Madelynn Ringo is an architectural designer specializing in experiential spaces that resound with purposeful beauty. With an insatiable passion for problem-solving and high regard for heartbeat moments, Madelynn creates storied environments expressed within a formidable architectural framework. She scales brand identities to life with a commitment to feel-good originality.
#77 Paths to Leadership with Liz Leber
Liz Leber is the Managing Partner at Beyer Blinder Belle in New York City. Liz is dedicated to advancing mission-based institutions through forward-looking architecture and planning projects. Guided by her astute and inquisitive nature, Liz excels at extracting the core objectives of her clients and their stakeholders and translating the collective needs and mission of institutions into creative architectural solutions. Both within and outside the firm, she is recognized for her ability to approach every challenge with a balance of creativity, pragmatism, and unfailing optimism
Read More#76 Productive Collisions with Latoya Nelson Kamdang
Latoya Nelson Kamdang is the Director of Operations of the New York Studio of Moody Nolan and a U.S. Fulbright Senior Scholar. At Moody Nolan, she leads the NY studio in the practice areas of Aviation, Healthcare, Housing, Cultural, Hospitality, and Retail. Latoya has also been a Visiting Associate Professor at Pratt Institute for over ten years, where she educates students on interdisciplinary design approaches. She has a research focus on participatory design processes, impacts of displacement on authentic communities, passive sustainable technologies, and indigenous architecture.
Read More#72 Equity in Architecture with Kavitha Mathew
Kavitha Mathew is the Global Diversity Officer at KPF, and leads the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as the development and implementation of the firm’s global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. Mathew oversees KPF’s many internal Communities such as KPF Public, KPF Pride, and KPF+, helps guide KPF’s recruitment and resourcing, as well as its philanthropic and volunteer efforts. Leveraging her experience as an architect, Mathew’s work at KPF has a project-focused component, advising on engagement and communication with the community. Kavitha is also the Founder and President of Equity Co:LAB, and the Special Projects Director of the American Institute of the AIANY.
Read More#70 Architect Led Design Build with Stacie Wong
Stacie Wong is a Principal at GLUCK+. Named by Fast Company as a top 10 most innovative companies in architecture, the firm is recognized for Architect Led Design Build. Stacie brings expertise in leading strategic planning, research, programming, and community stakeholder engagement with private and public institutional clients, as well as stewarding the design and construction for the successful completion of many technically complex projects. She has been an advocate for architects’ involvement in construction to increase their agency in the building process and impact on the design of the physical environment.
Read More#69 Striving for the Extraordinary with Angelica Trevino Baccon
Angelica Trevino Baccon is a principal at SHoP Architects. She leverages deep expertise in and a passion for evolving technology to create inspiring, sustainable spaces for people, often in next-generation workplaces. She led the SHoP teams for the new Uber Headquarters in San Francisco and the Atlassian Headquarters in Sydney, as well as several other large-scale projects for major global tech companies. Angelica has great success in meeting fast-paced and far-reaching design and delivery challenges and finding consensus with multi-layered stakeholder groups—in the interest of spatial vitality and community connection—for some of the firm’s most complex projects.
Read More#68 Designing for Dementia Environments with Jennifer Sodo
Jennifer Sodo is a leading expert in the design and planning of dementia living environments. A senior associate with Perkins Eastman’s senior living practice in New York City, Jennifer translates her own and others’ research on biophilic design and whole-person wellness into thoughtful designs to create healthy and meaningful places for older adults living with dementia. Jennifer is also co-host of Perkins Eastman’s new Shaping Dementia Environments podcast, a show that explores uncommon thinking in design for dementia through interviews with industry leaders.
Read More#63 Lessons in Leadership with Lauren Schmidt
Lauren Schmidt is a Principal at KPF in New York City. The youngest woman in KPF’s history to be named Principal, Lauren is invaluable to projects of all types, coordinating with multiple stakeholders, consultants and design teams, and overseeing projects through all phases. Lauren has served as designer and manager for some of KPF’s most notable and complex New York City projects, such as One Jackson Square and 55 Hudson Yards. Lauren also plays an integral role in the operations of the firm itself overseeing recruitment, staffing, and mentorship alongside KPF’s senior leadership.
#58 Supporting the Next Generation of Architects with Primaverarch
Primaverarch is an organization dedicated to stimulating change for the recognition of women in the architectural profession. Primaverarch was created by Nadeen Hassan, Chaerin Kim, and Soany Marquez, three minority-women who recently graduated from the Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York. Throughout their studies, they experienced a lack of professional support, mentorship, and recognition, and so decided to start Primavera. Primaverarch is a catalyst movement that is dedicated to creating a seat at the table for all women in the field.
Read More#57 Designing an Organization with Kate Thatcher
Kate Thatcher is the Chief Executive Officer of Architecture + Information (A+I), a strategy-led architecture and experience design agency based in New York. As CEO, Thatcher drives the acceleration of innovation, collaboration between teams and subject areas, and further development of culture and inclusion initiatives within A+I. A tireless advocate for equity within the architecture and design professions, Kate is responsible for the launch, in 2020, of the firm's +IMPACT initiative, a platform for A+I’s employees to leverage their talents and expertise on opportunities at the intersection of design and social impact.
Read More#54 Always Moving Forward with Elaine Molinar
Elaine Molinar is a Partner and Managing Director at Snohetta. She began her career as a designer of the Alexandria Library in Egypt after participating in the initial conception for Snøhetta’s winning competition entry. Throughout her time with the firm, Elaine has held key positions in major cultural projects and competitions around the world including the award-winning Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. In 2005, she helped found Snøhetta’s New York office after the firm was awarded the National September 11th Memorial Museum Pavilion at the World Trade Center. Elaine currently leads the general management of Snøhetta’s US practice.
#50 Design is in the Details with Vanessa Kassabian
Vanessa is a Cultural+Performing Arts design leader based out of DLR Group's New York office. She works closely with teams across the firm to facilitate design discussions and provide critical guidance on considerations around site, programming, massing, aesthetics, and execution. As a strong proponent of collaboration and an integrated design approach, Vanessa works to foster client, consultant, and internal design team relationships from concept design to construction completion.
#48 Building a Personal Brand for Architects with Joann Lui
Joann Lui is an architect and founder of the Facebook community Women Architects Collective. She’s also a personal brand strategist and helps architects and designers build an unforgettable online presence and get noticed in their careers and businesses. Her mission is to help a new generation of women architects redefine their work journeys.
#46 Design With Agency with Winka Dubbeldam
Winka Dubbeldam is the Chair and Miller Professor of Architecture at the University of Pennsylvania Stuart Weitzman School of Design, where she has gathered an international network of innovative research and design professionals. As the founder/principal of New York firm Archi-Tectonics, Dubbeldam is widely known for her award-winning work, recognized as much for its use of hybrid sustainable materials and smart building systems as for its elegance and innovative structures. Archi-Tectonics' work ranges from residential to commercial, from real to virtual, and is realized in urban designs, architectural designs, and installations.
#36 COVID Diaries: A Biophilic Future with Bethany Borel, WELL AP
Bethany Borel is a Senior Associate at COOKFOX Architects in New York City. Bethany frequently speaks on the topics of biophilia and high-performance design, has found that a common thread in her design philosophy is that she holds the utmost respect for the natural environment. At COOKFOX, Bethany brings this thinking to her projects as she pursues environmentally responsible design.
Read More#23 The Fabric of Cities with Dana Getman
Dana Getman is an Associate Principal at SHoP Architects in New York City, leading some of the firm’s most complex projects. During her time at SHoP, she has led and managed a wide range of dynamic projects including super tall skyscrapers, waterfront redevelopments, US embassies, and educational institutions.Dana is an expert working with user groups and community stakeholders to build consensus throughout the design and construction process.
#19 Successful Mentor-Mentee Relationships with Carrie Moore and Jennifer Grosso
In this special episode of Design Voice Podcast, I’m joined by Carrie Moore and Jennifer Grosso of SOM’s New York office to discuss mentor-mentee relationships. Carrie and Jen talk about the mentorship programs at SOM, and share their insights on why mentorship is so valuable from both the mentor and mentee perspectives.
Read More#13 Advocacy By Design with Pascale Sablan
Pascale Sablan, AIA is an award winning architect and mentor in New York City. Pascale seeks excellence and humanity in all of her projects while providing a resounding voice for the issues facing women architects and architects of color. She’s also only the 315th black female architect to obtain licensure in the US - and she wants you to know it.
Read More#12 Madame Architect with Julia Gamolina
Julia Gamolina is the founder and editor of Madame Architect, an online platform celebrating women in architecture from different generations, countries, and corners of the industry. Her goal for Madame Architect is that readers will be able to find encouragement and guidance for their own pursuits, and empathy and understanding for the pursuits of others.
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