We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jiya Sultania. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jiya below.
Jiya, appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
I think as people, we take risks every day. Every day, I find myself questioning something or the other, taking some kind of risk, sometimes small, sometimes big. But somehow, over time, I’ve learned to just try my best, keep good intentions, and leave the rest up to fate. That’s probably the biggest lesson I’ve taken away from the past four years of my life. And four years ago is when I took the biggest risk of all — moving to New York City for college, just to study something I’m passionate about. Everyone back home warned me it wouldn’t lead to a stable career. I was moving to a country I’d never been to before, where I didn’t know a single person, and I couldn’t see my family and friends whenever I wanted. But it was a risk I was willing to take and I’ve never regretted it.
Jiya, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Jiya, I’m an interior designer. Five years ago, I found myself questioning what I wanted to do with my life. Law or psychology? Both seemed like good options and I thought I’d enjoy them, but something about them just didn’t feel right. I felt uncomfortable, like something was missing. They weren’t creative enough for me. Maybe it’s the Pisces in me, who knows. But that discomfort is what made me realize what I had wanted all along. It was right in front of me. I had seen my dad do it for years. It was interior design. And even if it started as a bit of an impulse decision, it ended up being a really solid one.
Creativity is exactly what I love about this path. I get to work with people, understand what they need, and create spaces that actually feel right for them and when that happens, it’s the best feeling. I think what sets me apart is that I really care about how people feel in a space, not just how it looks. I want it to feel like them. Thoughtful, considered, personal. I think that’s where my strength lies.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
Something I’ve had to unlearn is this idea that if I really want something and work really hard for it, maybe even harder than anyone else, and want it more than anyone else, then it should happen. And when it didn’t, I used to take it really hard. I’d tell myself I didn’t do enough, or worse, that I wasn’t enough, which is a horrible thing to feel.
Over time, I’ve had to teach myself that I am enough. That mindset shift has honestly helped me become more confident, because now I know what I’m good at, what I struggle with, and I don’t let either define my worth. I’ve also learned that things happen for a reason, and I can’t control everything even if I try.
Recently, after graduating, I had my eye on a few specific designers I really wanted to work with. And when it didn’t work out, I took it pretty personally at first. But that process actually helped me correct this pattern. I had to keep reminding myself: it’s not me, it’s just not meant to be. Once that clicked, I started handling rejection a little better. And funnily enough, I eventually saw why those jobs weren’t right for me anyway. I probably wouldn’t have felt like a good fit.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
I think non-creatives can definitely find creativity in what they do, and I really believe everyone has some creative part in them, whether or not they realize it. But something I’ve noticed is that people outside of creative fields sometimes don’t understand that creativity isn’t just about having fun or making things look nice, but it’s a whole process. There’s a lot of problem-solving, self-doubt, trial and error, and emotional energy that goes into it. Sometimes it feels really personal, and when things don’t work out, it can hit harder because it’s not just about the work, it’s about you. So it’s not always as effortless as it might seem from the outside.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @jiyasultaniaa
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jiyasultania/
