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2025 Powerful XII: Optimism + Resilience
The AIA | LA Women in Architecture Committee is excited to present our 12th annual Powerful Conference.
Powerful XII: Optimism + Resilience. 2025 has brought profound challenges, globally and here in Los Angeles, experiencing devastating wildfires at the beginning of the year. In the face of crisis, optimism and resilience have emerged as vital forces—not just personal traits, but professional imperatives.
We see optimism and resilience as key attributes of women in our industry as well as resilience as a way of designing for the future. Women in architecture exemplify these qualities daily, navigating complexity with clarity and purpose. As architects, we’re not just shaping buildings—we’re shaping the future. And in that future, optimism and resilience are not optional; they are essential.
Please join us October 3rd at the Pacific Design Center for an inspiring day of speakers, panelists and workshops reinforcing the optimism and resilience women bring to the field of architecture, design, and the whole AEC Community.
We will be serving complimentary breakfast, lunch and a Happy Hour for all ticket holders!!
WHEN | WHERE | LEARNING UNITS
When:
October 3, 2025
7:45 am – 5:00pm
Where:
Pacific Design Center
Silver Screen Theatre
8687 Melrose Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90069
Learning Units:
AIA CES: 6 LU
1 Evaluate strategies for professional resilience by examining how architects and design leaders adapt to rapid technological changes, including Artificial Intelligence, while maintaining values-driven practice.
2 Reflect on personal and professional growth by identifying key milestones, values, and aspirations that shape individual career narratives and long-term goals in architecture.
3 Integrate cross-disciplinary insights from psychology, health studies, and sociology to design environments that better support neurodiverse populations, including individuals with autism and ADHD.
4 Develop approaches to intentional resilience by applying frameworks for self-care, relational support, and adaptive networks that empower both architects and their communities.
5 Analyze entrepreneurial pathways in architecture through case studies of women-owned practices, exploring strategies for studio creation, team growth, client engagement, and values-based leadership.
6 Apply principles of resilient design in post-disaster recovery by studying wildfire rebuilding efforts that balance urgent needs, community identity, environmental stewardship, and long-term resilience.
Click Image Below for Program
TICKETS & WORKSHOP INFO
AIA Member: $135
Non-Member: $165
Student $55
Powerful XII Workshop Info
Please click here to view the workshop options.
Note, attendees may only select 2 workshop options to attend during the afternoon sessions.
You may choose your 2 workshop options when you purchase your tickets.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Click here to view the Powerful XII 2025 Sponsorship Deck.
Click on the image below to sponsor Powerful XII!
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rossana Hu
Founding Partner, Neri&Hu Design and Research Office
Chair and Miller Professor of the Department of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design
Chair and Miller Professor of the Department of Architecture, University of Pennsylvania Weitzman School of Design
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
SPEAKERS
Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, ACSA, LSSYB, NOMA, SHRM-SCP
2026 AIA President-Elect / 2027 President / Alma Mater – Howard University
SPEAKERS
SPEAKERS
Jennifer Wu, LEED AP
Registered Architect & Partner, BA – Powerful XII – Adversity Workshop Panel
Shannon Fish
Business Development Specialist, OFFICEUNTITLED – Powerful XII – Adversity Workshop Panel
Annija Gaskell, AIA, LEED GA
Associate Architect, Stantec – Powerful XII – Adversity Workshop Panel
SPEAKERS
Tatiana Vardanyan
California State University, Northridge – Powerful XII – Neurodivergence Panel
SPEAKERS
Mary Lee
Senior Director – Community Outreach, Advocacy, & Engagement, Special Needs Network, Inc.
SPEAKERS
Presenting Sponsor
Champion Sponsors
Happy Hour Sponsor
Breakfast Sponsors
Lunch Sponsors
Speaker / Panel Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Advocate Sponsors
Friends of Powerful Sponsors
Friends of Powerful Sponsors
Friends of Powerful Sponsors
Friends of Powerful Sponsors
Participating Sponsors
Budlong and Associates, Inc.
Metal Sales Corporation
Structa Wire Corp. - CA
Omega Products
Koning Eizenberg Architecture
C.W. Driver
Participating Sponsors
Jensen Hughes
Allegion
LX Hausys
Labib Funk & Associates
Coffman Engineers
Blick Art Materials
Participating Sponsors
HGA Architects and Engineers
Arquitectonica
Cascadia Windows & Doors
A4E
Angelus Block
SCI Lighting Solutions
Participating Sponsors
A.J. Kirkwood & Associates, Inc.
Glumac
Steelcase
DCI Engineers
