Erika Moody, Cady Beansmith, Julie Vinh, Megan Stephens and Emily Harrold - speakers on the Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel during KC Design Week. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
Emily Harrold speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- image credit: Jeff Evrard
Megan Stephens speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- image credit: Jeff Evrard
Cady Beansmith speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- image credit: Jeff Evrard
Erika Moody speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- image credit: Jeff Evrard
Julie Vinh speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- image credit: Jeff Evrard
Katie Pohlman speaking at the KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion. Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- Image Credit: Jeff Evrard
KC Design Week Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel discussion --- Image Credit: Jeff Evrard

Let’s Talk Women in Design

By
. .

By the numbers:

  • Only 23 percent of top management positions are held by women.
  • Only 11 percent of creative directors are women.
  • Only 13 percent of practicing architects are women.

Research shows that women in leadership result in a more profitable business – so why aren’t more women in leadership positions?

Gould Evans Associate Principal Emily Harrold recently spoke on a panel that tried to address this issue, and many others facing women designers, during this year’s Kansas City Design Week.  Emily was joined by four other talented women who have risen to the top – Cady Beansmith with Barkley, Erika Moody with Helix Architecture + Design, Megan Stephens with Willoughby Design, and Julie Vinh with Hallmark.

The discussion was led by one of our designers – Katie Pohlman – who acted as co-chair for KC Design Week. The group shared their stories and passions, debunked myths, offered advice on leading with confidence, and spoke on what they see for the future of the design industry.

Click through to see photos from the Women in Design: Leaders Shaping the Industry panel, taken by Jeff Evrard and courtesy of Kansas City Design Week.

Authors