Carol Ross Barney, FAIA, HASLA, the distinguished 2023 American Institute of Architects Gold Medal recipient, is a visionary architect, urbanist, mentor, and educator, and has relentlessly advocated that excellent design is a right, not a privilege. Through her unwavering dedication to crafting public buildings and spaces that elevate our daily lives, she has produced distinctive structures and places that have become cultural icons.

Bonus episode time! Today we're chatting with two Gensler architects: Pheba Thomas and Susan Han about their recent work on the architecture and design of Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) facilities.

Christele Harrouk is a French-Lebanese architect, urban designer, and Editor-in-Chief of ArchDaily. With over a decade of editorial experience, she explores architectural and urban narratives and amplifies underrepresented voices and geographies, all while contributing to global architectural discourse. Her work focuses on making architectural knowledge more accessible, fostering broader conversations, and critically engaging with the future of the field. 

We're long overdue for a bonus episode, so enjoy this one! Today, Caitlin shares a few quick tips to make the most of your experience at a professional conference. Many architects and designers in our community are heading to the AIA Conference this June 10-13 in San Diego, but this advice will work for whatever conference you may be attending.

She Builds Podcast features the seldom-told stories of women who build. These women’s stories were not taught in schools, but they have shaped the industries of architecture, construction, and development over the last century. The podcast was started by three friends who, after graduating from architecture school together, sought to fill in the gaps in their education while creating a resource for others.

Jo Haas and Cynthia Torp join us to discuss their collaboration on The Dot Experience, the American Printing House for the Blind’s (APH) reimagined museum set to open in Louisville in October 2026. Designed around an unprecedented commitment to inclusive design, The Dot Experience aims to set a new global standard for accessibility in museums.

Stephanie Leedom is CannonDesign’s Executive Director for the Great Lakes Region. In this role, she provides strategic leadership across offices in Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, Pittsburgh, and the firm’s newest office in Minneapolis.

Barbara Van Biervliet is an architect and engineer from Knokke, Belgium, and the co-owner of the boutique architecture studio Claerhout–Van Biervliet (CVB) which she runs with her partner in life and work, Xaveer Claerhout.

Taruna Gupta is a Senior Associate at HGA Milwaukee where she works on projects that champion holistic design, equity, and sustainability. She is President of Wisco NOMA and is a board member of Women in Design Milwaukee. She is also Co-Founder and President of Defining Humanity where she leads global initiatives such as 3D-printed schools and housing solutions that redefine architecture’s role in addressing equity and access in communities around the world.

On today’s episode we are chatting with Emily Alexander. Emily was raised in Boston and moved to DC to attend The George Washington University where she studied Civil and Structural Engineering. She completed internships with both engineering firms and general contractors and joined Turner Construction Company post-graduation. Today she is a Development Manager at Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners, plays soccer 2-3 times a week with District Soccer, and was recognized with the 2025 DMV Women Leading Real Estate Rising Star Award.

Nakita Reed is an award-winning architect with experience in the rehabilitation and sustainable reuse of historic buildings. Nakita Reed is an Associate Principal at Quinn Evans, a LEED-Accredited Professional and a certified Passive House Consultant. She serves on the board of the Baltimore Architecture Foundation, the Zero Net Carbon Collaboration for Existing and Heritage Buildings (ZNCC), Built Buildings Lab, and is host of the Tangible Remnants podcast - a podcast that demystifies the building reuse process for building owners and developers.

Erin Pellegrino is a strategist, designer, and registered architect who believes design is a powerful catalyst for change—a process of engaging with problems, opportunities, hopes, and world-shaping ideas. Through Matter, her design and fabrication studio, she transforms visionary concepts into extraordinary spaces, objects, and experiences that push standards and boundaries. She is the co-founder of Out of Architecture, a career resource community and talent services agency, and co-author of ‘Out of Architecture: The Value of Architects Beyond Traditional Practice’ (Routledge, 2022). Her commitment to expanding design’s impact extends to academia, where she has taught at Harvard, Cornell, The New School, CUNY, and The New Jersey Institute of Technology. At NJIT she co-leads the design/build program focusing on public interest design.

Bryce Batts is a dynamic business consultant, speaker, certified Career Coach, and Co-founder of Career Collective, bringing over 15 years of experience as a recruiter in the AEC industry. With a fierce commitment to empowering women, Bryce helps organizations overcome barriers to hiring by developing innovative talent acquisition strategies. Her expertise enables companies to attract and retain diverse talent, fostering a more inclusive workplace.