8 Oct 2026

Recap: Women Support Women 2026

Gia Bantoc

On October 1, the Western ARIDO Community welcomed interior designers, industry partners, students and guests to Tapestry Hall in Cambridge for their signature event, Women Support Women.

This year’s theme was “Generational Perspectives of Women – Throughout Every Stage of the Career.” Together, we looked at what it means to grow, lead and keep showing up in our industry at every stage of a career. The afternoon was full of honest conversations about leadership, ageism, confidence and change, and what women across generations can learn from one another.

Thank you to the keynote speakers for sharing your stories!

Thank you to the panelists!

Our panel brought together voices from every career stage, from a recent grad to seasoned leaders. They talked about everything from building trust with clients across generations to keeping up with new tools and setting boundaries.

From left to right: Tracy Ho, Michele Gunn, Susan Tienhaara, Joanne Chan, Lisa Di Carlo (moderator), Amra Janjusevic, Amanda Ens, Daniella Rivard, Penny Fobler-Cressy (moderator).

Melissa Tossell, ARIDO

Melissa Tossell is a registered interior designer and BCIN holder with a long history of supporting ARIDO as a volunteer. She owns Aurora Design Inc- a global luxury brand- where she designs spaces that bring powerful people back to themselves. She is a spiritual channel, empath, paid speaker, author and mentor. She has built communities, supported charities, and has a mission to bring light to leaders and powerful individuals around the world through design, speaking, and outreach.

Susan Carey

Susan Carey, President of BuildSafe – Construction Safety Services Inc., brings deep expertise and a strong passion for creating safer workplaces in the construction industry. With a healthcare background, she offers a unique perspective on injury prevention and safety practices, ensuring BuildSafe leads with excellence and innovation.

Robin Fraser, ARIDO

Robin Fraser is a self-described Interior Conceptualizer, Creative Strategist, and Collaborative Designer. This all-encompassing designation more accurately reflects her approach to design and her relationship with the built environment than the traditional title of Interior Designer.
With more than 30 years of experience, Robin has developed a distinctive practice grounded in curiosity, collaboration, process, and function. Her work brings together concept, storytelling, spatial experience, and technical understanding to transform ideas into meaningful environments.