Date: March 8, 2026
Location: Center for Architecture and Design, San Francisco
2026 Executive Committee:
C0-Chairs: Srivarshini Balaji, AIA & Konstantinos Moustakas, AIA, NCARB, LFA, Fitwel Ambassador
2024 Founding Chair: Madhubala Ayyamperumal, Assoc. AIA
Sponsorship: Maria Madrigal, AIA
Graphics Advisor: Sreedevi Krishnan, Assoc. AIA
Thank you to our hosts, Pratima Tatikonda and Riya Premani for our first session, Leading Together!
AIA Silicon Valley’s Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program (CKLDP) launched its inaugural session on Friday, March 8th, at the Center for Architecture and Design in San Francisco. Scholars from the CKLDP cohort began their journey with the theme “Leading Together,” emphasizing the importance of building a strong internal foundation to lead with clarity and purpose. The session opened with an inspiring panel featuring two AEC professionals at different stages of their leadership pathways, who shared their personal journeys and evolving approaches to leadership. This was followed by an interactive roundtable where scholars developed essential communication skills. Participants then explored a range of leadership styles and the habits and modes of thought that define them, before closing the day with an engaging presentation on building inclusive, high-performing teams.
Activity 1: Leading Self & Communication
Finding Your Why
Session One opened with participants reflecting on their deeper motivations, inviting them to imagine alternate career paths they might have pursued and what leadership would look like within those fields. Brand Director Sonia Ballesteros and Gensler Associate Sharleen Devjani, representing different points along the AEC leadership spectrum, shared their journeys of learning and practicing design across international contexts and into their current roles. Through their stories, they highlighted valuable lessons in communication, problem‑solving, and staying true to one’s design vision.
Activity 2: Leadership Archetypes
The second activity invited scholars to examine three leadership archetypes: the Visionary Designer, the Strategic Organizer, and the Collaborative Facilitator — each representing a distinct style of leadership essential to fostering diverse and inclusive teams. Participants explored how each archetype brings unique strengths to the table, breaking down the ways these roles work together to build effective, well‑balanced teams.
Activity 3: Building High Performing and Inclusive Teams
The session concluded with a presentation by Y.A. Studio Director Bradley Sugarman, who explored the relationships and practices that support effective decision‑making among emerging professionals. Emphasizing clear communication, supported risk‑taking, and collaborative problem‑solving, Sugarman illustrated how these principles come together in his approach to delivering award‑winning designs throughout the Bay Area.
Panelists:
Bradley Sugarman, Associate Principal, Studio Director, AIA, LEED AP
Sonia Ballesteros, Director of Brand and Business Development at BCV Architecture + Interiors
Sharleen Devjani, Associate and Researcher, Gensler SF
