Recap: AIA Women’s Leadership Summit

In October, the women leaders of AIA Central Idaho attended the Women’s Leadership Summit. This included Laura Davidson, Vice-President, Rebecca Behrens, Treasurer, Caitlin Kessler, Secretary, and Sasha Rubinshteyn, Associate Director. Chicago was a brilliant city to host this event, as architects and designers from across the country and globe can easily be inspired by this architecturally-inclined city.

Day One: The group explored the city by foot and found themselves in the energetic Millennium Park, under the massive shadow of the Willis (Sears) Tower, and observing Louis Sullivan’s ornate detailing on the columns and storefront of the urban Target store. They attended sessions on mindfulness and transitions within the architecture industry, and ended the day with some karaoke (singing Abba, of course)!

Day Two: With a larger break in the morning, exploring more of the city was the only thing on the to-do list! Caitlin decided to opt for the highly recommended Architecture River Tour, which she wished would last longer than 90 minutes. Laura, Rebecca, and Sasha explored and brunched before all meeting up to attend afternoon sessions. These sessions included mentorship, inclusive design, design informed by trauma, designing with non-profits, and a history of the women who built Chicago. It was an inspiring day, to say the least!

Day Three: The final day ended with a series of incredible keynote speakers. The group heard from leaders in the industry who shared their stories of struggle and success. A few impactful tidbits include “Our empathy makes us exceptional,” “Architecture is about unearthing stories,” and “Every challenge is an opportunity to grow, every setback is a set up to come back.”

Our board is grateful for the opportunity to attend WLS 2024, and they are excited for future events that encourage leadership, networking, and growth.