572: Cynthia Collins: From Interns to Employees: How Mentorship Adds Value to Your Firm

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Cynthia Collins joins LuAnn in today’s episode for a discussion on mentorship. Cynthia is going to walk us through how she finds the best young talent available and how she helps them grow and learn, often producing long-lasting employees that fit in at her firm for many years to come. Cynthia is a true servant at heart, with a mission to help and guide others whenever and wherever possible, leaving a positive impact on the world. Listen in for ideas to make your company culture rewarding and uplifting, and how you can recruit young people that will grow with you into the future!

In 1992, Cynthia Collins began Collins Interiors, a Dallas-based firm specializing in full-scale residential interior design. Throughout the years, Cynthia has been privileged to work with some of the most talented architects in the field and has been a part of projects across the United States, including Texas, North Carolina, Utah, Colorado, Florida, Georgia & California. Each detail is meticulously planned with the client in mind and chosen for its functionality, meaning, and beauty.  

She lives in Dallas with her husband, Bruce Collins, and has three grown boys. She is a believer. Her neighbors are her family. She is a teacher and a mentor, an avid reader, a fantastic fisher woman, a brilliant story teller, a music enthusiast (in a BIG way!), a movie fanatic, a speedy biker, a creative chef and generous beyond measure. She has a true servant's heart in EVERYTHING she does and wants the very best experience for her team, clients, family, and friends.

Show Highlights:

• Cynthia explains the structure of her firm and the various positions therein.
• The newer employees are taught by the senior designers how to budget, how to problem-solve, and all of the other intricacies of being a lead designer.
• Cynthia discusses what she looks for in interns and employees.
• Culture is key: People should be able to enjoy walking into the office everyday without worrying about the drama prevalent in many of today’s places of work.
• Interior Designers are visual people, and first impressions and ongoing image are an important part of a designer’s reputation.
• Interns and job seekers should “do their homework” on a company before applying for a position.
• Cynthia relates some lessons that she learned from another interior design firm before she went into business for herself.
• LuAnn and Cynthia discuss how Cynthia runs her projects’ systems and processes.
• Diversification and planning for the future are critical in every business.

Connect with Cynthia!

Collins Interiors

@collins__interiors (two underscores)

Blue Print Store

@blue_print_store

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