AIA's 'Next to Lead' Program: A leadership pathway for ethnically diverse women

Claiming a seat at the leadership table requires first getting a foot in the door. AIA’s new leadership program, Next to Lead, is designed to guide ethnically diverse women through every step in the process.   With its focus on association leadership and management, and a strong networking component, Next to Lead not only identifies the pathways to leadership; it is a pathway to leadership. By joining, participants take concrete steps in elevating their careers to the next level.

Launching its application process March 30, Next to Lead will provide leadership and experiential education, mentoring, and experiences for 16 ethnically diverse women AIA members who have a minimum of five years of experience in the architecture field.

Next to Lead was initiated by a member resolution, which asserted “a need for a national leadership pipeline of ethnically diverse women candidates for positions on the Institute Board of Directors and Strategic Council.” Since AIA membership approved the resolution in 2018, that need has only become more obvious and urgent.

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