Author: Women in Lighting + Design

by Alessa Aguayo, LC, WELL AP

I still remember going to my first WILD event over a decade ago. It was in Philadelphia during Lightfair, I was invited by one of my coworkers and I was really nervous to go. To be honest, I had not had great experiences with women in our industry and couldn’t believe there was a community of welcoming, like minded women. To my surprise, there was and I immediately fell in love with WILD! Working in National Accounts, covering different territories and living in a few different places has allowed me to be attend events for a few different chapters.

While each chapter is different, the feeling is the same – community and camaraderie.

At the time there wasn’t a board and, even if there was, I would have never thought that I would be President. I am currently the only original board member since we formed the WILD International Board in 2021. I started as Director of Outreach then began my four year Presidential track: Vice President (President-Elect) under Kelly Roberts in 2023, President in 2024 and 2025, and then Vice President (Past President-Elect) under Stacey Bello for 2026. All in, I’ll have served over six years on the board – it may be a record but there’s still time for someone to beat it!

My time as President has had its ups and downs, there are challenges with being the leader of a volunteer organization. There are times when the criticism hurts, when you question yourself and when you think what did I get myself into? But overcoming all the hardships made me a stronger person and leader. It taught me so much about myself, about management and working with others. One thing I always say is that I gained so much professional knowledge that I would not have learned at my normal job.

Being President of a multi-national non-profit gave me so much hands on business experience from marketing, accounting, legal and more. The goals I set for myself were to grow our membership in numbers and in chapters and to create a mentorship program. During my Presidency, our membership grew over 150% from 316 members to 809 members. We added many chapters across the US and Canada including: Boston, Spokane and Edmonton. In addition, we added a WILD Mentorship to our Programs offering – this most recent group is nearly 100 participants!

These milestones wouldn’t have possible without the other board members and Mentorship program leaders. I’ve had the opportunity to work with so many amazing women that I wouldn’t have normally crossed paths with. Sure some connections have helped me professional but more importantly, I have made some great friendships and true connections. Through WILD, I can go to almost any lighting event anywhere in the country or world and see a familiar face because of our organization. There’s a sense of community that can’t be explained.

Serving as President of WILD International has lead to so many other opportunities for me as well. I spoke at the Women’s Luncheon at Lightapalooza in 2024 and 2025 about WILD. I was invited to a Girls Inc. Gala in New York City and was invited to speak on a panel to encourage high school students to explore careers in Construction and Lighting. Delta Airlines also invited me to a private event at Yankees Stadium for an event called Women in Male Dominated Fields. I am honored to be included in these events and I believe WILD opened up these doors for me.

While my Presidency is over, my responsibility is not – I will serve 2026 as Vice President.

I’m so excited to see Stacey take over, she is already doing great things! In addition to supporting her, I will be running a call for volunteers and running elections. We will be filling the Presidential spot, so if you are interested and would like to chat then please let me know.

Serving as President of WILD is a unique opportunity that taught me so much, allowed me to meet so many great women and opened so many doors. I am truly grateful to have served as President and have such a rewarding experience. I would love to speak to anyone that is interested in serving on the Board.

Stay Wild,

by Stacey Teresa Bello

When Kelly first approached me about running for WILD Int’l President, my first thought was – “Why me?”. Self-doubt as a professional, first-generation woman in the industry is not foreign to me. But the truth is, I have for a very long time felt a deep sense of purpose toward furthering the advancement and visibility of women in our industry.

Over the course of the last year, I have been thinking hard about what could be next for WILD and how I can help to continue our growth and reach. I’m not sure that I have all of the answers, but I do have a spreadsheet of ideas; never underestimate a woman with a plan! My hope is that implementing these ideas will help to continue the mission of creating opportunity for women in this industry to be seen, heard and supported at every tier of their professional lives.

I truly feel that it is through community that our self-doubt begins to quiet, as the people around us become a mirror reflecting who we are and magnifying what we are capable of accomplishing. Together, we can accomplish more than we ever could alone. Without the support of our members, allies and sponsors who continue to support WILD’s mission, none of this would be possible. 

As a cornerstone of our community, WILD amplifies underrepresented voices and brings a sense of belonging to many in the industry. I believe that there are even more possibilities for growth – and that carrying on our mission is vital to the continued advancement of our industry.

For those who may be new to WILD or are looking for an opportunity to broaden your network and enhance your interpersonal skills, reach out. We are available and in need of volunteers like you who made this organization what it has become today. Let’s see what we can do next.

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by Lois I. Hutchinson

It’s hard to let go.

Serving on the WILD Board has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career, and stepping away feels a bit like when Mad Men ended: loss, nostalgia, and gratitude all together. But I know the WILD story will continue, and I’m very proud of what we’ve built.

I’ll miss being “on the inside,” but I’m excited to see Nastassia Ortiz bring her creativity and energy to the Board. She represents everything that keeps WILD growing and glowing.

We are an equity organization

I’ve been attending informal WILD events for decades, with about 9 years in leadership and board service. When I look back, it isn’t the meetings, events, spreadsheets, or graphics: it’s what we built and how we built it.

From the start, WILD’s foundation has been rooted in equity, and not just for women. We built it into our structure, creating a leadership model that depends on the Chapter Liaisons for shared decision-making and accountability. Principles of equity shaped every conversation about bylaws, program design, participation, and partnerships.

As Programs Chair, I’ve had the privilege of nurturing four programs, each addressing a different kind of growth. The amazing women leading these efforts found their rhythm in different ways and at different times. As a group, they reflect the full range of what WILD stands for: supporting the whole person, not just the professional.

PRG+ opened space for “conversations” during COVID and continues to seek transparency from employers on issues that too often remain afterthoughts. It’s empowering simply to say, “You’re not alone.” Lamplighter offers members valuable resources on sexual harassment and bullying awareness and prevention. It’s a heavy topic, but avoiding it is not an option. The DEIR Committee has shifted to collaborating with allied advocacy organizations. Holding space for other marginalized professionals is just about the WILD-est thing we do. 

As WILD grows, sustaining our momentum will take more than goodwill. Leadership provides the structure, continuity, and care that turn volunteer energy into lasting strength. WILD will need to invest in the framework that helps chapters and programs thrive year after year.

There’s power in partnership

None of this happens in isolation. We learned early on, and keep learning every day, that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Collaborating with groups like local IES sections, NACLIQ, NOMA, IALD, and Equity in Light expands both our reach and our resources. When we share responsibilities across the lighting professions, the whole industry moves forward.

And then there’s Mentorship: the program that truly took flight. I had just about given up finding leadership for this committee when the Sara(h)s stepped forward. (Thank you, Sarah Richter and Sara Schonour!) We started with a small pilot in 2023 and designed it to be peer-to-peer, because every lighting professional has something to teach and something to learn.

The testimonials from generous participants have been profoundly moving: stories of confidence gained, goals clarified, and friendships formed across time zones and career stages. With the next cycle beginning, we’re looking at 100 participants in 2026. Every application represents someone raising her hand to connect, share, and lift others up.

The multiplier effect

These programs, and the relationships behind them, prove the efficacy of collective efforts. WILD isn’t powered by individuals; it runs on people who raise their hands and work together to build something remarkable. 

Yes, it’s hard to let go. But it’s easier when you feel proud. As I step back from leadership, I remain an active member. WILD has empowered me to learn and love and lead in ways I never expected. And I know I’ve empowered others in turn. It’s not linear, it’s exponential.

Let’s call it the “empowerment multiplier.” In WILD, the mentee becomes a mentor/leader. The participant is encouraged to organize a group. A young person finds their voice and uses it to open doors for others. The introvert becomes an advocate for many. In fact, it’s logarithmic. 

That’s a stellar, immeasurable ROI. The work never ends, but the impact keeps expanding. Welcome, Nastassia. And to everyone considering raising your hand: Work together. Empower yourself. Empower others. And just watch what happens.

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