This engaging panel candidly discussed what they’ve learned in their careers, from staff size to budget clarity.
Benjamin Johnston, Benjamin Johnston Design
Allison Paladino, Paladino Rudd Interior Design
Arianne Bellizaire, Arianne Bellizaire Interiors
Lori Paranjape, Mrs. Paranjape Design + Interiors
Moderator: Sarah Shelton, LUXE
“If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.”
–Milton Berle, American actor
That was a quote Benjamin Johnston’s mother often shared while he was growing up, and it stuck with him as a career motto. Johnston has built an integrated firm that seamlessly and successfully combines architecture, interiors, and furnishings. He credits intentional collaboration and partnership as essential. “Any relationship needs to be mutually beneficial and mutually enriching.”
Allison Paladino recalled 2008 as a pivotal moment in the way she runs her business. “I was in Palm Beach, and things were going great. My assistants had assistants. And all of a sudden, the work dried up. It was devastating. I had to look at 9 employees in the face and let them go,” recalled Paladino.
$100,000 in debt, Paladino vowed to never let it happen again. So she got serious with Excel and tracked every dollar coming in and going out. She still does it every Friday, these days using Studio Designer.
Meanwhile, Lori Paranjape is adamant about being very direct with clients–laying out exactly how much everything costs by referring to previous project breakdowns. “If they say yes to the process, then there’s no sleaze. There’s no chase. If I’m the girl for them, they know exactly what they’re getting. And if not, that’s ok. I know a lot of super talented people.”
Arianne Bellizaire related her journey going from an unscalable “me, myself, and I” to managing a 10-person staff that left her little time to do the work she loves most. Now, she enjoys a “small but mighty team.”
“It was lots of trial and error. For me, the key in learning to leverage my business is understanding how to right size my business. I have a nimble practice where I get my hands dirty. And I partner with experts that don’t work for me but make me look like a rockstar in front of my clients. Meanwhile, I’m able to pay myself well and my team well.”
