We recently connected with Brandy Montgomery and have shared our conversation below.

Brandy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

I am hoping to leave a legacy behind that encourages individuals of color to confidently approach the Interior Design and Architecture Industry infusing not just our expertise and knowledge but our culture as well.

I would love to create a non-profit that partners with other industry professionals where we can actually provide an ‘all hands on deck’ approach that caters to what society views as “at risk minority children”. I would love for these children to obtain skills in these industries along with some of the other industries that support architects and interior designers. My hope is that this movement will provide these kids with a tangible skill set that allows them to thrive.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a quirky and creative Louisiana native. I enjoy ALL things creative!

I grew up in a household where my mother who was a school teacher always had a creative project underway. My father was a professional athlete and an engineer in his later years, however, he was quite creative when it came to the music that he was able to create with almost any instrument that you gave him.

I am what I like to refer to as an individual who is innately a right-brained creative! I think creativity is one of those things that either you have or you don’t. As a young child, I remember hauling people’s throwaways home to restore them. I remember painting things that people said couldn’t be painted. I literally converted what people called trash into treasure.

In my early years of adulthood, I spent most of my time working in the Corporate world of the Medical Field. I dreaded many days there because that industry made no room for my creativity or my culture!

Obtaining my first office in the medical field was exciting; however, that space was filled with art of individuals that looked nothing like me. Walking across the hospital campus down the never ending hospital hallways of drab and what some would consider almost culturally inappropriate art sparked an interest in me to utilize my creativity to be an agent for change in the area of both commercial and residential interior decor. I was determined to figure out just how my innate creativity could play a part in this change.

I am definitely an autodidact by nature. For that reason, I chose to take the route of educating myself on the craft. I spent many years learning and practicing the craft. I had no idea at such time that there was a distinct difference in Interior Design and Interior Decorating. I had no idea that my start to the Interior Design career would begin in the residential space. Much to my surprise, I have since spent most of my time in the residential space up to this point.

My ultimate goal is to be able to infuse and intertwine elegance and culture into commercial spaces. Workspace Development is definitely my niche….my sweet spot. I think when your workspace says something…..hence my company tagline….”WE CREATE SPACES THAT SPEAK”….your more comfortable, happy, and focused thus increasing productivity!

I think one of the things that makes me different from many other business owners is the way that I build relationships with my clients. Those relationships are definitely at the forefront of all that I do. My team and I spend a lot of time in our client’s personal spaces so they need to trust us.

I am most proud of the 1123 Matte Black Creative Design team and standard that we have built. We function like a family and in turn, are able to also make our clients feel like family.

We have won Best Of Acadiana in the Interior Design Category 3 consecutive years in a row. I’d like to say that we’re doing something right.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was laid off from my corporate job in the medical field in 1998, I knew that I wanted to work for myself. I didn’t even know the word entrepreneur yet!

I immediately utilized social media to connect with women entrepreneurs all over the world who were “getting things done” so I could learn from them. Unbeknownst to them, they were my mentors from afar! My commitment to learning from their successes as well as their failures was unmatched. Between those virtual mentors and good old fashioned trial and error, that is where I learned to become an entrepreneur and business owner.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my entire business on a clear vision, great relationships, and the power of my personality. Some people have no idea that the power of your personality is VAST! Long before you have any other business building component, you have YOU! That is the most powerful piece! That is the most lasting piece as well. I learned early on that a clear vision was important as well. Long before you have business, you have a vision!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.1123matteblack.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/965664870160852/?ref=share_group_link