Lakisha Woods and the Future of the National Glass Association
Key Takeaways
After three days on the floor at GlassBuild, you could feel it. Energy from a hungry audience ready to innovate and grow in the upcoming year.
This year, I was there as a GlassBuild Brand Ambassador and speaker, walking the aisles, talking with exhibitors, and seeing innovation in motion. My friends at Paradigm also had a strong presence, holding down their booth and connecting with customers. Different roles. Same mission. Help this industry move forward.
Somewhere between the live demos and speaking sessions, I sat down with Lakisha Woods, CEO of the National Glass Association, for a Paradigm Industry Insiders Podcast conversation. It was her first GlassBuild, and as the new CEO of the NGA, she jumped right into the action.
When the drumline came through the floor to celebrate the Best in Show winners for GlassBuild 2025, Lakisha joined the celebration. The moment captured everything this industry is about: energy, pride, and forward motion.
"This is the time to listen. To members, to customers, to staff. Then it's time to take action."
Lakisha Woods – National Glass Association
Collaboration as Strategy
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was Lakisha’s focus on partnership. This year, NGA invited architects to GlassBuild for the first time. Within a day, one of them had already left the show, doing business with an NGA member. That is what happens when you connect the right people.
Partnership isn’t a buzzword. It is how the glass and fenestration industry grows stronger. Manufacturers, architects, dealers, and distributors all play a role in the same system.
Lessons in Leadership
Lakisha’s book, Never Get Their Coffee, came from an early career moment that shaped her view of leadership. It is not about defiance. It is about direction. Knowing your purpose. Knowing your value.
Her message is simple. If you are in the room, you are there for a reason. Bring your insight. Use your voice. Lead.
That mindset runs through everything we talk about on the Paradigm Industry Insiders Podcast. Visibility. Authority. What it takes to lead with intention in a changing industry.
Listening First, Then Leading
When I asked Lakisha what excites her most about the year ahead, her answer was immediate.
“This is the time to listen. To members, to customers, to staff. Then it’s time to take action.”
That is leadership at its best. Listen deeply. Move decisively.
The Takeaway from GlassBuild 2025
GlassBuild 2025 was more than a showcase of products and technology. It was proof that the glass and fenestration industry is expanding its reach, redefining who leads, and growing stronger through collaboration.
The NGA is shaping what’s next.
Lakisha Woods is showing what opportunity looks like in motion.
And for those of us walking the floor, speaking, connecting, and building, the future feels wide open.
About the Author: Stefanie Couch is a GlassBuild Brand Ambassador, speaker, and founder of Grit Blueprint. A third-generation building industry insider, she helps glass and building industry companies and leaders utilize brand and visibility systems to grow their reputation and revenue, and stop being the best-kept secret.
