Tag: leaders breakfast

Spotlight on Emerging Leadership

The Chapter also celebrated Mary Oliver, recipient of the 2025 Emerging Leader Award. Mary’s dedication to design excellence, mentorship, and community impact embodies the next generation of leadership within IIDA Northern California.

A Morning of Connection

As always, the morning began with lively networking among colleagues and partners before guests gathered for a shared breakfast and keynote presentation. The room was filled with conversation, inspiration, and optimism—hallmarks of an event that continues to honor design’s vital role in shaping our world.

Design and leadership took center stage at the 2025 IIDA Northern California Leaders Breakfast, held at the historic Westin St. Francis on Union Square. The annual gathering brought together designers, architects, and industry professionals to celebrate creativity, innovation, and community in the built environment.

Honoring Design Excellence

IIDA Northern California was proud to recognize Primo Orpilla and Verda Alexander of Studio O+A with the Leadership Award of Excellence. For more than three decades, their studio has redefined workplace design and inspired new thinking around creativity, sustainability, and the future of work. Their vision continues to shape how design influences culture, community, and the human experience.

Inspiring Ideas from the Keynote

This year’s keynote speaker, Kevin Bethune—Founder and Chief Creative Officer of dreams • design + life—shared his perspective on how human-centered design can unlock innovation and purpose. Drawing from his experience across engineering, business, and design, Kevin’s message encouraged attendees to imagine the future of design through a wider, more inclusive lens.

On September 13, 2024, the IIDA Leaders Breakfast united the design community in San Francisco to celebrate the profound impact of design on the global marketplace. Held at a new venue, the historic Westin St. Francis, this annual event was hosted by IIDA Northern California chapter, with support from IIDA headquarters. MillerKnoll was once again the International Benefactor for this National event series and Interior Design magazine was the series’s Media Partner.

The morning began with remarks by Melissa Pesci, IIDA NorCal President, who underscored the significance of this event in honoring the legacy and future of design. It was an event marked by celebration, inspiration, and community — all united by a shared passion for how design transforms lives.

Honoring Brian Graham

The morning’s highlight was the Leadership Award of Excellence, presented to Brian Graham, founder and creative director of Graham Design. With over three decades of experience, Graham is known for his award-winning contemporary furniture designs that blend creativity, research, and sustainability. Cheryl Durst, IIDA EVP and CEO, introduced Graham with a playful yet heartfelt tribute, noting his “great calves” and calling him “a true collaborator and an extraordinary friend.” She praised his generosity and ability to create objects that improve people’s lives, adding, “We see our best selves in the eyes of Brian Graham.”

In his acceptance speech, Graham humbly remarked, “I’m really humbled. Design is a team sport, defined by the partners that I have.” He also reflected on his journey, starting his own studio 25 years ago and still feeling the drive to improve: “I still feel like I can do better. We keep practicing.” He thanked his wife, Nancy, and expressed gratitude to IIDA, MillerKnoll, and Interior Design magazine, leaving the audience with the importance of collaboration and continued growth.

Keynote Speaker – Vijay Gupta

Art as a Force for Healing

The keynote was delivered by Vijay Gupta, violinist and founder of Street Symphony, who gave a powerful talk about music’s ability to heal and connect. Gupta shared moving stories from his work bringing music to those in reentry from homelessness and incarceration, asking, “What’s the point of creating beauty in a life filled with pain?” His answer came in the form of music as a bridge to humanity. He recalled a woman from Skid Row saying, “How did you know I needed this music today?”—a moment that underscored the deep impact of art on human lives.

Gupta’s philosophy, “Art is not a noun, it’s a verb,” resonated with the audience, as he described how music opens doors to empathy and connection. His performance of “Hallelujah” on violin brought the room to a reflective silence, demonstrating the profound intersection of art, healing, and humanity. He closed by urging, “We must show up to the most broken parts of ourselves to connect.”