KPF staffers share their perspectives for International Women’s Month.

/ Events / Featured / News / People

KPF+ Celebrates Women’s History Month with Leading Women in Architecture

Each week of March included a new presentation for the firm’s employees, as well as an internal video series of intimate conversations between female-identifying KPF staff members.

Kicking off the month, Julia Gamolina, founder of Madame Architect, shared the story of the platform and what inspired its inception. Her difficulty finding women mentors, as well as the energy she gained when she connected with one, pushed her to found an online publication to promote the work of women architects. Read about Julia’s presentation here.

At the next event, Lendlease’s Head of Facades Neesha Gopal presented her unusual career trajectory. Starting as an architect and designing her first building in 1989, Neesha returned to school to get a master’s degree in engineering. Of fields where women are the minority, says Neesha, “It’s not just about getting the opportunity. It’s about taking the opportunity.” Read more about her talk here.

For the final event of the month, KPF+ invited three pathbreaking women to share how they achieved success, and the lessons they learned along the way. The panel, hosted by KPF Principals Jill Lerner and Lauren Schmidt, featured Nasra Nimaga, Senior Associate at Perkins Eastman; Julia Murphy, Managing Principal at SOM; and Vivian Lee, Executive Director of Woods Bagot’s New York Studio. Before answering questions from KPF staff, the three chronicled their bodies of work and personal arcs. Read about their panel here.

Alongside these events, the community group curated a series of Zoom conversations between KPF’s global female-identifying staff members. In one-on-one or small group discussions, participants shared their proudest moments, hopes for the future, greatest challenges, and more – fostering a deeper sense of community and providing inspiration for the wider firm.

KPF+ serves as a community within the firm dedicated to advancing gender equity, hosting internal events that raise awareness and promote a fair and equitable workplace. Explore KPF’s many community groups here.