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After nine years, the AIA|DC Equity Committee by WIELD is continuing the annual WIELD (We Inspire Emerging Leaders in Design) event on November 4th. We are honored to celebrate the diverse stories of our speakers and their journeys to success through a night of virtual storytelling and conversation.

This year’s storytelling event engages industry leaders with diverse personalities to share their stories of perspective and experience through the lens of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. The stories will highlight how each individual has developed their own unique perspective with which they navigate their career and also how they have managed teams of differing personalities. The underlying objective is to establish meaningful and deep conversations among all emerging professionals and firm leaders with completely different perspectives in order to create a deeper understanding of others for increased empathy and better tools in order to collaborate.

Meet and be inspired by this year’s cohort as they share their experiences and offer insight into common workplace situations, as well as some personal ones. The event is in person and it is the hope that our community of different personality types can engage and learn from each other! All are welcome at this event and we highly encourage everyone from students to CEOs to attend.

#WIELDyourStory

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the personal and career background that has influenced personality.
• Describe how different personalities both perceive and respond to situations based on their process of understanding and providing information.
• Explain the different tools that can be used by individuals and teams in order to empathize and collaborate with different perspectives.
• Envision the future of the architecture profession and how increased empathy amongst teams can fortify increased intelligence in solutions.

Presented by: 

Alyson Steel, FAIA, LEED AP

Alyson Steele, FAIA, LEED AP, is CEO of Quinn Evans, a nationally recognized firm that revitalizes places through stewardship and community-oriented planning and design. Steele is known for work renewing national and regional cultural institutions and landmarks. Her work leverages technical discovery and performance, information management, and cultural resilience to sustain and transform. Under her leadership, Quinn Evans’ practice and project work have advanced using a “team of teams” approach informed by inclusive design concepts. In recognition of the firm’s impact on our profession and the communities it serves, the AIA honored Quinn Evans with the 2024 Architecture Firm Award.

Nadine Ngouabe Dlodlo 

Before establishing Women's Home Preservation in 2019, Nadine honed her expertise in international banking, global infrastructure financing, and public-private partnerships. Her commitment to equity in real estate led her to launch Women's Home Preservation, a mission-driven real estate investment firm focused on the intersection of real estate
development, community revitalization, equitable decarbonization, and women's housing rights. Women’s Home Preservation revitalizes underserved communities by redeveloping underutilized properties in alignment with community visions. This approach emphasizes women's housing rights and fosters spatial justice through cultural representation.

One of Women's Home Preservation's current projects involves the revitalization of a section of West Baltimore St, a historically vibrant commercial corridor that fell into neglect following decades of disinvestment and redlining. This prime location, with its proximity to anchor institutions such as the University of Maryland Medical Center, is ideal for transformation.

In 2024, Nadine was appointed to the Advisory Council of the Maryland Clean Energy Center, the green bank of the State of Maryland, whose mission is to advance clean energy adoption in the state. She also serves on the Community Advisory Team of the Red Line, Maryland’s multibillion-dollar project aimed at improving public transit in underserved neighborhoods of Baltimore. Nadine was a founding advisory board member of the Forum for Growth and Innovation at Harvard Business School.

In recognition of her transformative work in Maryland's communities, Nadine received the esteemed Secretary’s Citation from the Maryland Secretary of Planning. She was named a Maryland Woman of Influence by CREW and a Rising Star finalist by the Harvard Business School Women's Association.

Nadine earned her MBA from Harvard Business School. She is fluent in both French and English, and she takes pride in being the mother of Isonah, an award-winning youth writer.

Monika Kumor, AIA, LEED BD+C
Senior Project Designer | Principal, HOK

Monika Kumor is an accomplished designer at HOK, contributing to design leadership and serving on the firm’s design board. Her projects have been recognized by notable organizations, including AIA, USGBC, IIDA, and NAIOP. With nearly two decades of experience, Monika brings extensive expertise to a diverse range of building types, including mixed-use developments, commercial offices, multi-family residential projects, healthcare facilities, and civic buildings. Her work spans both domestic and international markets, demonstrating her proficiency in managing complex programs and delivering unique, site-sensitive solutions.

Monika is passionate about revitalizing the existing urban fabric and is committed to sustainable and community-oriented design. Her approach ensures that projects are environmentally responsible and considerate of the communities they serve. Known for her open-minded and collaborative approach, Monika aligns each project with the pursuit of design excellence while enhancing the surrounding urban context. Her dedication to innovative design and high standards makes her a respected leader in architectural practice.

Sponsored by: