We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meagan Ludwig a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Meagan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?
By far the most important lesson I’ve ever learned in my professional life but also in my personal life is the importance of the shift in mindset from focusing on the problem to the solution. In construction specifically, I like to tell my clients that it’s not a matter of “if” something unexpected happens, it’s when and that’s what I am hired to deal with and solve. I think the natural response can be to dwell on the events leading up to a problem or road block, and while it’s important to take time to recognize the moments that could change to avoid the issue again in the future, beyond that- your mental calories and energy is better spent brainstorming how to move forward in the best way for the client. The reality is, sh*t happens, in construction, sure, but in life- all we can do is make the best out of the situation you’re given.
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 have been in and around design for as long as I can remember. My family was in the hotel industry and although my dad worked in the numbers behind the scenes, he had a fascination with high end design that he was passionate about sharing with me. From gathering scrap fabric as a kid and sketching my own furniture to “bulldozing” my way into a design internship at IHG (and that’s a direct quote from my boss who I swear ended up liking me) to finishing my Master’s of Interior Design with a 4.0 for the first time in my academic career from SCAD in 2019- design is quite literally a huge part of who I am. So while I may be “new to the scene” in Atlanta, I definitely don’t feel new to much as far as the interior design industry goes.
I got a crash course in high end design during the pandemic when I moved to Park City, UT with my now husband. My first day was March 17th, 2020- and I say the date because it was literally the day the world shut down. And while most industries fell quiet, our business tripled. I learned every facet of the trade from placing furniture orders, to construction oversight and project management, to tracking down orders stuck on the Suaz Canal (true story). I had an incredible mentor who saw my passion and fast tracked my career. I worked at several design firms over the years, picking up what worked and what didn’t and opened M.A. interiors (named after my grandmother Mary Agnes) in 2023 with the intention of utilizing the best parts of each practice.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
To be honest, I’m not sure where my sometimes exhausting persistence comes from- I like to think I got it from M.A. but maybe I just don’t like being told no. Either way, it has proven to be the sole reason for any success I’ve achieved thus far, and for better or worse, I don’t think it’s ever going to change.
After completing my BBA in Business Management at UGA, I knew I wanted to go back to school for design- and I knew I wanted to go to SCAD. The only hitch was how to pay for it. When I was working at J.CREW back in high school, I had a coworker who worked retail during the holidays and SCAD the rest of the year- that’s when he told me about the education benefit that helps full time employees with tuition for one class per quarter. I had my heart SET on SCAD and applied for just about every job they posted for months before deciding to just move to Savannah and get in front of SOMEONE at HR who could see how passionate I was about the school and how badly I wanted to work there. In 2017, I moved into a friend of a friends’ place and called HR until someone would talk with me. I got an interview for a job I had previously been rejected for and was working there 4 weeks later. I took every class I could get into (employees get last registration for every class) and worked as a tour guide during the day and student at night. It took me longer, but I was able to graduate with a 4.0 from SCAD’s world renowned Interior Design program and stay debt free.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
The design industry is certainly flooded with options. There’s no lack of designers in the Atlanta area, but the way I try to differentiate myself is staying true to myself (which admittedly, can be quite boisterous at times) and treating EVERYONE with respect. I like to have fun with it. I want to be laughing with clients and I want to bring beers to a crew working late on a Friday- it can be such a stressful process, why would I not want to make it more enjoyable for myself and the people I’m working with? I’ve watched many designers let their ego get the best of them and what I try and remember is to work hard and be kind. That’s it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.meaganaveryinteriors.com
- Instagram: @m.a._interiors
Image Credits
Photography By: Heather Fulbright Photography