Held for the third year in a row, Ankrom Moisan’s AMasterClass series began as a way to share the knowledge, insights, and advice accumulated by the firm’s female leadership over the years. Shared as five-minute lectures in the style of a Master Class crash course, it’s an ongoing discussion dedicated to celebrating women in positions of leadership.

This year, the female thought leaders who shared their thoughts with the rest of the firm included: Chief Financial Officer DeAne Blakely; Director of Design and Strategy Leah Wheary Brown; and Affordable Housing Studio Leader Katie Lyslo.

DeAne’s Promo Poster

DeAne Blakely, our Chief Financial Officer, discussed her experience translating truth to trust and results, making it land.

Katie’s Promo Poster

Katie Lyslo, our Affordable Housing Studio Leader, shared her perspective on how people-centered thinking can be used to shape better design outcomes.

Leah’s Promo Poster

Leah Wheary Brown, Director of Design and Strategy, explained how she recognizes the patterns that connect vision to meaning.

Watch Party and Panel Discussion

Paola’s Promo Poster for the In-Person AMasterClass Watch Party and Panel Discussion

On April 2nd, Ankrom Moisan staff came together in the Portland office for an in-person watch party and panel discussion, which was streamed live to our other offices. Hosted by Paola Tippner, Senior HR Business Partner, the event was a celebration of the exceptional women at Ankrom Moisan.

Following a screening of the AMasterClass videos, a live panel discussion was held, giving people a chance to engage with the panelists directly and ask questions related to the experiences shared in their videos.

AMasterClass Watch Party and Discussion Panel, held in the Portland office.

The speakers shared their thoughts on where they receive their value, how they find time to step back and reflect on their personal progress, how young professionals can gain confidence, and what still needs to change in the future for women in leadership positions.

The main takeaways from the live audience Q&A were that relationships are key, it’s essential to find time to pause and reflect, and that you must be adaptable to any situation or environment.

Watch a compilation of the AMasterClass discussions from this year, as well as the insights shared by 2024 and 2025’s speakers, in the AMasterClass playlist, here:

AMasterClass Video Playlist