Elena Manferdini Speaking at AIALA’s Influential Powerful X Conference

SCI-Arc is proud to announce Graduate Programs Chair Elena Manferdini’s participation as guest speaker in the AIA|LA Women in Architecture Committee’s 10th Annual Powerful Conference. Taking place in person on October 6 at The Colburn School, Powerful X: Shine Your Light will celebrate the strength and resilience of women architects and allied professionals by shedding light on their achievements. With an inspiring list of speakers, panelists, and roundtable discussions the organization hopes “to inspire a sense of purpose as we focus on the intentional actions that can be taken by women to self-advocate and deliver measurable progress towards a more diverse profession with increased gender equity.”

Through the multitude of speakers who will be sharing their personal career paths and strategies for success, attendees will for example learn to identify what they can do as members of the A & E industry to assist developers/clients in delivering housing projects to the LA Market by listening to Jenna Hornstock, Deputy Mayor of Housing, share her and Mayor Karen Bass’s platform including objectives and programs for housing in Los Angeles. Participants will engage in lively discussions about the following topics led by experienced moderators covering leadership and mentorship, work life harmony, firm ownership/business development, emerging professionals, and workplace negotiation, among others to conjure new skills for navigating their careers.

By listening to a panel led by Leslie Sydnor, those at the conference will be able to describe the challenges faced by African American women architects. Once challenges are understood, participants will be better equipped to support a more diverse workforce and enable individuals who are underrepresented to succeed. 

After these panels those in attendance will have tools to ensure they are receiving credit for their design work, be better equipped to communicate with contractors and consultants, know how to handle returning to the workplace after having a child and will gain confidence in asserting design ideas in meetings both internal and with clients.

In addition to multiple engaging panels and keynote speeches by inimitable figures in design and architecture, attendees will have the opportunity to explore the design work of both Mia Lehrer and Manferdini, which will enrich their understanding of two very influential, relevant figures in design in Los Angeles. Participants will see women in design leadership roles which can have a lasting effect on internal goals and visions for one’s career aspirations.

To learn more about the AIA|LA Women in Architecture Committee’s 10th Annual Powerful Conference, visit the AIA|LA website. Complete list of speakers and panelists below.


2023 Co-Chairs and Co-Vice Chairs

Kristen Fraumeni, AIA, Leed GA

Sr Designer, VP HKS

Monica Rodriguez, AIA

House & Robertson Architects, Inc.

Alexandria Hoevel, AIA

Director of Los Angeles, Lowney Architecture

Sarah Jacobson, AIA

President, The Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Karen Compton

Principal, A3K Consulting, LLC

Leslie Sydnor, AIA, AIA|LA President, Cumming Corp

Michel Dory, Associate IIDA

Tenant Improvement/ Construction Project Manager, Crystal Stairs

Allyson Gipson

Executive Director, Facilities Planning & Management, University of Southern California

Gabrielle Bullock, FAIA

Director of Global Diversity, Principal, Perkins & Will

Nina Briggs

Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Cal Poly Pomona

Keynote Speakers

Mia Lehrer

President, Studio-MLA

Jenna Hornstock, Hon. AIA|LA

Deputy Mayor of Housing, Office of Karen Bass

Additional Speakers

Elena Manferdini

Principal, Atelier Manferdini

Julia Gamolina, Assoc AIA

Founder & Editor In Chief, Madame Architect

Stephanie Reich, AIA

Urban Designer / Design and Historic Preservation Planner, City of Santa Monica

Tania Van Herle, FAIA

CEO Operations, HED

Patti Rhee

Partner, Ehrlich Yanai Rhee Chaney Architects

Pooja Bhagat, AIA

Principal, Pooja Bhagat architects & planners; Board Member ACLA

Kristen Fraumeni, AIA, Lead GA

Sr Designer, VP HKS

Alice Kimm, FAIA

Co-Founder & Principal

John Friedman Alice Kimm Architects

Silvia Kuhle, AIA

Partner, Standard Architecture | Design

Kristi Paulson, AIA

Partner, Behnisch Architekten

Closing Remarks

Annette Wu, AIA

Principal, NAC Architecture