Lifelong Leadership Program

IIDA New England recognizes the need to support our members with professional development opportunities appropriate to their varying levels of experience. Our Lifelong Leadership Programs (LLP) is squarely focused on our chapter's mission to increase the value to our members by supporting continued advancement and development throughout their careers. Click on the links below to learn more about these much sought after and award winning programs!

Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD)

Emerging Leaders Network (ELN)

Design Leaders Network (DLN)

Developed in 2019, the Leadership Exploration & Development (LEAD) program squarely focuses on our chapter's mission to increase the value of our members by supporting continued advancement and development throughout their careers. While our incredibly successful Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) program supports those that are in the earlier stages of their career, the LLP offers a "next step" as those professionals move into subsequent stages of their careers, including senior leadership positions at their companies. Ideal LEAD-ers have at least 10 years and a maximum of 15 years of experience in the design industry and have significant experience leading project teams that they can reflect upon during the program.

We've designed LEAD to do two things:

1. Provide programs of value for mid-career and senior-level interior professionals.

2. Leverage the demonstrated success of our signature leadership development program, The ELN, as a model for an expanded leadership development program to positively impacts more members as they advance to positions of project and company (and chapter) leadership.

Many graduates of the program have gone on to chair IIDA NE committees, hold seats on our Board of Directors, and – most importantly – to achieve leadership positions on their project teams and within their respective companies. The impact of this year-long program on company business and leadership development is well-recognized by principals throughout our design community.

Developed in 2013, the Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) answered one of the top requests from principals – provide specific professional development training to individuals in the chapter. Curriculum prepares participants with at least 3 years and a maximum of 8 years of experience in the design industry for leadership roles through a series of interactive seminars covering a wide spectrum of skills and business fundamentals over an 11-month program.

The program is free for participants, even non-IIDA members. In exchange for the invaluable training the participants receive, their companies agree to pay for the individual’s IIDA membership the following year and, once graduated from the ELN, participants are encouraged to join an IIDA NE committee to continue to develop their leadership skills while strengthening their ties to our community.

Many graduates of the program have gone on to chair IIDA NE committees, hold seats on our Board of Directors, and – most importantly – to achieve leadership positions on their project teams and within their respective companies. The impact of this year-long program on company business and leadership development is well-recognized by principals throughout our design community.

Developed in 2012, the annual Principals Roundtable (PRT) was a way for the chapter to give back to firm leaders in our community with an incredible speaker and networking with their peers while providing a platform for feedback on the work we do as a chapter and how we could best support design firms. In 2020 so many things for our design community changed and it was time for the PRT to change as well.

Our two successful Lifelong Leadership Programs (LLP): Emerging Leaders Network (ELN) and Leadership Exploration and Development (LEAD), have provided valuable resources for designers with up to 15 years of experience; however, neither program specifically supported firm leaders who not only tackle design but management, mentorship and coaching of staff, business development and maintaining client relationships. By shifting the annual PRT to a quarterly program, the Design Leaders Network (DLN), is designed to be a forum for high-level conversation around firm leadership that would support the community’s design leaders in their career advancement. The programs are invite-only to allow the guest list to be tailored for the topic at hand and for smaller intimate conversations rather than a seminar format. Ideal DLN’ers have at least 10 years of experience in the design industry and have significant experience leading project teams as well as leading within a design firm from a senior position. These conversations are recapped and given to attendees as a way to engage with the topic further in their own settings.