Five high-impact quotes from WLS 2024

Shadia Jaramillo, AIA, heard something at AIA’s Women’s Leadership Summit in Chicago this past week that stuck with her. She was moved to share it to her Instagram story.  

“To be able to be from many different worlds ... that is a superpower.”  

The quote, from Day 3 keynote speaker Sumayya Vally, founder and principal of Counterspace, resonated with Jaramillo because of her background growing up in Panama “immersed in a rich tapestry of Colombian and Lebanese influences,” she says.  

“Society can sometimes be unwelcoming to those who come from different backgrounds,” she explains. “However, Sumayya reminded me that this diversity is a superpower. These varied perspectives and experiences make me unique and positively impact my work, my community, and my interactions with others. I firmly believe that to be true!”  

Jaramillo heard Vally speak during Day 3 of the annual women's leadership event, held from October 8-10 in Chicago in 2024. This year’s summit, which marked WLS's 15th anniversary, welcomed over 800 women in the AEC industry. Formerly held every other year, WLS is now held annually as of 2022. Attendees experienced keynotes, networking events, and breakout sessions organized around the common theme of Building Resilience.  

Denise Bujalil, AIA, a Denver-based architect at Perkins&Will, was also inspired by Vally's perspective. In sharing her key takeaway from the experience, Bujalil said: "I gained a deeper understanding of concepts like intersectionality and their impact on workplace experiences." 

Below, we’ve rounded up five other impactful quotes from the event.  

“No doubt most of you have faced the bias, the discrimination, the thumb on the scale that women experience in the workplace—and in life—every day.” — Lakisha Ann Woods, AIA EVP/CEO

Women now make up a little over a quarter of licensed architects, according to recent data from the AIA Membership Demographics Report, and the industry’s work to right gender inequity is far from finished. Woods acknowledged the challenges that women face in the AEC industry, stating, “Stacks of research studies and countless conversations with members conclusively prove that bias is pervasive, not just in society but also in this profession.”  

“Remember, every challenge is an opportunity to grow, and every setback is a setup for a comeback.” — Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, AIA 2025 President-Elect 

Evelyn Lee, FAIA, NOMA, AIA’s 2025 President-Elect, shared reflections on her experiences growing up as the child of immigrant parents in a Day 2 keynote address and how she’s had to push back against some learned behaviors from her upbringing to embrace her role as a leader. She counseled the audience to embrace setbacks and reframe challenges as growth opportunities.  

“Let me tell you, a city doesn’t just rebound on its own. Nor does a company, or an organization, or a profession. Moving forward into a better future requires leadership – strong, ethical, authentic, and intentional leadership.” — Kimberly Dowdell, AIA, NOMA, 2024 AIA President

In her Day 2 speech, AIA 2024 President Kimberly Dowdell spoke about her experiences growing up in Detroit and how excited she has been to witness its recent revitalization. She emphasized the need for visionary leaders to usher in a new chapter, regardless of the context.  

“Community isn’t just a word – it's a verb, an action.” — Tanja Babich, ABC 7 Chicago news anchor and WLS host

Chicago news anchor Tanja Babich hosted this year’s event and thanked architects from the mainstage for assisting those impacted by recent Hurricanes Helene and Milton via AIA’s Safety Assessment Program. She reminded attendees that communities don’t just celebrate together during good times – they help each other during bad times, too.  

“You have the power to make a positive change in a colleague’s life – the power to validate, to uplift, to encourage. Our empathy makes us exceptional, and our empathy cannot be exclusionary.” — Lakisha Ann Woods, AIA EVP/CEO 

Woods encouraged attendees to support and be an ally to their colleagues as a foundational part of leadership at their organizations. "Recognize that we each have unique lived experiences," she said. "Be an ally. Begin by hearing and believing [your colleagues.] Never minimize or dismiss what they are sharing."