IIDA Leaders Breakfast (Leaders) is an annual event series hosted by local IIDA chapters with the support of IIDA Headquarters, international benefactor MillerKnoll, and media partner Interior Design.

Leaders events celebrate design’s importance in the global marketplace by honoring the people who are both the legacy and future of design. Each event features a renowned keynote speaker who enlightens, provokes, and encourages new ideas, and a celebration recognizing one local Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree who has made significant contributions to the design industry.

About the Leaders Breakfast Award of Excellence

A Leaders Breakfast History

2026 Leaders Breakfast Series

Atlanta | March 6

Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree

Betsy Graham, IIDA
Senior Principal, Director of Interiors, HOK

As Senior Principal and Director of Interiors at HOK, Betsy Graham has leveraged over 25 years of experience to design human-centric environments that balance strategy and well-being. A recognized leader in workplace innovation, she has spearheaded award-winning projects such as the IIDA Georgia Chapter Sustainable project of the year - Porsche Cars North America and won the IIDA Georgie Chapter Gold for corporate office design. Beyond her project work, Graham is a dedicated advocate for the design community. She has served on the board of CoreNet Global Atlanta for 16+years and previously sat on the ASID National DEI Committee. Graham is an active IIDA member and an important figure in the Atlanta design community. Her expertise in designing for the neurodivergent and creating inclusive habitats continues to shape the future of the built environment.

Emerging Leader Honoree

Rae Cook, IIDA
Design Manager, IHG Hotels & Resorts

Rae Cook is a licensed interior designer with over 14 years of experience creating inviting, budget-conscious spaces. She began her career at IKEA, specializing in innovative retail presentations, before transitioning to hospitality with Home Grown Industries, where she led franchise revitalization efforts nationwide. Currently, Cook serves as a Design Manager at IHG Hotels & Resorts, shaping design strategies for Essentials and Suites Brands and leading the design for the launch of IHG’s 19th brand, Garner Hotels earning recognition as one of Hospitality Design’s Boutique 18 in 2023. Cook holds a Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Georgia Southern University and was honored as a Georgia Southern University 40 Under 40 honoree. She is passionate about advancing the interior design profession through mentorship and industry involvement.

Keynote Speaker

Cheryl S. Durst Hon, FIIDA
Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA

An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl S. Durst has spurred progress, driven change, and encouraged the expansion of the interior design industry. As the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, Durst is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society. With members across 58 countries, Durst oversees the strategic direction of IIDA, setting an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy and continuing decades of work toward equity. Durst is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council; as well as a Trustee for Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the NYSID. She has been referred to by Interior Design magazine as “an ambassador for innovation and expansion, and a visionary strategist.” Durst was inducted into the prestigious Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2016 as the recipient of its first-ever Leadership Award. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the industry's Hall of Fame. A lifelong knowledge enthusiast and voracious reader who has considered librarian, astronaut and journalist as potential careers, Durst never walks away from meeting someone without gleaning a bit of their story.

New York | May 7

Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree- TBA live at event

Keynote Speaker

Ingrid Fetell Lee
Designer, Author of "Joyful" and Founder of The Aesthetics of Joy

Ingrid Fetell Lee is a designer and author whose groundbreaking work reveals the hidden influence of our surroundings on our emotions and wellbeing. As a former design director at IDEO, author of Joyful: The Surprising Power of Ordinary Things to Create Extraordinary Happiness, and the founder of The Aesthetics of Joy, she empowers people to find more joy in life and work through design. Her immensely popular TED talk “Where Joy Hides and How to Find it” has been viewed more than 17 million times.

Lee has over fifteen years of experience in design and branding, she was a founding faculty member in the Products of Design program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Her design work has been exhibited at imm Cologne, Germany. Lee holds a Master’s in Industrial Design from Pratt Institute and a Bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing from Princeton University. She loves pancakes, polka dots, and rainbow sprinkles, and has an extensive repertoire of happy dances for any occasion.

Houston | August 14

Leadership Award of Excellence Honoree

Marissa Yu
Principal, Interior Design, Stantec

Yu is a global leader in sustainable architecture, engineering, and design. Born and raised in the Philippines, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Architecture before relocating to Texas, where she received a Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington. She began her career in Houston with 3D/International and later Gensler. In 2004, Yu joined Page, now Stantec, as Director of Interior Design, shifting her focus from architecture to creating meaningful interior environments and experiences.

With more than 30 years of experience, Yu has led workplace, healthcare, higher education, science and technology, multifamily, hospitality, and aviation projects throughout the United States and internationally. She is passionate about building strong teams through collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning. Yu is a founding member of AIA Houston's Interior Architecture Committee and serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Houston, where she teaches Professional Practice.

Emerging Leader Honoree

Rachel Gillock
Associate Designer, Abel Design Group

Gillock is an optimistic and dedicated interior designer whose work is rooted in thoughtful design, meaningful mentorship, and collaboration. Gillock earned her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design from Baylor University and is currently an Associate Designer at Abel Design Group, where she holds both her NCIDQ and LEED Green Associate credentials. In her role as Campus Center Chair for the IIDA Houston City Center Council, Gillock is committed to fostering connections between students, emerging professionals, and the greater design community. She is inspired by opportunities to learn from industry leaders while helping cultivate the next generation of designers through mentorship, engagement, and advocacy for the profession.

Keynote Speaker(s)
 

Ahshia Berry and Sarah-Jayne Smith (left to right)
Director of Communications and PR, and President, Creative Director, Magpies & Peacocks

Sarah-Jayne Smith (President, Creative Director)
Born south of England. Bachelor of Arts Honors Degree, University of Arts, London. Houston resident since 1998. Over 35 years' experience in art & design. Smith is the founder and President at Magpies & Peacocks, a 501c3 non-profit which focuses on diverting textiles from landfill, promoting ethical, sustainable and circular practices through its small batch production and workforce development programming for underserved communities. The charity has diverted over 375 tons of textiles to be up cycled, created over 20,000 products and collaborated with hundreds of corporations, brands, designers, makers and artists since 2011.

Ahshia Berry (Director of Communications and PR)
Born New Orleans, Louisiana. Bachelor of Science Degree, Loyola University, New Orleans. Over 25 years' experience in management, marketing and public relations, including 10 years of proven public relations and social media strategy work experience for corporate Fortune 500 and 100 companies. She has been Vice President and Director of Communications for Magpies & Peacocks from 2012.

San Francisco | September 18

Keynote Speaker

Cheryl S. Durst, Hon. FIIDA
Executive Vice President and CEO, IIDA

As the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association, Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society. Under her leadership, IIDA sets an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy, and continuing work toward equity and belonging. She is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council and a Trustee for Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. Cheryl was the first recipient of the Interior Design magazine Hall of Fame Leadership Award and is the first Black woman to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. She is one of the honorees among the Eames Institute's 2026 Curious 100 and a member of Newcity's 2026 Design 50. She is also featured as a changemaker in the “Imagine Your Impact” exhibition at the Obama Presidential Center. Cheryl is an avid reader, traveler, and conversationalist, and finds joy in books, words, and a well-packed carry-on bag.

Los Angeles | September 25

Keynote Speaker

Sekou Andrews
SekouWorld, Inc., CEO, Award-Winning Entrepreneur, Grammy-nominated spoken word poet

Sekou Andrews is one of the most successful spoken word poets in the world. On any given day, this artist can be found keynoting at a Fortune 500 company, inspiring thousands at a concert, or performing for Barack Obama in Oprah’s backyard. Sekou has dedicated his career to pioneering a mainstream industry for spoken word. He has built a 7-figure company on poetry, has had his work featured on dozens of major TV networks, has innovated a new category of public speaking called “poetic voice,” and has garnered prestigious awards in advertising, theater, business, poetry, and music, including a GRAMMY nomination for “Best Spoken Word Album”. Sekou’s vanguard career is driven by his mission to not only inspire the world, but to teach people how to be inspiring themselves. 

Dallas | October 2

Chicago | December 4

Leaders Breakfast Highlights

"The Next Generation of Design Leaders:" How Leader's Breakfast awardees are rewriting the rules of leadership. Read more

"1 Year of Inspiring Mornings, by the Numbers:" 23 years of IIDA’s iconic Leaders Breakfast series honoring the legacy — and future of design. Read more

"Leaders Breakfast Road Trip:" Reflections on the transformative power of IIDA Leaders Breakfasts from the event’s biggest fan: IIDA member Craig Shultz. Read more

"Leaders Breakfast 2023 Recap:" Let’s take a look at all the wonderful memories from IIDA’s 2023 Leaders Breakfast events. Read more

"Leaders Breakfast 2022 Recap:" Looking back at all the wonderful moments from IIDA’s 2022 Leaders Breakfast. Read more

The Leadership Award of Excellence

Presentation of the Leadership Award of Excellence is presented by International Benefactor MillerKnoll, and is the signature activity at every Leaders event. This award recognizes an honoree, typically a member of the local design community, for their exemplary leadership within the profession of commercial interior design and architecture or a non-practitioner for outstanding contributions to the profession. Honorees are presented with an iconic, limited-edition Herman Miller or Knoll gift to commemorate their achievement.

Honorees are selected for their achievements recognized by IIDA that have advanced the interior design profession, have a history of conscientious and ethical behavior with colleagues, clients, and others in business interactions, and have been recognized within their local professional design community. Honorees have a strong connection to IIDA and reinforce the Association’s significance in the design community.

History

Launched in New York in 1989 by Jeannie Bochette of Steelcase, the IIDA Leaders Breakfast series began as a single event. The goal was to introduce IIDA to the business world as a leading association of commercial interior design and to inform IIDA members about the major issues affecting them and the industry. The event established a forum where members and their clients could participate and network with their peers.

Since expanded in 2001 by IIDA Headquarters and through the support of international benefactor MillerKnoll and media partner Interior Design, Leaders Breakfast has become an annual event series that celebrates design’s importance in the global marketplace.