Great leadership means letting people fly | Design leadership with Kristy Swann of HLGstudio

What makes a great leader in the interior design industry? How can design leaders create a workplace culture where people feel empowered to speak up, take risks, and grow? In this episode of The Imagine a Place Podcast, host Maria VanDeman sits down with Kristy Swann, Associate Principal at HLGstudio in Atlanta, Georgia, to explore design leadership, mentorship, and the importance of building trust within creative teams. Kristy reflects on her career journey in architecture and interior design and how her experiences have shaped her approach to leading others. From navigating the transition from designer to leader to managing across generations, she shares why great leadership isn't about having all the answers or controlling every detail. It's about empowering people, giving them ownership, and encouraging them to spread their wings, even when that means pursuing opportunities elsewhere. Together, Maria and Kristy discuss mentorship in interior design, creating a positive workplace culture, supporting career growth, and finding joy both inside and outside of work. Because building a fulfilling career in design doesn't always mean following a straight path. Sometimes, it means having the courage to create your own. For more Imagine a Place, please visit: https://ofs.com/imagine-a-place Subscribe to the Imagine a Place podcast: https://apple.co/3cn8A8d Connect with Maria on LinkedIn . Follow Imagine a Place on LinkedIn . Click here to get your copy of Maria's children's book—Design Your World. Click here to get your own Imagine a Place Conversation Card Deck. Imagine a Place gathers industry-leading voices that can inspire the design community through storytelling and broaden our creative horizons. The goal of Imagine a Place is to further elevate the belief that the places we make and the ways we design them matter in our lives.