spoke about implementing change that builds on past progress. As CEO of AIA, she has reduced the priorities list dramatically because “if you’re trying to be all things, you cannot execute and cannot be exceptional.” As a fellow Marylander, she mentioned the state motto “Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine,” which means "Strong Deeds, Gentle Words." She correlated this motto to how we can all approach legislators as partners for progress.
On the second day I participated in AIA Lobby Day where I represented AIA Potomac Valley and AIA Maryland to discuss two bipartisan bills that are important to the profession of architecture: Democracy in Design Act and Resilient AMERICA Act. The Democracy in Design Act protects freedom in design for federal buildings and the Resilient AMERICA Act would increase the amount of pre-disaster mitigation funding available through FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. It is critical to be proactive and invest in communities’ infrastructure before disaster strikes. We cannot continue to pay in lives and livelihood, we need all hands on deck. As Kara Kempski stated, “What’s predictable should be preventable.”
Day three began with a conversation with AIA Leadership on how to use the power of design. AIA President-Elect Kimberly Dowdell, AIA quoted Maya Angelou, “Nothing will work unless you do.” As architects we can envision the future and help create a better one. We think differently, we lead differently. Leadership is about setting a destination; curiosity is important, but you must bring your values and goals into focus. We must create a space where everyone feels they belong. Embrace “change agents” or emerging professionals, refining skills together so we can all rise. The earlier you involve emerging professionals the better.
Kim Lear spoke about multi-generational trends that capture the story of shared chapters. Baby Boomers are known for their idealism and the sense of scarcity that transformed the American work ethic. The way we work is in a constant evolution—no way is the “correct” way, but we must all learn to communicate across generational trends. With Gen X there was a rise in skepticism and not trusting the system. This led to an aversion to traditional sales and fierce independence. Gen Xers tend to have honest, direct and unfiltered communication. Millennials were raised in the dawn of technology and violence that created a particularly strong bond between millennials and their parents. This generation is collaborative and empowered, but risk averse. Millennials are constantly in search of meaning. What impact will I have? What will my legacy be? I can’t speak for the other generations, but I do identify deeply with Kim's explanations of millennial trends. Gen Zers were raised in the well-being revolution. If you don’t make time for wellness now, you’ll be forced to make time for illness. The perspective shifted to “What am I willing to sacrifice for my job?” Gen Zers are always optimizing.
I attended the workshop “Who is in charge?” The speakers Saskia Dennis-van Dijl and Janiece Williams were captivating. They discussed these five rules of engagement:
- Be Present
- Take Care of Your Body
- Listen with Honesty, Openness, Vulnerability
- Lean into Discomfort of Certain Topics
- Hear all Voices
They spoke about setting your team up for success by creating guiding principles, and having an open dialogue about how each member of the team prefers to communicate and what boundaries exist. Everyone communicates differently but we must adapt to each other’s styles and be open to listening. Uncomfortable conversations are going to happen. Passionate debate is good, but personal comments are not productive. This workshop was eye opening for me. We created groups of mixed generations, and it was truly fascinating listening to everyone’s perspective on what challenges there are in the ever-changing work environment.
Sheila C. Johnson provided the closing keynote on the last day of the Summit. She has always been inspired by the arts and she spoke about the power of design. Good design is functional, but great design is inspirational. The power of design cannot be underestimated, just underutilized.
I want to thank AIAPV EPAP for giving me the opportunity to attend this Summit. I made some brilliant connections and learned about how to effectively lead and communicate.
Emily Lally, AIA, CPHC
Director of Passiv at ZA+D
Emily is a Registered Architect with an enthusiasm for sustainable design. She has always been interested in the built environment and its effect on everyday life. Emily is a Phius Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC) and is continually growing her knowledge of passive house design strategies in an effort to keep clients informed on the latest science. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Architecture from the University of Maryland.
As Director of Passiv at ZA+D, Emily is passionate about creating spaces that focus on the comfort and health of the occupants. She is working towards creating a more resilient and efficient built environment.
Emily has a variety of expertise from her background working in the government, commercial, master planning, and residential sectors. She enjoys working closely with clients and seeing the positive impact completed projects have on the community.
Emily loves to sketch both at work and in her free time. She also dabbles in photography, editing, and painting. When the weather is nice you can find her hiking along one of the local trails.
Emily received a 2022 AIA Potomac Valley Emerging Professional Award and is a member of the Emerging Professional Awards Program (EPAP) Class of 2023.
