We recently connected with Shayla Lance and have shared our conversation below.
Shayla, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss, mentor or leader leading you? Can you us a story or anecdote that helps illustrate why this person was such a great leader and the impact they had on you or their team?
My best mentor would have to be Jodell Clarke of Jodell Clarke Designs. I’ll call my time with her an internship, I was only with Jodie for about 6 months. During my time with her I was a college student, towards the end of my junior year and into senior year. I feel like we found each other at the perfect time in both of our lives. She had been in the Interior Decorating and Design business for 20+ years but some personal life situations were starting to hinder her business success. I was an Interior Design student nearing graduation trying to get my foot in the door of some real world opportunities. During my short time with her, she never treated me as “less than” her, she always treated me as a partner in her business. I would accompany her to clients’ homes for consultations and installations. I spoke to and worked with vendors and had access to the resource library and sample room she shared with her design group colleagues. When we went to any events she would introduce me by name and not “just the intern”. There was a large convention at the Dallas World Trade Market Center, she introduced me to the VP of Design for the Dallas Market Center and this man recognized almost 2 years later because of Jodie’s impact and simple introduction. I’ll always be grateful and have love for her for that experience.
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.
As a child I feel like I had a natural affinity for numbers, logic and problem solving, math and science were always my best subjects in school. But thinking back I also was a very curious and creative child; drawing, coloring, taking apart and building things, personalizing almost everything I owned, etc. I was introduce to interior decorating through my mothers interest, and soon found out that interior design was a beautiful combination of the abilities and interests that I already possessed. Going through school and becoming an adult, my creativity mostly came through crafting and making personized decor; as well as strengthening my knowledge in Interior Design. My artist and design philosophy is that everything and everyone has a place and should feel that they belong somewhere; and it is my job as the designer and artist to truly listen and provide the missing pieces to bring together YOUR ideal place. Whether that be tailoring and curating a space that you already have to fit you better or creating your very own space based on personal qualities that you cherish. It brings me great joy to know that I can have a hand in making someone find and feel their sense of belonging through my art and design.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I am currently living my pivot storyline. Growing up, I was sold a very particular and seemingly clear pathway to success and I feel that it kept me from finding my own natural way. When I started Interior Design school I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with the degree once I got it, but it was heavily ingrained that we should become “traditional” interior designers and that was pretty much the only narrative that was pushed. Once I graduated and was having a hard time landing interior design related jobs, I took that as a sign that maybe I had been a failed interior designer. Well fast forward to now, I’ve held several consulting jobs that I did very well with and learned that I have the personality and candor for design sales and consulting. All those years I was treating those jobs as if they were “only” stepping stones to try and get to be an interior designer as opposed to truly and fully embracing consulting and all the skills I learned along the way as potential career options that I am already successful at.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The design and artist philosophy that I go by is that everyone and everything has a place and deserved to feel a sense of belonging. The most rewarding part of being an artist/creative/designer is seeing on my clients face or hearing it in their voice that the end result of my work fulfilled both the things that they asked for as well as answered some things they didn’t even know they needed. It was me who listened, heard and read between the lines to execute that ideas that were presented to me, and is truly the best feeling.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @shayla_thedesigner and @shaylamlance
Image Credits
Shayla Lance