AIANY | Emerging New York Architects (ENYA) demonstrated the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration by hosting the AIANY Cross-Committee Speed Mentoring event at Grimshaw. Organized in partnership with AIA New York’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) and Planning and Urban Design Committee (P&UD), the initiative created a focused platform for young professionals to connect with industry leaders, exchange insights, and accelerate career development across architecture, transportation, infrastructure, and urban design.
A Platform for Cross-Disciplinary Growth
Led by Hao-Yeh Lu and hosted at Grimshaw, the event brought together emerging professionals and established leaders in an engaging, fast-paced mentoring format. By bridging multiple AIA committees, the program emphasized the importance of interdisciplinary thinking in today’s complex built environment—where transportation, infrastructure, planning, and design are increasingly interconnected.
Participants benefited from structured one-on-one mentoring sessions, enabling direct conversations with senior professionals on career trajectories, leadership challenges, and long-term professional growth.
Leadership Insights from Industry Experts
The mentoring sessions featured distinguished professionals including Barry Yanku, Benjamin Lee, Eve Michel, Mehnaj Tabassum, Phu Duong, Richard Ryan, AIA, Russell Kriegel, AIA, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA, Shachi Pandey, Thomas L. Grassi, FAIA, NCARB, Vivian Cheng, and Yunhee Jeong, LEED AP.
Leaders representing organizations such as Corgan, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, Grimshaw, Urban X Design LLC, Metropolitan Urban Design (MUD) Workshop, and HNTB shared candid perspectives on navigating professional transitions, developing leadership capabilities, and defining individual design and planning philosophies within multidisciplinary environments.
Collaboration as a Career Catalyst
Beyond mentorship, the event highlighted how cross-committee collaboration strengthens professional networks and broadens exposure to diverse practice areas. By bringing together voices from transportation, urban design, and infrastructure, the program reinforced the idea that future-ready professionals must operate beyond traditional silos.
This collaborative framework also reflected the evolving demands of the profession—where integrated thinking and leadership adaptability are critical to addressing complex urban challenges.
Recognizing the Contributors Behind the Initiative
Special appreciation is extended to Frances Huppert, FAIA, for connecting the T&I Committee with ENYA, and to Thomas L. Grassi, FAIA, NCARB; Russell Kriegel, AIA, LEED AP, Assoc. DBIA; and Eve Michel for championing cross-committee collaboration.
Acknowledgment is also due to Barry Yanku, Richard Ryan, AIA, and Benjamin Lee for bringing Corgan’s leadership into the mentoring sessions, as well as Phu Duong and Shachi Pandey for linking ENYA and P&UD with Grimshaw.
Gratitude is extended to Chris Obayda, Yunhee Jeong, Mehnaj Tabassum, and Vivian Cheng for hosting the event, Oscar Wang for IT support, Emma Oesterreicher and Salmata Kaba for logistics, and Haozhou Yang and Guan-Yi Siao for coordination support.
Conclusion: Investing in the Next Generation
The AIANY Cross-Committee Speed Mentoring event exemplified how intentional collaboration, leadership engagement, and mentorship can create meaningful pathways for emerging professionals. By fostering dialogue across disciplines, AIANY continues to strengthen the professional ecosystem—ensuring that the next generation of architects, planners, and designers is equipped to lead with confidence, clarity, and collaboration.
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