Christopher Kelley Leadership Development Program

Looking forward to this Friday's session on the Art of Negotiations. This session is put together by scholars Mikaela Wynne & Abigail Saunders, AIA. The session will be held at the Midtown Center. A big shoutout to their session sponsors DesignForce, Glen-Gery, Nichiha USA, Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, PROSOCO, Inc., Taicoon Property Partners, LLC & VHB for making their vision come to life. This session answers the question of how to get what you want by effectively communicating your value while balancing the needs of others. The basics of negotiation will be covered and applied to the profession, recognizing the value we bring as architects to our employers and clients. #ckldp #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #artofnegotiation #negotiation #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc

Introducing 2025 scholar, Mikaela Wynne Mikaela is an interdisciplinary Architect known for her enthusiasm and ambition. Her study of architecture as the sum of brain, body, and experience informs her holistic approach to design. After graduating with a Master's of Architecture from Kansas State University, she sought out opportunities for rapid growth that led her to DC. Her diverse architectural background ranges from adaptive reuse apartment buildings in DC to additions for elementary schools in Maryland. Mikaela is a licensed Architect who is currently working at WDG where she is an integral member of several teams on multifamily and commercial projects. Her goal is to become a well-rounded Architect who is an expert in high-performance building envelopes.? Mikaela is passionate about building pathways for students to enter the profession of Architecture. She is a mentor as part of the University of Maryland Mentorship Program, and helps students bridge the gap from the studio to the office. To find out more about the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, see link in bio. #artofnegotiation #negotiation #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc

Introducing 2025 scholar, Abigail Saunders, AIA Abigail (Abby) Saunders is a Project Architect at Quinn Evans. Abby’s passion for preservation shapes her consideration for the built environment, and her role as an architect. She values working with a diverse team to develop creative approaches and ideas, understanding existing conditions and advancing documentation that supports the client’s unique goals from inception through construction administration. She has experience working with the National Park Service across multiple parks and has worked on several exterior restoration projects for historic structures. To find out more about the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, see link in bio. #artofnegotiation #negotiation #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc

Some highlights from Session 1: Leading Together. In session 01, Patrick Malone, PhD discussed the importance of human connection in leadership, and how emotional intelligence can distinguish great leaders. The presentation reviewed several examples of how many actions are based on fixed pathways in our brains, developed by our regular behaviors. The scholars also went through the experiment of drawing in a mirror, experiencing how these learned processes can be updated, but how much practice it takes to relearn familiar behaviors. By understanding these neural pathways and reactions in the brain, we can understand behavior and work better with others. We all have the capacity to change ourselves and the organizations around us if we can leverage and further develop emotional intelligence. During session 02, Elizabeth Cutler brought more connections to the group with an Improv workshop. As well as getting the group moving and laughing together, the exercise helped the team build the 4 Cs of Improv: Creativity, Clarity, Collaboration, and Confidence. Generating new ideas, considering different forms of communication, building teamwork, and engaging with the unknown, are all skills that leaders need to practice in a professional setting. When people start to drop their guard, even passing an imaginary ball can help to build connections. In Session 03, Cable Clarke highlighted leadership traits and emphasized how they are related to team building and creating opportunities for yourself and others. This session analyzed several organizations, their workplace cultures, and how those cultures are influenced by the organization’s leaders. These case studies taught the scholars how leadership can impact the culture of an organization. The team also reviewed their recently completed Life Styles Inventory assessments. These assessments evaluated twelve different qualities and how they trend towards different leadership styles. #aukeyprograms #witdc #dcimprov #leadingtogether #leadership #ckldpdc20245 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc

A huge thank you to three of our speakers for Session 01: Leading Together. Their insight and enthusiasm made this session a huge success! Patrick Malone, PhD is the Director, Key Executive Leadership Programs at American University. He is a frequent guest lecturer on kindness, gratitude, emotional intelligence, compassion, ethics, mindfulness, and leadership at various organizations, professional associations, and universities including the Fulbright Scholars Program and the Work-human Conference. His research and teaching interests include human motivation, kindness, leadership, ethics, and organizational behavior. Elizabeth Cutler is an improv teacher and writer based in Washington, DC. She took her first improv class at Washington Improv Theater all the way back in 2013 and never looked back! In 2022, she said "yes, and" to leaving her corporate communications job to focus on creative writing and improv teaching/facilitation. She has since written and produced two one-act plays, published several personal essays and culture/lifestyle articles, and facilitated improv workshops for audiences such as a State Department data team and a group of Georgetown University grad students. She also writes fundraising materials for a small education nonprofit. Her favorite thing about facilitating improv workshops like this one is helping participants embrace their innate creativity and have a memorable fun experience together. Widely known as a cultural change leader, Cable Clarke is the President of Clarke Consulting in Washington, DC. Clarke Consulting is an international consulting firm, founded in 1994, that facilitates cultural and organization change to include offering solutions for effective leadership, developing productive and cohesive teams, and ensuring that organizational structures and culture promote productivity. #aukeyprograms #witdc #dcimprov #leadingtogether #leadership #ckldpdc20245 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc

Looking forward to tomorrow's session on Leading Together. This session is put together by scholars Caitlin Coats, Assoc. AIA, EDAC & Michelle Bennett, AIA, LEED Green Associate. The session will be held at the MillerKnoll showroom on 22nd St. A big shoutout to their session sponsors Potomac Valley Brick, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Federated Lighting, and Precision Air for making their vision come to life. This session will explore the intricacies of communication in dynamic and collaborative environments and provide insights into becoming more effective leaders. #ckldp #leadingtogether #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc #teambuilding #emotionalintelligence #teamwork

Introducing 2025 Scholar, Caitlin Coats, Associate AIA. Caitlin Coats is a Job Captain and Associate at HKS, Inc. who specializes in Healthcare Architecture. She has a Master of Architecture from the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk!) and has close to 8 years of professional experience. Caitlin believes that architecture can have an incredible impact on how people relate and perceive the world, and healthcare architecture is no different. It has a unique ability to create healthier environments for the all people that utilize them, both patients and staff, to create positive healing environments while establishing greater efficiencies. Caitlin has been recognized as one of DC’s most promising emerging architects as a member of the Arch30 Cohort by Metropolis Magazine. In her free time, Caitlin chases an ornery toddler and two rambunctious huskies oftentimes while drinking a lukewarm cup of coffee. To find out more about the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, see link in bio. #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc #architect #designer #arch30cohortwashingtondc

Introducing 2025 Scholar, Michelle Bennett, AIA, LEED Green Associate. Michelle is a Project Architect and Senior Associate at Perkins Eastman in Washington, DC. Since joining the firm in 2016 after earning her Master of Architecture from the University of Maryland, she has specialized in designing senior living communities that blend beauty, functionality, and a deep sense of home. Michelle believes that senior living is about more than just buildings—it’s about creating nurturing environments where people can age with dignity and comfort. She values the collaborative nature of architecture, working closely with clients and stakeholders to craft spaces that truly serve their communities. Outside of her work, Michelle shares her passion for the arts at her daughter’s dance studio, where she takes classes and contributes to costuming and artistic endeavors. To find out more about the Christopher Kelley Leadership Development program, see link in bio. #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc #architect #designer

A huge thank you to our wonderful keynote speaker Daniel Blair for kicking off this year's program with an engaging talk! As a past CKLDP scholar and former program chair, Daniel's journey through CKLDP and beyond provided valuable insights into the impact of leadership development, encouraging this new cohort to embrace the challenges ahead with confidence and ambition. #ckldp #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc #teambuilding

As we kick off another amazing year of the CKLDP program, we are incredibly thankful to our 2025 benefactor sponsors Gensler, HKS, Inc. & WDG. Your commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders in the DC design community is truly inspiring and your support has a made a lasting impact on all of us. Also a big shout out to our session sponsor Page for a fun and engaging bootcamp on Jan 17th. #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #ckldpdc2025 #aiadc #aia #designleaders #emergingleaders #designyourfuture #washingtondc