#perkins&will

Intercultural competence is the ability to communicate, collaborate, and build relationships across cultural differences by staying aware, open, and adaptable. It involves recognizing your own cultural lens, being curious about others’ perspectives, and developing the skills to navigate diverse ways of thinking and working. The AIA Guide emphasizes that intercultural competence is not a single moment—it is an ongoing process of awareness, development, and reflection. At Perkins&Will, I learned that cultural diversity isn’t just acknowledged- it’s celebrated in a way that feels joyful and genuine. The team creates opportunities to learn from one another through informal lunchtime gatherings where someone shares a piece of their culture. These moments are simple but meaningful: people talk about traditions, explain what to do (and what not to do), and bring food from their cuisine so everyone can experience something new together. It turns cultural exchange into something fun, welcoming, and memorable.

European Commission offices - Brussels, Belgium - Perkins+Will & Rafael de La-Hoz ____

After reading AIA Guide 6 on Mentorship & Sponsorship, one action I’m committing to this year is being intentional about reciprocal mentorship—actively sharing what I know while staying open to learning from others, regardless of seniority or background. The guide emphasizes that strong mentorship is not one-directional; it thrives when both people contribute, listen, and grow together. That idea resonates deeply with me, especially after experiencing how supportive and collaborative the culture is at Parkins&Will's office.

My buddies- Cordelia and Bazam- showed me how small, consistent actions—checking in, offering context, sharing resources, and giving honest feedback—can make a big difference in someone’s confidence and sense of belonging. I want to carry that forward. As I continue my externship and my studies, I’m ready to be more proactive in offering help to classmates, new interns, and peers who might benefit from the skills I’ve been developing: clear communication, technical documentation, code research, and navigating firm culture.

Thank you Perkins&Will

Attentive Buddies

I hadn’t thought of having several mentors as a board of directors, as the Mentorship and Sponsorship guide suggest on 6.11.

I have not formalized my relationships with my teachers and former teachers to a mentorship level. I wouldn’t have known how to go about it. That might be something I would look into this spring.

As for mentoring others, I welcome opportunities. The latest instance was as Conversational partner. A program offered by the BAC ‘s Learning Resource Center to non-native English speakers who wants to improve their English in an informal setting. Pairings are based on common interests, programs being pursued and availability, online or in person.

My goal this year would be to find mentoring opportunities, first at school and then possibly extend it to Boston.

Thank you Bazam & Umma, it was a pleasure spending the week with you. As Bazam mentioned, I enjoyed debriefing presentations and meeting with you both. Especially because we are pursuing different degrees of architecture, we tend to focus on varying aspect of a same subject, often resulting in a more thorough analysis.

Candid Mentors

To have three people showing you how their firm works, results in efficiency. Something comes up, no problem, we can work with it. Due to a thoughtfully crafted schedule, the pauses allowed for an optimal flow which resulted in a positive learning outcome. Checking everything is running well for all, making sure we externs, are happy with the program or if there’s anything in particular we would want to see. Candid also, in answering our questions about the firm or anything related to the field.

As a mentee, we could approach Ana, Ryan or Sergio with questions. Whether about: AI in the field, CA phases or healthcare specificities. If they didn’t have the answer, then there was certainly someone at the Boston studio who knew.