INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S MONTH | Growth, Mentorship, and Opportunity
At MV+A, we recognize that meaningful growth in architecture doesn’t happen by chance—it’s cultivated through intentional support, opportunity, and shared knowledge. This International Women’s Month, we reflect on this year’s theme, “Give to Gain,” and how it resonates within our practice. Growth at MV+A is not only about individual achievement, it’s about what we invest in one another through mentorship and shared experience.
Our growth ladders provide a clear framework for professional development, outlining pathways for designers at every stage to advance their technical expertise, leadership abilities, and project ownership. These structured opportunities are complemented by hands-on experience and mentorship, ensuring that learning is continuous and practical.
Programs like our Learning Lab further reinforce this culture of development. By creating space for exploration, collaboration, and innovation, the Learning Lab sessions encourage staff to test ideas, refine their design thinking, and learn from one another in a supportive setting. Together, these initiatives embody the spirit of “Give to Gain”—where sharing knowledge and creating opportunity leads to stronger individuals and a stronger firm.
At the heart of this approach is a belief that opportunity, mentorship, and support must work together to create meaningful and equitable career pathways. As Kalinda Gathinji, AIA | Senior Associate at MV+A reflects:
“Providing opportunity learning and testing the capabilities of staff creates a pathway for all staff members to excel, grow, and define their unique contribution to MV+A. We intentionally work to accommodate the interests of our staff members to keep them wholly engaged, challenged to grow, and actively pursuing professional development, advancing project design and execution rigor, and refining processes to develop their expertise. Every leader at MV+A has developed a unique set of expertise, skills, and focus areas that contribute to a much greater collaborative whole. We all grow together.”
This commitment to growth is grounded in a culture of generosity—an essential part of “giving” in order to help others succeed. Kalinda continues:
“Generosity and mentorship are critical to building the culture of MV+A as well as the wider profession as it promotes growth individually and collectively, builds trust among our teams, and fosters a genuine desire for the good of all. This culture challenges all of us to learn, share and challenge ideas, and always strive for the best in each other, ultimately making our work, our projects, our firm, and I would argue our communities better.”
Mentorship and representation also play a powerful role in shaping individual aspirations. As Alex Edwards | Architectural Designer at MV+A shares:
“As a designer, having good examples of leadership has been critical in shaping my career goals. More importantly, it’s been crucial to see women in these roles throughout the firm. It’s encouraging to see the women in our firm not only being integral to the successful projects but actively shaping the future and the goals of the firm. I’m also inspired to be surrounded by so many women who are licensed architects, and to have so much support and wisdom as I pursue licensure for myself.
The women here foster a natural spirit of collaboration which not only delivers excellent projects but also develops the skills and aspirations of others. I admire their dedication to continual learning and problem solving as the needs of projects continue to evolve. It’s also meaningful to see women who excel in their careers, but who are also dedicated mothers, partners, daughters, and friends! Their ability to balance and thrive gives me hope that I can accomplish the goals I’ve set in my career and in my personal life!”
For many at MV+A, these values are experienced from the very beginning of their careers. Abby Hendrix | Bookkeeper + Operations Assistant, reflects on how opportunity and support shaped her journey:
“For me, the opportunity for this job is what has shaped my career the most. I started here as a 20 something year old who was trying to figure out what career path I wanted to have moving forward. I wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for but I found this company where people are treated like people/friends and not just as employees. I was given opportunities to learn the bookkeeping system, as well as some of the HR sides of an office. I was allowed to make mistakes and learn from them. Now I’ve been with this company for almost 8 years and have continued to gain responsibility and grow within my role. I started my family while working here and was supported through marriage and having a child and never felt like I was being pushed out. No matter where my career ends up, I will always be grateful to have started here while I was so young so that I always know what type of company I want to work for and how I want employees to be treated.”
Left to Right: Kalinda Gathinji, Alex Edwards, and Abby Hendrix
Support and mentorship are often most visible during life’s most demanding seasons – when what is given by others makes achievement possible. Reflecting on her journey to licensure, Harini Chandrasekhar, AIA | Staff Architect at MV+A shares:
“Getting licensed is never easy — and doing it while becoming a mom made the journey even more challenging. I could have never done it without the amazing support at MV+A. I’m especially thankful to everyone at the firm, and to the PMs — Eleanor, Kalinda, Kyle, and Ameneh — who helped me every single day, guiding me through design, detailing, construction administration, and even gave me a window into the firm’s inner workings — things like financials, staffing, and scheduling. Their role in my growth means so much to me that today I try to carry the same spirit forward in how I support and mentor younger teammates today”.
This culture of support is reinforced through leadership practices that prioritize both excellence and empathy – creating an environment where giving knowledge, trust, and opportunity leads to collective success. As Kalinda explains:
“One way I support others in the office is by being example of servant leadership, rigor in design, process and execution, and balancing family life. What that looks like on a day-to-day basis is encouraging appropriate professional boundaries for time and attention, giving room to others to manage their professional and personal responsibilities while meeting the demands of our projects, and dealing with people honestly. Other ways I support staff in the office is by demanding excellence, encouraging staff to take on greater responsibility, managing staffing to provide ample opportunity to gain vital experience and exposure, and advocating for staff promotions where appropriate.”
The impact of this culture is reflected in moments of confidence and trust built over time. As Lynn Murphy | Senior Architectural Designer at MV+A points out a moment in her career:
“When you are respected and feared by a contractor on the job site.” And in the everyday willingness to support others, reinforcing the cycle of giving, Lynn says: “I never say no to a task that someone asks me to help with especially when it comes to Construction Administration.”
Beyond individual growth, empowering women strengthens the profession as a whole. Kalinda notes:
“When women are supported and empowered in architecture, a greater diversity of ideas is achieved improving design outcomes that function better and connect more with the clients and communities we serve. Supporting and advancing women also helps to retain highly skilled architects propelling the profession forward.”
Left to Right: Harini Chandrasekhar, Lynn Murphy, and Prova Zaman—Haque
To broaden this reflection beyond our office, I reached out to Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA serving as 2026 AIA President-Elect before stepping into the presidency in 2027, who advocates for inclusive practice offers this perspective:
“Architecture is, at its core, about people. Creating spaces that protect health, nurture belonging, and foster resilience is not incidental to good design. It is the point. As a Puerto Rican woman, a queer Latina, and a neurodivergent architect, I have navigated both visibility and invisibility in this profession. That journey shaped my leadership and taught me that belonging is not a checklist. It is a practice, reflected in how we lead, how we listen, and how we design. Storytelling builds the connections that transform our profession. I carry this forward in my work with students who are Black, Brown, first-generation, and multilingual, and who inspire me daily. Together, we are not just designing buildings. We are designing futures.”
Looking Forward
As we move beyond March, MV+A remains committed to fostering an inclusive, collaborative environment where all voices are valued and supported. As a woman, a person of color, an immigrant—and simply as a human being—I carry a deep appreciation for the importance of being seen, heard, and given the opportunity to grow. The theme “Give to Gain” resonates with me not just professionally, but personally, reminding me of the mentors, advocates, and communities who have helped shape my journey.
In that spirit, I’m inspired by how we continue to show up for one another each day. Together, we can keep investing in mentorship, professional development, and equitable opportunities -knowing that what we give today shapes the strength of our firm and the future of our profession. Let this month serve as both a celebration and a call to action—to keep listening, learning, and building pathways for future generations of designers.
—Prova Zaman-Haque, AIA | Project Architect
