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What makes a firm truly supportive of emerging professionals? Inspired by the Young Architects Forum’s Emerging Professional Friendly Firm Award program and toolkit, this panel discussion will explore how firms can create environments that support mentorship, professional growth, licensure progress, leadership development, workplace flexibility, and employee well-being, to name a few.

Bringing together firm leaders, hiring staff, and emerging professionals, the session will highlight real-world strategies and regional perspectives on fostering firm cultures that value transparency, inclusion, engagement, and long-term career development.

Attendees will leave with practical ideas and actionable takeaways tailored to their role, whether that means identifying ways to improve existing firm systems and culture, or understanding what to advocate for and negotiate when evaluating prospective employers and career opportunities.
 

Proposed Format:

90-minute session
60-minute moderated Storytelling + Panel discussion
30-minute audience Q&A
 

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the key elements of an emerging professional-friendly workplace.
2. Explain how supporting emerging professionals improves employee engagement, retention, and long-term firm success.
3. Compare approaches firms use to foster mentorship, professional growth, and inclusive workplace cultures.
4. Apply actionable strategies to strengthen workplace culture or make informed career decisions.

Presenters: Joe Taylor, Bonike Akinsanya, and Danielle McCormick