Forecast, strategise and when all else fails… think on your feet!
Calling out to all young savvy professional women who haven’t let the corporate glass ceiling stop them and who are ready to take on the global market.
Calling out to all young savvy professional women who haven’t let the corporate glass ceiling stop them and who are ready to take on the global market.
I have never been one to stand in line with my hand out, and I don’t believe the only way to get inside is through the front door, I don’t see limitations, only opportunities to think outside the square. I have yet to come across a corporate glass ceiling in any interior design decor.
As a woman operating in the global business world, I have been described as successful; personally all I see is that I am doing my job, a good job. I have had more than my fair share of wins, mainly because I have personally made them happen. The idea of working for a company never occurred to me, instead I decided to forge my own signature path in business rather than climb the corporate ladder.
Please don’t misunderstand me; it’s not as easy as it may first appear. I have had—and continue to be confronted by—many challengers. But for me it’s not about the earnings, or even the validation, but rather a lifestyle choice.
In business as well as in life, the most valuable commodity you have is information: information leads to knowledge and knowledge is a powerful tool. Today, however, information is accessible to everyone. Therefore, you need to make your information count and in a timely fashion.
My area of expertise is the ‘information’ service I provide to clients, from how to create a stylish interior through to the niche area of my business, which is the ability to forecast and strategise past, current and future design market trends. So as to do that I constantly attend seminars, lectures, courses and read books and magazines, both national and international. I am also studying the Global History of Architecture—a subject offered through Harvard and MIT universities, which will give me a deeper level of understanding of historical events. In turn, this will help me see, predict and analyse future global market trends with some accuracy, and in their adoption.
As we all know history repeats itself, and trends come and go. Recognising these trends is vital to my clients’ success, as well as my own. It is about having accurate up-to-date information so that the client and I can make an informed decision based on all the information available. But we all know too that planning is guessing and there are too many factors out of our hands, such as the rapid and volatile market conditions, which we’ve all experienced in recent years, and competitors and customers to mention a few. And that’s when a lot of people turn guesses into business plans, which can be a dangerous cocktail of misinformation.
When the market is tough I look at transforming that into a pinnacle time for my business, by searching out alternative solutions armed with the most current information available, knowledge of past patterns of historical events and an in-depth insight into the target market locally, nationally and internality. Then, adapt and implement the solutions without any notice and minimum disruption to the business.
Global influence is not new; it has been felt for centuries. In order to compete in the current and future markets, professionals need to prepare for globalisation, with an emphasis on recognising global trends and or patterns as well as teaching tools to help transfer this knowledge into real-life situations.
Today, globalisation is part of everyone’s life, whether or not you are merely an observer or a global businessperson, it is easy to see its effects. Great ideas transcend geographic borders, so now is not the time to be bashful about getting away and bringing back ideas from abroad. Travel with an open mind, a keen eye, and a willingness to reinvest in you!
The speed and adoption of foreign influences has changed substantially, technological advances in the internet, global travel, and communication have made it possible to span the globe almost instantaneously at the click of a button.
Integration with other international professionals, manufacturers and producers is the key to being able to offer products to a global market. Basic business today is the same, but yet totally different because we are living in a global society. Professionals need to be able to recognise trends and integrate them into their future philosophies using current resources.
Modernisation used to mean 20 to 30 years, but now it’s two to three years. To stay ahead, you have to be committed to lifelong learning as well as being an expert in technology. And you can add to the mix a business strategist, futurist, educator, marketer, customer service representative, ethicist and management consultant.
I am the creative director behind AgathaO House of Design, a boutique interior design studio and online designer product gallery based in Adelaide, South Australia. My portfolio spans wide-ranging residential and commercial projects—from hair salons, boats and building developments, through to large-scale projects, such as cosmetic surgeries, restaurants, wineries, hotels, apartment blocks, display villages and community subdivisions nationally and internationally.
The niche area of my business is the ability to forecast and strategise past, current and future design market trends for commercial markets. At House of Design, we understand that design is much more than a creative pursuit; it is about realising the full potential of people, performance, place and commerce. That is why we are dedicated to providing not only interior design services, but also strategic and innovative solutions that achieve business outcomes. The success of any project is founded on our ability to clearly understand our clients’ businesses, their market audience and future market trends, to exploit opportunities while reducing risk.
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