The Next Generation of Design Leaders

What does leadership look like in design today? We asked our 2025 Emerging Leaders this very question. Honored during Leaders Breakfast, the annual event series hosted by IIDA chapters, these rising stars said “quiet strength,” “humility and innovation,” and “using your platform for good” are all keys to next-level leadership. These design up-and-comers are listeners, collaborators, problem-solvers, and advocates who understand that design’s impact stretches far beyond a project’s footprint — and the mark of a good leader extends far beyond their job title. Their stories offer a glimpse into the profession’s next chapter — one shaped by authenticity, empathy, and the courage to imagine something better.

Leading by Listening

Julia Carnaghi, IIDA | Interior Designer, Stantec
IIDA Illinois Chapter

For Julia Carnaghi, leadership in design began with the people who shaped her. “The mentors who taught me, supported me, and gave me the confidence to trust my ideas showed me that leadership isn’t just about titles or experience,” she says. “It’s about empowering others and fostering growth.” That belief took root early in her career, especially as she entered the workplace in 2021, during a period of rapid change. “It was an incredibly exciting time to be in workplace design,” she recalls, especially as the approach to office design and working styles evolved during and after the pandemic. Seeing how environments influence connection, collaboration, and well-being helped her understand her role as a designer: “to create meaningful change through design, even as people began spending less time in the office.”

Julia Carnaghi HS — **Julia Carnaghi, IIDA**
Interior Designer, Stantec
IIDA Illinois Chapter

Looking ahead, Carnaghi hopes to champion the interior design industry and strengthen her IIDA community. “I hope to make an impact by advocating for the value of interior design and the influence it has on people’s everyday experiences,” she says. She also hopes to mentor emerging designers, helping them “feel their best while doing their best work.” And outside the studio? She fully embraces life as a mini-dachshund mom. “If something has a dachshund on it, I probably own it.”

Julia C LB chicago — Carnaghi was honored as the emerging leader honoree at IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in Chicago.

We Deliver Productions

Julia C LB chicago 2 — Carnaghi attends IIDA's Chicago Leaders Breakfast.

We Deliver Productions

Leading with Humility

Alaina Penn, IIDA | Interior Architecture/Designer, PRAXIS3
IIDA Georgia Chapter

For Alaina Penn, leadership starts with humility. “Leadership isn’t defined by having all the answers; it is about listening, learning, and serving,” she says. She aims to push creative boundaries while uplifting the people around her. That perspective took shape during her work on Autodesk’s Atlanta headquarters — her first project from concept through construction administration. “Our client wanted us to give them something they had not seen before,” Penn recalls. The experience taught her to navigate presentations, job sites, stakeholder collaboration, and new technical workflows. “Using every opportunity as a learning experience was key in getting a holistic view of my role as a designer.”

Alaina Penn HS — **Alaina Penn, IIDA**
Interior Architecture/Designer, PRAXIS3
IIDA Georgia Chapter

Looking ahead, Penn hopes to inspire her IIDA community “through humility and innovation,” and to help “build a world we would like to see and experience, not just stopping at what we’re limited to in the moment.” She is especially passionate about encouraging young women and people of color to explore interior architecture and design, strengthening the diversity of perspectives that shape the industry. And in a twist she embraces with gratitude, her career almost looked very different: “I started my career journey with the plan to be a pediatrician. Instead of going to med school, I went to art school! It took a leap of faith, but it’s been such a blessing, loving what I do every day.”

Alaina Penn LB — Penn was honored as the emerging leader honoree at IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in Atlanta.

Jamagine Media

Alaina Penn LB atlanta 3 — Penn speaks at Atlanta's Leaders Breakfast.

Jamagine Media

Leading With Intention

Brianna N. LeFlore, IIDA | Associate, Project Interior Designer, Page (now Stantec)
IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Chapter

“To me leadership isn’t a destination but a daily decision,” says Brianna LeFlore, a registered interior designer in Texas. “It’s the choice to show up, speak up, and lift others as we shape a better future together.” In the design community, that means creating environments where creativity, inclusion, and purpose can truly thrive. “Great leadership goes beyond setting a vision; it’s about empowering others, guiding with intention, and cultivating a culture where everyone has the opportunity to flourish,” she adds. LeFlore’s perspective deepened during a multifamily project that arrived at a moment of burnout.

Brianna Le Flore HS — **Brianna N. LeFlore, IIDA**
Associate, Project Interior Designer, Page, now Stantec
IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Chapter

Through the process, she found herself “rediscovering both inspiration and renewed confidence,” thanks in part to a client whose trust affirmed her expertise. “The smallest gestures and thoughtful details truly make a lasting impact,” she says — a realization that helped transform a single commission into an ongoing partnership.

Looking ahead, LeFlore hopes to lead with humility and honesty, embracing “meaningful leadership by fostering trust” and creating a practice where authenticity fuels collaboration. She aims to inspire others to bring their best selves to the work they create together — in both her firm and her IIDA community. Outside of work? “I’m part fitness enthusiast, part foodie — it’s all about balance, right?!” she says. “When I’m not training for my next Hyrox race, you’ll probably find me exploring Houston’s endless lineup of restaurants and cafés. With a food scene as diverse as this city, there’s always something new (and delicious) to discover.”

Brianna Le Flore LB houston — LeFlore attends IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in Houston.

Andy Phan Photography

Brianna Le Flore LB houston 2 — LeFlore was honored as the emerging leader honoree at IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in Houston.

Andy Phan Photography

Leading by Example

Mary Oliver, IIDA | Interior Designer, Devcon Construction, Inc.
IIDA Northern California Chapter

For Mary Oliver, leadership begins with example. “Sometimes the hardest part is starting, so when you see someone else doing it, it makes it easier to engage,” she says. Empathy, especially early in a designer’s career, is foundational: “Learning is part of the process, and having someone there to catch you when you fall is so valuable.” That perspective crystallized during her work on a three-store retail rollout. What began as a supporting role quickly expanded into developing storefront details, waterproofing strategies, and helping guide the project to completion — an experience that broadened her understanding of what design leadership can look like.

Mary Oliver, IIDA
Interior Designer, Devcon Construction, Inc.
IIDA Northern California Chapter

“Being a designer is more than just one narrow area of work; it’s about collaboration and bringing all parties to the table,” she notes. A valuable takeaway? “I learned that I not only have to be flexible and adaptable, but step up when the time comes to take projects to the finish line.” Today, Oliver channels that same mindset into advocacy, serving as Assistant Vice President of Advocacy for the IIDA Northern California Chapter and championing licensure for commercial interior designers in the state — a cause she believes will open doors for the next generation. Outside the studio, she embraces a more pastoral passion: “My family loves foraging for wild mushrooms and cooking them up in tasty new dishes,” she says. “My favorite has to be a chanterelle — they’re easy to spot and super yummy.”

Mary Oliver LB sanfran — Oliver was honored as the emerging leader honoree at IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in San Francisco.

Jennifer Graham Photography

Mary Oliver LB sanfran 3 — Oliver poses with fellow Leaders Breakfast honorees.

Jennifer Graham Photography

Leading with Quiet Strength

Morgan Mitford Williamson, IIDA | Senior Associate, Interior Designer, OMNIPLAN
IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Chapter

For Morgan Mitford Williamson, leadership in design isn’t one-size-fits-all. Early in her career, she began challenging the stereotype that leaders must be loud or self-focused. “I began to realize leadership can be different — especially in design,” she says. “Having quiet strength and confidence in your ability to solve design problems allows others to grow and do the same.” That mindset also shapes how she collaborates. “Our goal is always to create a sense of unity with our clients — to make sure they feel we’re on the same team. I love the moment when you see your client relax and trust your professional opinion.” That shared vision transforms a project into a true partnership.

Morgan Williamson HS — **Morgan Mitford Williamson, IIDA**
Senior Associate, Interior Designer, OMNIPLAN
IIDA Texas/Oklahoma Chapter

“I have wanted to be an interior designer since the fourth grade,” says Mitford Williamson, a registered interior designer in Texas, recalling how she once created full material palettes, room views, and floor plans for imaginary clients. Looking ahead, she hopes to advocate for the profession and empower emerging designers to recognize their value. “Design is such a significant profession and one that is also overlooked,” she says. Passionate about supporting nonprofits and strengthening community impact, she continues to use design as a force for good. And while she no longer drafts childhood floor plans, today she channels that same creativity into the kitchen — where a well-cooked meal offers the fastest kind of design satisfaction.

Morgan Williamson LB Dallas 3 — Williamson was honored as the emerging leader honoree at IIDA's Leaders Breakfast in Dallas.

Lenz Noirre Design Group

Morgan Williamson LB Dallas — Williamson attends IIDA's Dallas Leaders Breakfast.

Lenz Noirre Design Group

Leading with Heart

Sarah Geske, IIDA | Associate, Interior Designer, HLW
IIDA Southern California Chapter

For Sarah Geske, leadership in design begins with two commitments: supporting the team and using one’s platform for good. She believes great leaders elevate those around them, creating momentum through collaboration rather than competition. That philosophy came sharply into focus at the Los Angeles Leaders Breakfast, where receiving this honor became a defining moment. “Standing on the stage and seeing so many genuine friends in the crowd reminded me that design brings people together and inspires the community,” she says.

Sarah Geske HS — **Sarah Geske, IIDA**
Associate, Interior Designer, HLW
IIDA Southern California Chapter

Looking ahead, Geske hopes her authenticity and enthusiasm inspire emerging designers to trust their instincts and lead from the heart. Those who follow their intuition, she says, “innovate and create spaces that make people feel things.” Especially passionate about the philanthropic side of the profession, Geske is creating more pathways for designers to serve their communities. And when she’s not shaping spaces, she’s shaping mood boards — for everything from dinner parties to park hangouts — a practice that expands her visual thinking and fuels her creativity.