Ahearn Workshop Lecture: Yanel de Angel Salas & Carolyn Cooney

Document Type

Video

Date

Spring 3-25-2022

Keywords

design, learning, Ahearn

Language

English

Disciplines

Other Architecture

Description/Abstract

Engaging Leadership: Finding Your Unique Voice

As architects in an academic setting, we are continually learning what makes design excellent and how it embodies stories and ideas. Yet when we transition to the professional world, there are many other skills we need to progress in our career. We must be able to convey that architectural story to our peers, managers, and clients in a way that resonates and builds consensus. We can be better prepared with tools and communication strategies to become effective storytellers and grow our leadership abilities – in a way that is authentic to our unique voice.

Additional Information

Yanel de Angel

Main Content


As Managing Director of the Boston studio of Perkins&Will, Yanel leads with a spirit of empowerment that continuously pushes teams to be agents of change—for the well-being of our communities, our planet, and each other. A dedicated mentor, she finds joy in helping others elevate their own voice, become genuine leaders, and craft a meaningful career path.

With a reputation for simplifying the complex and building consensus among stakeholder groups, Yanel has been instrumental in the growth of her firm’s global Higher Education practice, as well as the execution of large mixed-use projects in Boston and internationally. She has leveraged her expertise to spur significant initiatives such as ResilientSEE, a global platform of design professionals, private industry, and academia that offers comprehensive, pro-bono resilient planning and design to communities around the world. She is the Vice President of Practice for Boston Society of Architect (BSA) / AIA Board, co-chairs the BSA Women in Design (WiD) Excellence Awards committee, co-founded the BSA WiD Mid-Career Mentorship committee, and is a CREW member.

Yanel has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design from the University of Puerto Rico School of Architecture, a master’s degree in Architecture 1 from the Syracuse University School of Architecture, and a Master’s Degree in Design from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design with a concentration in History and Theory of Architecture. She has taught at Syracuse University, Maryland Institute College of Art, Harvard University Graduate School of Design, and Northeastern University. Yanel was elevated to the AIA College of Fellows in February 2020. Today she serves on the Advisory Boards of various institutions including PROTECHOS, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Cultures, the Boston Society of Architects, Sociedad Latina of Boston, and the Syracuse University School of Architecture Advisory Board.

Carolyn Cooney

Main Content


Carolyn Cooney is the Marketing Director and Associate Principal at Perkins&Will. She began her career working on the client side of a major building project, an experience to which she credits her ability to understand what our clients truly need and want—and why. She believes that the pursuit of empathy, of thoughtful communication and personal connection, will ultimately produce the most meaningful and impactful projects.

Carolyn is passionate about helping others become confident leaders, effective communicators, and trusted partners to clients. She regularly coaches project teams for interviews and helps drive successful pursuit strategies. Most recently, she led the creation of a business development training program for Perkins&Will focused on strengthening those core leadership skills of empathy and communication to help individuals secure new work and strengthen relationships with existing clients. She has presented on these topics for Boston Society of Architects, Society for Marketing and Professional Services, and Society for College and University Planners.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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