Architecture has long been seen as a discipline of precision, creativity, and legacy, but historically, not one that would be related to inclusivity. For decades, women have been underrepresented in the profession, especially in positions of leadership. While enrollment in architecture programs began to shift in the early 2000s, with more women entering the field, the path to the top has remained steep and narrow. Today, a new generation of female leaders is emerging to challenge that status quo, reimagining what it means to build, lead, and grow. And at the forefront of that transformation is Katie Vander Putten, the first female president of Denver-based MOA Architecture.
Vander Putten never planned to lead a firm. "I wasn't aiming for leadership," she says. "I just wanted to do good work, help clients, and go home feeling proud of what I did." But at MOA, leadership isn't reserved for those who chase it. It's nurtured in those who care deeply and deliver consistently. And that's exactly what Vander Putten did.
