The Leadership Austin Emerge program is a truly eye-opening experience.  Through an exploration of a broad range of personality types and their unique and varied motivations, it showed me a new perspective on who I am, what motivates me, and how we each approach relationships and interactions a little differently.  Leadership Austin challenged me to define my core values, which at first was difficult and uncomfortable, but in the end is something I can always look to as a guide as I make difficult decisions in my life ahead and have confidence that I am making the right decision.  Most importantly, Leadership Austin teaches what it means to be a part of a community, and opens doors for each of us to be able to contribute to our communities in ways that we all find rewarding and fulfilling.

I am thankful to the Austin Foundation for Architecture for supporting me in the 2009 Leadership Austin Emerge program, and encourage the AFA to continue to connect young architects with these leadership skills, and also encourage more architects to use their leadership skills to engage the community.  I highly recommend the Leadership Austin Emerge program, and will cherish the many connections I have made.

—Paul A. Bielamowicz, AIA, LEED AP

My experience as a Leadership Austin graduate is one I will always remember as a humbling, inspiring and captivating. The people I met and the things I learned have left permanent, positive marks on my life. Leadership Austin exposed me to several aspects of life in Austin that I had never been aware of. It changed the way I look at my community and how I can make a difference in it. It taught me to be a better leader and a better citizen. It challenged me to try harder, aim higher and have fun in the process. I am very grateful for the experience and very grateful to the Austin Foundation for Architecture for their scholarship. It is important to have Architects as leaders in our community, and by encouraging AIA members to participate in Leadership Austin, the Foundation will achieve that goal.

— Michele L. Van Hyfte, AIA LEED AP