Tiff @ the AIA Convention 2012

 Tiff Here...

 I recently had the pleasure of attending the national AIA Convention in Washington, DC last week...

(Keep in mind that I was also on vacation that week - so I had to cut my vacation short and drag my husband with me... If that doesn't scream dedication to the profession, I am really not sure what does!)

I was invited by the AIA's Department of Diversity and Inclusion, to speak on a panel called: Behind the Round, Black Glasses: What Architects Really Do - Which was a 'town hall' styled discussion - geared to students and non-architects on the perception of our roles and responsibilities as architects. From what I understand, the public only thinks that we design and create pretty pictures.. While this is true, it only counts for about 25% (if not less) of our actual day to day responsibilities... 

I was also given the honor of being interviewed on a podcast speaking about my role and experiences as a Woman in Architecture AS WELL AS serving as the Co-MC to the AIA's Annual Women in Architecture Dinner - held at the Women in the Arts Museum.  

The entire experience was priceless and I am grateful to have been offered these wonderful opportunities :)

I have posted a few (terrible) pictures from the various events... (hopefully I will be able to post a few of the 
professional shots soon) 






 

 

This one's for the ladies...

 Tiffany here: (YES - I really am back) I had the pleasure of attending the 6th Annual Diversity Women's Business Leadership Conference (National Harbor, MD). The AIA's department of Diversity and Inclusion was a Bronze sponsor and invited me (along with a few other wonderful women) to participate in the conference as representatives of the design and construction industry. 

Yes - it was a conference full of women (and a few scared men - haha... just kidding), but the message that was sent was WE ALL need to be more diverse in our lives. This message holds true to each of our personal lives as well as the broader landscape of the working environment. 

I sat in a pretty dynamic break out session called, Executive Success: "What Men Aren't Telling Women"... (Presenter - Jeffery Tobias Halter)

(Needless to say, that room was PACKED)

The presenter took us through a myriad of situations that definitely divide the genders and offered advice in terms of how women can overcome some self-imposed challenges in order to play the game.

For example... A group of men and a group of women were asked a series of questions:

1. Who is better at problem solving...Men or Women?

- The group of women said that women were better.

- The group of men said that men were better.

Ultimately, is it said that men and women see the idea of problem solving differently... Men view it as making a decision (regardless if it is right or not) and women view it as a process of research and investigation in order to come up with the right solution...

2. Who is better at networking....Men or Women?

- The group of women said that men were better.

- The group of men said that men were better.

It is always important to network with a purpose. Just be mindful of your surroundings. Men tend to speak in terms of status and when meeting new people find ways of how they can help each other. Women typically do not go into situations like this.  However, study after study has proved that women tend to have larger networks than men, although they may not be using them to their fullest potential. 

- With that said... Ladies, it's time to step out of our shells and start working the room!