#72 Equity in Architecture with Kavitha Mathew, Global Diversity Officer, KPF

Kavitha Mathew is the Global Diversity Officer at KPF, and leads
the firm’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, as well as
the development and implementation of the firm’s global Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment. Mathew oversees KPF’s
many internal Communities such as KPF Public, KPF Pride, and
KPF+, helps guide KPF’s recruitment and resourcing, as well as
its philanthropic and volunteer efforts. Leveraging her
experience as an architect, Mathew’s work at KPF has a
project-focused component, advising on engagement and
communication with the community. Kavitha is also the Founder and
President of Equity Co:LAB, and the Special Projects Director of
the American Institute of the AIANY. Previously Director of
Corporate Architectural Services for Ralph Lauren, she has also
worked in various architectural roles at firms including KPF,
Spacesmith, and Ted Moudis Associates, as well as her own
practice.


In this episode, Kavitha talks about her career journey, from
practicing as an architect, to working on the client side, to now
becoming the Global Diversity Officer at KPF. Kavitha shares how
her passion for equity and social justice work developed, what
she thinks is needed at an organization to make equity and
inclusion efforts successful, and her advice for companies who
are just beginning equity work. We also talk about Corporate
Social Responsibility, and the movement toward transparency.


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