Hosted by AIA Minnesota

The purpose of the National Intercultural Leadership Program (NILP) is to grow the capacity of leaders in the architecture community to lead inclusively.

A recent Harvard Business Review article by Juliet Bourke and Andrew Espedido noted that in a typical organization, what leaders say, do and model makes a 70% difference in whether an individual reports feeling included. “Inclusive leadership is emerging as a unique and critical capability helping organizations adapt to diverse customers, markets, ideas and talent.”

By expanding the ability of leaders in architecture to recognize and adapt to “differences that make a difference”—differences of race, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religion, physical ability, political affiliation, etc.—we can create leaders who understand the value and business advantages of attracting and retaining a more diverse workforce, and who more effectively engage with our clients, within our design teams, and with the general public. This ability to recognize and adapt to difference is called “intercultural competence.”

The ten sessions of virtual learning will involve workshops (lecture mixed with exercises and small group engagement) and assigned work such as journaling and readings.