“I am determined to equip the next generation of girls and women with the power and power tools to build the world they want to see.”
Emily Pilloton-Lam is the Founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Girls Garage. A designer, builder, educator, and author, she has taught thousands of young girls how to use power tools, weld, and build projects for their communities. She has presented her work and ideas on the TED stage, The Colbert Report, and in the documentary film If You Build It. She is currently a lecturer in the College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Building
Trained in architecture and skilled in carpentry, welding, and jobsite management, Emily has led teams of 9-18 year old students to design and build dozens of full-scale architectural projects for nonprofit community clients. Photo: Brad Feinknopf Photography
Teaching
At Girls Garage and UC Berkeley, Emily’s pedagogy is rooted in hands-on skills, a connection to one’s identity and community, and helping students identify their agency to build the change they want to see in the world. Photo: Laura Morita Photography
Speaking
From conference keynotes to high school graduation speeches and the TED stage, Emily has spoken at over 200 convenings around the world to diverse audiences of corporate leaders, policy makers, youth, parents, leaders, and educators.