Laurie Whitney, AIA, LEED AP BD+C

I'll be joining a fantastic panel of women to share our experiences. Here's a peek into our topic: The practices of motherhood and design have been difficult to reconcile ever since women joined the professional world. In this encouraging panel discussion, you'll hear from designers and leaders in the AEC industry who have flourished in their careers while balancing parenthood. Get ready to discuss the transition into parenthood while maintaining a career, how motherhood and professional life have influenced each other, staying connected in the profession throughout life changes, and developing a unique set of skills that any employer or client can use to increase productivity and revenue. For years, the discussion has been “if you want to be in architecture and have a family, don’t marry an architect,” or “if you want a relationship, get out of architecture,” or “being a mom and working a demanding career will make something suffer.” It's time to change the conversation. Join this session to hear firsthand from the presenters how becoming parents has given their work more purpose and how staying in the profession has strengthened them as parents. The session is a panel discussion with live Q&A.