Early Years

Looking back, Stone recalls, “Early in my career, RAMSA provided a platform for me to access several industry organizations. I attended events, volunteered, and sought to make a difference. As this opened up professional leadership opportunities for me, it also forged organizational pathways for RAMSA’s WLI.”

Meanwhile, informal activities organized by the firm’s leaders—including Bob Stern and current CEO Lisa Matkovic—presaged WLI’s programming. 

“A milestone for our ongoing conversations about women in architecture was when Bob Stern was the Dean at Yale, where the Yale Women in Architecture had its inaugural symposium in November of 2012,” recalls Matkovic.

Reporting on the symposium, the Yale Daily News wrote:

"Stern said he thinks that the same challenges facing male architects — long hours and a demanding schedule — are magnified for women, many of whom he said continue to bear the majority of household work. This issue affects female architects to a greater degree than women in other high-stress professions due to the economic stress of a career in architecture. Since women who practice medicine and law are more likely to have the financial means to hire domestic help, they are better able to balance their careers and their family lives."

Matkovic says, "Bob was inspired by the Yale seminar to support our proposed women’s group, as an informal subgroup of RAMSA's Education Committee, called 'RAMSA Women’s Initiative.' In 2014, the group became independent from the Education Committee and was renamed 'Equity in Architecture’ with participation open to all staff members."

Matkovic's firmwide announcement in 2015 read:

“RAMSA Equity will serve as a platform to address gender issues in the field of architecture and design. The purpose of RAMSA Equity is to provide mentorship, education, support, and resources to all staff through an informal and voluntary internal group by sharing information and recognizing achievements of women in architecture.”

New name, new mission

Stone reflects, "When I got involved in 2015, I leveraged my professional experience at RAMSA and the Board of the New York Building Congress to join Lisa as a co-champion and liaison for WLI. We introduced committee leadership—chair, co-chair, and defined roles—to establish a foundation for an organized program.”

She adds, "At the time, I was attending networking events at major engineering firms, which had strong women’s leadership programs. Engineers faced an even greater challenge than architects, so they organized more. Inspired by their models, we built up our own robust group and programming. And in turn, we became a model for other firms.”

With a formal structure, the Women’s Leadership Initiative sprang forth from the roots of RAMSA Equity. WLI updated its mission statement: "to develop and promote women’s growth in the profession through education, mentorship, and peer support."

The new WLI began to look outward to connect with other firms and organizations, including the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation (BWAF) and AIA Women in Architecture. WLI Committee leaders have participated, with Stone’s encouragement, in the BWAF Emerging Leaders Program and the AIA Women’s Leadership Summit.

Continued Evolution

Education, mentorship, and networking have consistently driven the WLI’s diverse, evolving program. Events have included guest lectures, film screenings, site visits, architecture and museum tours, Women’s Month exhibitions and events, and the ongoing Mentorship Monday, Women’s Crush Wednesday, and Food for Thought discussion series. For its networking events, WLI has hosted other firms, such as Atelier Ten, CookFox, Morris Adjmi, SOM, and Thornton Tomasetti. Guest lecturers have included Annabelle Selldorf, Anne Rieselbach, Julia Gamolina, and Carol Loewenson.

One test of the WLI's adaptability arose during the COVID pandemic. Rapidly responding to remote work, WLI launched The Family Forum for discussions among working parents managing family responsibilities. The group was open to anyone with caregiving duties for children, older relatives, or others. Zoom sessions were organized by caregiving type and age group so individuals facing similar circumstances could connect and share support. It quickly became a well‑attended outlet, valued by staff.

The Family Forum and other Zoom‑friendly gatherings helped WLI stay connected through the pandemic. Virtual galleries and interactive digital media gave form to WLI’s first official Women’s Month celebration in 2021, foregrounding the physical exhibits and in‑person events that would distinguish this annual celebration, now a keystone of the WLI program.  

The WLI Steps Forward

WLI’s programming and mission statement continue to coevolve with the needs of its community, yet the organization remains anchored in the ideals it established long ago.

“WLI builds and sustains professional networks by intentionally creating an ecosystem where connection, mentorship, and education reinforce one another over time,” says WLI Committee member Zoey Yao.

What's ahead for RAMSA's WLI?

In March 2026, the WLI Committee launched its new theme, “Amplifying Voices,” succeeding the previous theme, “Growing Connections.”

“Now that we strengthen our connections, the next step is to uplift them,” says the Committee. “This theme focuses on shining a light on expertise and elevating personal stories across the firm.”

For long-term solutions, WLI turns to the new generation of emerging leaders, who will bring fresh perspectives while building on the legacies of women leaders in our profession and beyond.

Yao writes:

"I envision a future where women shape the profession through leadership, innovation, and collaboration — where women lead teams, shape design thinking, and define their work culture with visibility, confidence, and purpose."