Guest commentary: Building strong female leaders in the face of gender inequality
By Courtney Koch
The gender gap between female and male leaders within the architecture field has been a longstanding issue around the world, and it’s important to highlight the challenges women have faced in architecture and the roads that have been paved for female leaders such as myself. I’m proud to work for a company striving to bridge this gap.
Despite increasing numbers of women entering the architecture field, more men still hold leadership roles such as firm principals, influential voices in major projects or C-suite level executives, with women making up only 21% of the highest-ranking jobs at the 100 largest architecture firms around the globe.
As a principal architect at CMBA Architects, I represent the underwhelming percentage of female leaders in architecture. I’m thankful to work for a company that prides itself on supporting women and their professional and personal growth. Here are a few strategies companies can take to better represent women in leadership fields:
Implement a culture that not only values hard work, but values people
Creating a workplace culture rooted in passion for the profession, clients and co-workers fosters an environment conducive to both professional and personal growth. When employees feel valued through recognition, professional development and inclusive policies, they are more likely to excel. Encouraging strong client relationships and supportive co-worker interactions further enhances job satisfaction and performance. By promoting open communication, work-life balance and clear career paths, organizations can ensure that all employees can thrive.
Provide mentors for women
One reason why women are underrepresented in leadership roles is due to their lack of female mentors in professions like architecture. Learning experiences for all employees, with leadership development and mentorship programs throughout each level of employment, is crucial for diverse representation. Providing mentors for young professionals to look up to helps immensely. CMBA offers a summer internship program where students aspiring to break into the world of architecture can dive into hands-on experience, establish relationships with mentors and develop real-world skills early on in their careers.
Represent diverse teams at the bottom
Change doesn’t start at the top. It starts at the bottom. An equal representation of female leaders in project teams creates a ripple effect that spreads all the way into top-level roles. By ensuring women play a role in each of our projects, our firm provides women with increased visibility within the architecture field and provides the opportunity to develop necessary leadership skills and grow within their careers.
Diversity breeds success, and it’s clear that when we support the advancement of women, companies thrive.
With 21 years of experience, Courtney Koch is a principal architect at CMBA Architects. She is known for designing spaces that foster connection and community. Koch believes architecture is as much about relationships as it is about buildings, creating environments that support well-being and interaction.
