On Tuesday 9 September, Women in BIM gathered industry leaders, emerging professionals and students at the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation in New York for an evening that combined inspiration, mentorship and practical strategies for digital design careers.

Our panel of distinguished speakers shared powerful insights into career development and the role of BIM in shaping the future of the AEC industry:

Islay Burgess, AIA, NCARB, Principal at Gensler began by speaking about her path into leadership and how BIM serves as both a design tool and a strategic driver for practice.

This was followed by Ilkay C. Standard, Founder of GENx Design & Technology who highlighted the courage and innovation required to build a technology-focused practice in today’s fast-evolving landscape.

Miryam Varona, BIM Manager at Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP contributed her expertise in BIM for construction and structural workflows, underscoring the importance of precision, detail and clarity in career advancement.

Women in BIM’s Regional Lead for New York, Yafei Zhang, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, Associate Principal at KPF then anchored the evening through both leadership and hands-on mentorship, offering students practical advice, encouragement and pathways for long-term success.

The roundtable portfolio reviews were a true highlight of the evening, offering more than one-on-one critique. Mentors not only guided students on how to refine their resumes and portfolios but also pushed them to think about career positioning, storytelling and the balance of design creativity with technical skill. This direct mentorship demonstrated how leaders can actively shape the readiness and confidence of the next generation.

The networking session extended the impact even further, transforming the room into a collaborative forum where students and professionals exchanged insights, experiences, and opportunities. These conversations built bridges across career stages, empowered students to see themselves as future leaders, and reinforced the collective responsibility of the industry to foster diversity, mentorship and innovation.

With overwhelming demand, this Women in BIM event demonstrated both the urgency and the value of bridging professional expertise with student ambition. Women in BIM in New York is proud to continue leading these vital conversations, creating spaces where mentorship fuels innovation, and where the future of the AEC industry is co-created by leaders and emerging professionals alike.

A special thanks to our generous sponsors—the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation and Gilsanz Murray Steficek LLP—for making this event possible.