Equity in Architecture | Rosa Sheng | TEDxPhiladelphia

When Rosa Sheng was a child, she dreamed of being an architect but was discouraged by her family. The outrage she felt as a youth resurfaced by the time she was a grown-up, successful architect ready to jump ship and leave her job. In her revealing talk, Sheng describes the challenges and “pinch points” faced by women in architecture, and relays the eye-opening moment when it took three dinner invitations from Steve Jobs to make her realize her value. Since then, her Equity by Design organization has called for action to be taken on the data - and has brought to the table a community ready to join forces to accomplish the daunting and “eat the whale”.
Rosa Sheng sees equity as everyone’s issue. Sheng is a licensed architect with over 20 years experience. Sheng has led a variety of acclaimed projects, including the highly technical development of the glass structures for Apple’s original high-profile retail stores. Sheng helped launch a national conversation about the lack of women leaders in her field. She is the Founding Chair of the American Institute of Architects San Francisco (AIASF) Committee: Equity by Design. Equity by Design is a call to action for both women and men to realize the goal of equitable practice to advance architecture and communicate the value of design to society. Sheng spearheaded the group’s groundbreaking study, “The Missing 32% Project”, which examined the reasons behind the dramatic drop-off rate between women in schooling for architecture and women who went on to become licensed practicing architects.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@Carlagalletita94]

So inspiring I'm a mom and a 4th year architectural student 🙏

[@saranbhatia8809]

Great talk leads to great response and great actions!!!

[@kristinahahn9741]

Thank you, Rosa, for sharing your experience and especially for not only talking about equity in architecture but also doing something about it!

[@blancotur]

Very well done Ms. Sheng, congratulations on your success. As an Architect, I KNOW exactly where you have been. Very Best to you and family.

[@ShafnatNaufalsketch]

I hate the fact that i just literally applaused to my phone screen because of the incredible talk. 5 years of architecture school, im on my way to finish this.

[@MsDivamonkey]

@Darius why bully here?

[@cody7101]

Preaching the to choir. Move on.

[@MsDivamonkey]

Thanks Bill!

[@anndilcher8339]

Great talk! Will have to get involved. Greatful to be at a firm where I have had strong women mentors and colleagues. Proud we are 63% women with close to 90 employees. Both managing principals are women, including me. And 39% of stock is women owned and increasing. This makes me realize I am enjoying working in a bubble and there is much to do overall.

[@MsDivamonkey]

+Ann Dilcher Thank you Ann.

[@Bavubuka]

Good ole Steve Jobs. They don't make em like that anymore. Amazing story.

[@katevansbliss]

Rosa, I remember several years ago you telling me you were thinking you would quit architecture soon but you had just one more thing to do first. I think that thing ended up being this Equity By Design project! So cool.... sometimes deciding to hang on just a little bit longer works out really well.

[@MsDivamonkey]

+Kathleen Bliss Thanks Kat!

[@sayemshah]

The woman she mentioned at 12:50 ( Despina ) was our history professor in University at Buffalo.

[@amadisolomonkng]

This has been helpful and I think the app- build your tribe, if it has been designed will go a long way to help upcoming architects because mentor-ship in architecture is already leaving our society, most especially our schools.

[@SelfCenteredGG101]

This is so interesting.

[@chencharity3497]

So true .....

[@tshanaz]

I have the similar story like her .......

[@kaliz621]

my parents think i shouldn't be an architect because they dont get payed much they want me to be a doctor just because i'm a girl..

[@blancotur]

Mikaelaaa Tanglao, YES! Listen to your parents...in the end, do what you LOVE. If it happens to be Architecture, plan ahead to make a living and do it to the very best of your abilities. BTW, I had 3 children, one is a lawyer, the other a CPA, the third is trying to find his way...

[@currentflow76]

I should of never dropped out of college architecture was my major

[@MsDivamonkey]

It's never too late to get back into it!

[@danguee1]

Missing 32% is mainly women dropping out to have families (yeah, it's still overwhelmingly women who choose this or male partners who make them do so) or want to transition to 'more work-life balance' after the first decade or so. And, also, if it's the same in architecture as it is in structural engineering, the hours and pressure can be brutal especially on high pressure projects and I found that many of my female colleagues would in due course go into teaching, other less-pressured careers or pick up juicy positions in organisations wanting to signal their diversity-commitments. Having got burned out on a succession of those projects, I kind of wish I'd taken the soft option as well........

[@hmaljutaily]

It is not fair You should have taking your rest while pregnant.

[@getarchitecture582]

I applaud to women who choose to be mothers over meaningless career!

[@lauranmccormick6928]

Did you even watch the video?

[@beartrapperkc]

over-think

[@phillip_iv_planetking6354]

What a joke.

[@MsDivamonkey]

Not really, it was the launchpad for my success today.