In her seminal tome about Lincoln, “Team of Rivals:  The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln,” on which the award winning film “Lincoln” was largely based in its themes and focus, Presidential Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin builds a story which is at the same time an historical dissertation on the U.S. presidency, a dramatic narrative biography of an ordinary man rendered extraordinary by the circumstances of the place and time of his life, and a dramatic case study on the timeless dynamics of human behavior. (Read about the important work in this NPR story.) 

In my view, the long and captivating book should be a required, modern non-fiction reader for all undergraduate students of history and English and also used a mandatory source for the future leaders who attend graduate schools of business and administration. Lawyers, architects and engineers might also benefit in the lessons in teamwork and leadership at every level exemplified in Lincoln’s life and story, as brought to life and told so well in this book.

While everyone’s life experience temperament, education, motivation, inspiration, aspirations and ambitions and work ethic differ, I challenge you to think about leadership in your work experience. I would ask:  Have you found that leaders can emerge at every level in an organization and in every team in unexpected and inspiring ways? Have you made it your practice to search for and learn from diverse leaders in your teams and to grow leaders in your work by examples set by you and others? What will your legacy be as a leader?

Implicit in our Board’s 2022-2025 Strategic Goals and Objectives are opportunities to lead through board service with AIA California and in your Chapters, in countless ways which will contribute to the profession and your own career, complimentary to your work whether it is in design practice, project or construction management, government or industry or in teaching.

You may have opportunities to meet other leaders across backgrounds and generations both within and outside California, and to mold your interests and ideas while supporting the Board’s mission and vision.

Our Board is also seeking to grow our leadership programs in the pipeline to architecture from the schools with the BEEP program, throughout professional education and at all stages of the career journey through a visionary program under the California Architectural Foundation pending significant funding for 2023 and beyond. We also took a first look this year at a wide variety of programs in every state component in the U.S., and at those offered by NOMA, as a model for formally developing and growing a leadership program through AIA California.

One particular program which has been adapted most successfully in multiple components and chapters is the Christopher Kelley Leadership program developed by AIA DC over a decade ago and going strong.  Founded in memory of an inspiring young leader from their Chapter, the Christopher Kelley Leadership program offers a graduate school level opportunity for future leaders with direct professional benefits from which our future AIA California members can benefit. Take a look here.