My name is Kelly Cummings. I am an introverted extrovert, whose socks rarely match and has a strong dislike of pickles. I am a boomerang Pittsburgher, who grew up in the North Hills but has daringly crossed bridges and rivers to live just south of the city. When I was growing up, I never considered […]
Discovering My Career Through Passion: Kelly Cummings Read More »
COVID-19 is taking over discussions around the world. Sporting events cancelled. Television and movies stopped production. Restaurants and Bars are closed for service. Everyone is encouraged to practice social distancing. Most of the country is working from home and trying to stay healthy. Construction, for now, is still pushing forward. There is some positive light
The architecture profession does a great job at discussing the importance of having mentors and organizations like the AIA actively help individuals meet others with a passion for mentorship . However, there needs to be more discussions about moving towards the need to have a personal board of directors rather than a single mentor. A
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One of my favorite podcasts to listen to is Harvard Business School (HBR): Women at Work. Starting season 3, Amy Gallo joined as a new co host to the podcast. Amy works at HBR and is an expert in conflict, communication, and workplace dynamics. This post is going to talk more about her book, HBR
Dealing with Conflict Read More »
As an architect, you are constantly building relationships as well as structures. The connections you make along the way help to guide your career and your network. When you graduate from college you may feel that your sphere of influence is rather small (Read more about one’s sphere of influence in the book, The Practice
Guide to Networking Read More »
When I moved to Pittsburgh in June of 2016, I knew exactly one person: my soon-to-be wife who had recently started teaching at The University of Pittsburgh. In a bit of a coincidence, she had grown up in Steel City and happened to be offered a job at Pitt Law when she was on the
The idea of negotiating a pay raise can be overwhelming, but an intentional approach can yield unexpected benefits for both you and your employer. The relationship with your company is built upon trust that is grown or diminished over time. A transparent conversation about compensation requires honest reflection on this relationship, which can be complex
Negotiating A Pay Raise: Brenna Shaffer Read More »
There are three major ‘C’ words that a young professional should to have integrated into the workflow early in their career; Communication, Collaboration, and Coordination. Understanding the importance of these three terms early in your career will help your understanding of a project and everyone’s role in the team. Taking the time to focus on
Project Coordination Read More »
The goal of this study is to shed light on what is happening in the architectural community for the Pittsburgh region. In addition to looking at compensation it also includes demographics, equity, culture, and licensure. It was inspired by the AIA Compensation Reports (2017 & 2019), Equity By Design (2018 Survey), and Girl Uninterrupted Project
2019 Pittsburgh Equity in Architecture Report Read More »
Julie Brown & Mia Scharphie This week I want to talk about a “Boost Your Confidence to Boost Your Visibility” webinar I attended live on September 18, 2019 with Mia Scharphie and Julie Brown. These are two great women I have discovered over the last six months. Julie Brown is a business development strategist, networking
Boost Your Confidence to Boost Your Visibility – Webinar Read More »
What if you spend your time focusing on your strengths rather than your weaknesses? How far can you go? This focuses your efforts on your strengths and surrounding yourself with others that not only compliment your strengths but help to fill in the gaps.
Starting out in the architecture profession right out of school can be daunting. Even after over 4 years of school and a degree(s) there is still a large learning curve. I have previously described being new in the profession and having to tackle inexperience with the concept of, “you don’t know what you don’t know”.
Cliffs of a Young Professional Read More »
