In celebration of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day in March, Ware Malcomb proudly hosted its third annual Women’s Leadership Panel. The panel shone a spotlight on the unique journeys of several of our talented female leaders from a wide array of disciplines.
Moderating this year’s discussion was Erica Godun, Director, Sustainability based in Newark, NJ. Erica has played a pivotal role in advancing Ware Malcomb’s sustainability initiatives, even taking the initiative to create the role she currently holds. She is also active in several industry organizations including AIA, NAIOP, where she is part of the Programs Committee and CREW NJ, where she is currently on their Board of Directors, all while serving as mentor to countless team members on their own career journeys. Her experience as an esteemed public speaker, passion for education, and keen ability to challenge the status quo made her a perfect candidate to lead this year’s discussion.
Joining her were five exceptional panelists:
- Lauren Leyrer, Civil Engineering Manager, Atlanta
- Lynne Orlowski, Director, Interior Architecture and Design, Phoenix
- Kim Arial, Director, Building Measurement Services, Irvine
- Catalina Rocha, Director, Architecture, Vaughan
- Emerald Masangcay, Director, Site Planning, Oak Brook
Boldly navigating through an often male-dominated industry, the women dove deep into their unique individual stories and reflected on the importance of embracing a flexible path to leadership and seizing opportunities when they come.
For Kim Arial, Director, Building Measurement Services, the road to her current leadership role ebbed and flowed through several diverse career paths before landing at Ware Malcomb, including her family’s real estate business, a company drawing floor plans for brokers, and even developing a productivity planner for busy moms.
The group also discussed their experiences with imposter syndrome and how they learned to build confidence while navigating new roles and opportunities. Although the journey to leadership is filled with both challenges and rewards, the panelists agreed that such constructive adversity is often the best way to learn.
For most of the panelists, using confidence as a tool can open the new for new growth opportunities and conquering that feeling of being out of place.
“I would show up every single day being my best self and because of that doors opened for me along the way, said Lynne. “Truthfully, it took some internal battles and mixed with their external support to make me realize I was doing the job all along.”
Overcoming these challenges can seem easier said than done, especially when you don’t necessarily view yourself as an instinctive leader. Catalina Rocha, Director, Architecture found that while juggling an international move, obtaining her license, and juggling family, adding the task of becoming a leader felt overwhelming. However, it was the encouragement of another leader on her team, who gave her a confidence boost to reframe the leadership opportunities in front of her.
As a leader, cultivating a strong team culture is essential for creating a positive and supportive environment for everyone. While leaders depend on their teams’ support, the team’s culture equally depends on the leader’s consistent support and positive morale as well. For Lynne Orlowski, Director, Interior Architecture & Design, beginning hired as a designer then working her way up to job captain, project manager and beyond has greatly influenced perspective on what it takes to be an effective team leader.
The women agreed that trust and collaboration are foundational aspects of team success.
With over 118 women in management roles or above, providing mentorship and supporting hundreds of team members across several dynamic disciplines, it’s important to highlight the experiences and challenges women face in our industry. As we look at the road ahead, it’s important to reflect not only what we have accomplished, but also where we can continue to improve and support our team. Particularly, how can women support other women in their growth towards leadership?
