Molly Swyers
Chief design officer, 21c Museum Hotels
An art installation brings color to the elevator banks at the 21c Museum Hotel Lexington, the handiwork of Deborah Berke Partners
What are your three secrets to success?
Since a young age, I’ve loved puzzles. I have a knack for distilling complex or chaotic situations into simple plans, seeing how the pieces can fit together. I don’t hesitate to roll up my sleeves and dig into the details, but I can also zoom out to appreciate the bigger picture. I’ve always followed my heart. I do what I’m passionate about. If you do what you love, you’ll be good at it and success will follow.
How do you achieve work-life balance?
I’m not sure what work-life balance is. We all get out of kilter from time to time, and we have to make compromises. But over the years, I’ve tried to focus on my mindset. I believe we can choose happiness and gratitude. I chose to pursue a career that I love. Sometimes (quite often, actually), it means that I’m away from my husband and my children more than I’d like to be. In light of that, I try to make the time that I spend with my family quality time. It’s not always easy, but I hope and believe that my work life somehow enhances my family life, and that my family life enhances my professional life.
Advice for women designers?
Take advantage of every opportunity to build relationships within the industry. While it’s big, it’s also not that big, and it’s full of amazing people who were drawn to a career in hospitality because they are thoughtful and generous and genuinely enjoy making other people happy. I can’t imagine better qualities for the people you’ll spend a great deal of time with.
Mari Balestrazzi
Vice president, Americas design services, Hyatt
At the Grand Hyatt Bogotá in Colombia, with interiors by Studio Echeverría Edwards, Ushin Japanese & Grill offers expansive views
Was there a moment that defined your career?
My decision to take a job outside of a traditional architectural practice. I was lucky enough to land in a unique design firm (New York-based Aero Studios) that handled interior design, product design, and had a retail shop. It was eye-opening. I learned an entirely different side of design that I had not been exposed to in architecture school. I was smitten and never looked back.
Advice for women designers?
While it’s important to be aware of gender or other biases in the workplace, I don’t think it’s a primary focus. It’s important to work hard, be open to learning, and make yourself useful. Be generous with your time and talent. It will pay off in the end.
Jennifer Johanson
President and CEO, EDG Design
At the Meridian restaurant in the Headlands Coastal Lodge & Spa in Oregon, wood accents highlight the beachside setting
Was there a moment that defined your career?
In 2004, I suffered a stroke in the middle of a client meeting and had to have open heart surgery. It was the ultimate reminder to pause and take account of what is most important. That time post-recovery was one of the most liberating of my life—I had complete clarity and laser-focus on what was actually important and what was a waste of time. It is now something I try to practice regularly.
Advice for women designers?
It’s a female trait to try to be good at everything and do everything. That just doesn’t work in business; in fact, it’s impossible. Find your strengths, hone them, and nurture them. Don’t waste your time trying to do everything, especially things that other people around you might be more skilled at. Perfect your strengths, accept your weaknesses, surround yourself with talented and diverse people, and be open to learning from them.
Christina Zimmer
Senior vice president of design and construction, Highgate Hotels
The wood-clad reception at the Gates Hotel Diagonal Barcelona, done by Carmen Laner
Was there a moment that defined your career?
After taking a year off for travel (everyone should do this) and moving from San Francisco to New York, I joined Stonehill Taylor as a project architect in 1999. They had a wonderful culture and interesting work. Joining that team and being introduced to the hospitality sector, I never wanted to do anything else. I had worked on some high-end single family residential as a young architect in San Francisco and found it difficult to deal with the clients. In hospitality, you get all the good design work of residential, but with professional clients.
What is your secret to success?
Leaving Stonehill Taylor to go to the owner side of the business (first with Ian Schrager, now with Highgate Hotels) was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But sometimes you have to get out of your comfort zone to grow. It’s also been a great way for me to see how different architectural and interior design firms operate, so if I ever think about going back to the design side, I’ll be much better informed.
Therese Virserius
Founder, Virserius Studio
A rendering of the upcoming floral-infused lobby at the W Hotel – Midtown Atlanta
Was there a moment that defined your career?
Securing the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It was one of the biggest and most sought-after projects on the Vegas Strip in a while, and the process was somewhat unorthodox with the yearlong competition against other big firms. To come out on top was a huge accomplishment and extremely gratifying.
How do you achieve work-life balance?
My work and life are so closely linked, it’s more like work-life integration, not balance. For example, travel is so important to the work I do, but it’s what I also do for fun. I love going to different places and living and immersing myself in the lives of the people there.
