At the 2008 Boston AIA Convention, Session SA42 Risky Business: Work/Life Balance will be presented as a seminar with group discussions to continue the discussion started with Matri.ARCH.itect. Here are the details below:

SA42 Risky Business: Work/Life Balance

2008 AIA Convention

5/17/2008, 8:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Learning Units: 4.00-Intermediate level

Architects lead complex and interconnected personal and professional lives. This life and work balance is not easy to achieve but, like all healthy systems, the ability to positively adapt to societal and environmental change is essential. Sustainability of the architecture profession is, in a very broad sense, the retention, encouragement, and development of a diverse (female and minority) professional base that will be able to better serve an ever-changing society and client group.

Learning Objectives:

·         Identify the issues that affect quality of life in terms of career and family balance

·         Discover, compare, and contrast the creative solutions that some firms and individuals have incorporated into their work and lives

·         Determine how to adapt these solutions to fit their own needs and how to implement these ideas within their workplace

Speakers:

·         Frances Bronet, AIA

·         Carol Ross Barney, FAIA

·         Stephen Fiskum, AIA

·         Kristine Royal, AIA

Many of the panelists from the 2007 Matri.ARCH.itect Session will be facilitators in the group discussions. To date, nothing is planned for the 2009 Convention but let’s keep the ball rolling!

 

Recently the panelists from the Matri.ARCH.itect session received their session evaluation from the AIA.   There were some really striking items in the report including that 100 percent of the attendees who responded felt this topic should be repeated at future conventions.   That's some validation!

Many felt the session fulfilled their expectations and that the topic was of direct value to them.   Perhaps the most descriptive items were not the rating of the session or the speakers, but the comments which were included at the end of the report such as:

"All the speakers were fantastic.   I know this was intended for women in the work place but I found that the subject matter really affects all genders.   At first I thought I may walk out but the content kept me attentive and engaged.   In my opinion one of the best seminars of the convention.   Even though I'm a man."

Brava!

I have posted the entire report here: Matri.ARCH.itect Session Evaluation Report

Use this category to discuss success - how do you know what to aim for and what does it look and feel like when you're there...

Use this category to discuss the pros and cons of being an employee versus being an employer.

Use this category to discuss issues with a professional focus.

Use this category to discuss issues with a personal focus.

Use this category to discuss how firms can support women architects.

Use this category to discuss networks, networking, mentoring, etc.

Use this Category to Discuss Personal/Professional Balance