Architecture, Interiors, Brand Design, Strategy are some of the expertise at the multidisciplinary firm Gensler. Hear advice on career paths within and beyond Architecture from design professionals at Gensler. Student members of the AIASF board will moderate the panel.
Friday, October 9, 2026
5:30 – 7:30 pm
Gensler, 220 Montgomery St. Ste 200, SF, CA 94104
In-person event at Gensler’s San Francisco office. This event is free for students but students must join AIASF as members. AIASF offers free membership to students.
Register on AIASF Events page to reserve a spot. Space is limited. https://www.aiasf.org/events/real-talk-multidisciplinary-career-paths-and-gensler-firm-visit
- How did your education or training prepare you to collaborate with people from different disciplines—and what did you have to learn on the job?
- What led you to your field of work? Did you know from the start, or was it something you discovered along the way? What is an example of a career decision that was unexpected?
- For students who are still figuring out what they want to specialize in, what skills or experiences would you recommend building in school that will remain valuable across different disciplines within a large firm?
- At a multidisciplinary firm like Gensler, how do different disciplines actually collaborate on a project? Could you share an example of a time when someone outside your own discipline changed or improved the way you approached a project?
- Can you share an example of a project where people had different priorities or opinions? When design goals conflict, how do you decide what to prioritize or what compromises to make?
- What’s one difficult collaboration experience that changed how you work with others, and what would you advise students to take from it? What has helped you build trust with collaborators, especially when you’re new to a team or don’t have much experience yet?
- How is AI changing the kinds of roles and jobs available in architecture and design, and how might it change the way people across disciplines collaborate?
Stephanie Chavez, NCIDQ
Associate & Interior Designer, Gensler
LinkedIn
Stephanie Chavez, NCIDQ, is an interior designer and Associate at Gensler in San Francisco. She brings experience in interior design and professional practice developed through work in New York, Columbus, and the San Francisco Bay Area. She earned her education at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, where she participated in the university’s Professional Practice Co-op Program and combined academic study with work experience in interior design. Chavez holds the NCIDQ credential and is a LEED Green Associate. Her professional work reflects experience with collaborative design practice and the development of interior environments across a range of project types. In 2020, she was recognized as one of Boutique Design magazine’s BD18 honorees.
Brian Pekar
Design Strategist & Architect, Gensler
LinkedIn
Brian is a strategist and a licensed architect Interested in healthier cities, sustainable systems, and design resources for the new wave of building practices and infrastructures. Earning an M.Arch from the University of Michigan he graduated in the top 10% of his class and is also a FitWel Ambassador. Upon graduation he pursued his passion for design and criticality of systems as a Design Strategist with Strategy+ in San Francisco within AECOM. He subsequently joined Gensler’s Strategy practice as a Design Strategy Development fellow for 18 months to bolster his client experience and to find like minded strategists within the profession. Today he sits within Gensler San Francisco’s Higher Education studio as a resident Design Strategist completing work that crosses many practice areas and project types.
Colin Peters
Brand Strategist & Copywriter, Gensler
LinkedIn
Design-driven strategist skilled at surfacing the throughlines between brand, narrative, product, and experience. Ten years of proven expertise pairing strategy with story to inspire thoughtfully-crafted brand identities, brand environments, and brand expressions taking shape across an array of canvases, spaces, and media. Fluent in the careful art and science of guiding creative development, shaping creative concepts, and championing creative ideas from ideation through execution—within large organizations and for global brands.
Marissa Yee, AIA
Architect, Gensler
LinkedIn
Marissa Yee is a licensed architect in Gensler’s San Francisco office working on higher education projects for CCSF, UC Davis, and Sacramento State. A LEED AP BD+C, she is active with AIA California and AIA San Francisco supporting emerging professionals through architectural education and licensure initiatives. She has also mentored students through the Architectural Foundation of San Francisco. She is a B.Arch graduate of the University of Southern California and completed all six architecture licensure exams through the IPAL program. A former Gensler intern while at USC, she now holds a leadership role in Gensler’s internship program.
Julia Weatherspoon, AIA, NOMA
Associate & Project Architect, Gensler
LinkedIn
Julia Weatherspoon is an architect committed to creating more inclusive environments through design. Her experience includes workplace interiors, aviation, civic projects, and higher education. She advocates for greater diversity, inclusion, and representation within the design profession. Julia serves as President of the San Francisco Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects and as Recording Secretary on the NOMA Board of Directors. She is also active with AIA San Francisco and several Bay Area advocacy initiatives. Julia has spoken at UC Berkeley and San Francisco Design Week and has been featured in Architect Magazine. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arizona.
The Real Talk series is a platform for the student members on the AIASF board to strengthen the connection between schools and firms. Students determine the topic, prepare questions, and moderate the event. The 2026 AIASF student board members are:
Francene Gabrielle (Cheena) Bendicion, BA in Architecture, University of San Francisco
Esteban Carrasco, Assoc. AIA, BS in Architecture, San Francisco State University
Ethan Garcia, B.Arch, California College of the Arts
Jeffrey Luc, B.Arch, Academy of Art University
Katherine Matsaylo, College of Marin
Julian Rayford, BA in Architecture, UC Berkeley
William Tun, Associate of Science in Architecture, City College of San Francisco
