We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Hilary Cole. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Hilary below.

Hilary, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I was very fortunate to begin working for Paul Dorrell, the president and owner of the Leopold Gallery, in 2013 as an assistant. From there, I worked my way up to the gallery director. Having Paul as a mentor has been a huge advantage in gaining a practical knowledge of the art world. I have my B.F.A. in Sculpture, and am currently finishing my M.A. in Art History, but nothing prepares you best than real world experience.

Basically, when working in the art business, you really must treat the business as first, truly a business. Without it, you cannot be successful. A business cannot survive on art theory alone. That means not only do you work with your artists to provide stunning artwork to both corporate and private clients, but you must be actively working on marketing, both online and through other traditional and non-traditional avenues. Also, customer service is key. Futhermore, to have a sucessful art business, your employees must be able to work as a team. Often in competitive sales enviroment, competition for sales can get hostile, but when you work as team, greater success follows.

Ultimately, sharing your success is crucial and grounding. Leopold does this by working with inner city-schools via the Leopold Foundation. Last year I joined P.E.O., an international, philanthrophic educational organization for women that provides educational opportunities.

An obstacle that you cannot let stand in the way of learning more is fear. If you don’t combat the fear of failure, then you cannot move forward to success. Most often, taking the first step combats the fear of failure.

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 graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2012 with a BFA in Sculpture. From there, I moved to KC and began working as an assistant at Leopold Gallery and began working my way up in the business. I am currently finishing up an M.A. in Art History at UMKC.I assist with art consulting projects, consulting with private clients, overseeing marketing, inventory, social media, website and SEO optimization.

I think one of the best services we provide is a turn-key service for both corporate and private clients. From the initial contact, to the completion of a project or commission, we work directly with our clients to provide the best service so that they don’t have to worry about any part of the art collection process. With our corporate clients, we find that the addition of the artwork to their spaces improves employee moral, increases productivity and provides calm where needed.

Leopold is known for its customer service, which is what we find is crucial to our loyal clientele. We are fortunate to have such wonderful clients that have continually reached out to us over the past 31 years.

Leopold’s culture is also welcoming. Our staff brings their dogs to work, which always fosters a more comfortable environment in the gallery. We believe art should be accessible for everyone and all are welcome.

I do bring my rescue dog, Millie, to work daily. She is a beagle/basset mix, also known as a bagel hound.

Leopold does also foster a fun, creative vibe that brings out in the kid in you. Just take a ride down our gallery slide!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

One significant thing Paul does as our owner is that he does invest in his staff. He takes us on field trips to the various city museums, to the Flint Hills, and more. This cultivates creativity for the entire staff and gives us time to refresh our minds for new ideas.

As a staff, we also value each other’s vacation time and try to make sure that whoever is off is enjoying their time off. When taking time off we are also encouraged to go and explore new places.

My recent trip to Bermuda in June was a great way to recharge and refresh, exactly what I needed. Snorkeling and cliff jumping provided some fresh inspiration. When I got back to the gallery, I was ready to go with new ideas and energy.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Around 5 years ago, I was in a traumatic accident that resulted in a TBI, post-concussion syndrome, neuropathic pain and some mobility loss on my left side.

I had two options. Quit my job or figure it out. I was lucky to have good support and understanding at work, as well as supportive family and friends, but it was a struggle.

Looking back, continuing to work and move forward was the best decision I could’ve made as it has shown me both my own strength and resilience. This feeling is something I will carry with me throughout the rest of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.leopoldgallery.com/

Image Credits
Brynn Burns Photography