Today we’d like to introduce you to Sheyla Conforte.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Sheyla. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am an interior designer and an entrepreneur to the core. Currently, I lead the interior design practice at Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB), a national architecture and design firm headquartered in Chicago, where I oversee nearly 50 interior designers focusing on corporate, residential, hospitality, and higher education interiors.
While today it is clear that I have found my niche and the right place to channel my focus, the path to this role was a journey of self-discovery and personal challenge. After graduating from Northwestern University, I started my career in Chicago working in advertising and marketing. After a few years in the industry, I realized that this path was not satisfying my desire to work in a creative capacity and I decided to go back to school to pursue a passion for interior design.
In hindsight, it was the best professional and personal decision I have made to date, but at the time, it felt like a risky proposition. Stepping away from a well-charted career to start from the ground up in a new field was a scary idea but something that my gut told me was the right long-term move. I took the plunge and what I learned in the process is that by caring deeply about what I do and pouring myself into this career, it has become an important part of my identity and given me a sense of professional fulfillment that I had not imagined possible. At SCB, I have had the opportunity to work alongside some of the most well-respected architects and designers in Chicago. Through both mentorship and relying on my own intuition, I learned how to be a designer, how to be a leader, how to develop business, and most importantly, how to build a team.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I stepped into the role of Director of Interiors at the tail end of the recession. It was a very tough time for our industry and, like many businesses, we downsized and rode out the storm.
Among other things, that experience taught me to be brave, learn how to wear many hats, stay positive, and focus on the task ahead, which for us was to build back our team and be a stronger and more diverse group of designers in the end. I wanted us to expand our design capabilities beyond corporate interiors and position ourselves to compete in the world of residential and hospitality design, as well. We were smart in our recruitment efforts during the economic downturn and were able to bring on board the talent that has helped bring our interiors practice to the next level.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Solomon Cordwell Buenz story. Tell us more about the business.
From our offices in Chicago and San Francisco, we design spaces across the country and the globe for Fortune 500 and 100 companies, start-ups, and name-brand institutions alike.
Recently, we have had the honor of working with United Airlines in the launch of its new Polaris club at O’Hare International airport and look forward to opening clubs for them in San Francisco, New York, Hong Kong, and Tokyo in the coming months.
The quality of our design work is what sets us apart. We have been in business for over 85 years and our firm’s work has made a lasting imprint on the skyline of Chicago, San Francisco, and cities across the country. There is a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that through our designs, we are improving the way people work, learn, travel, and live in urban centers across the U.S.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Integrity. Authenticity. Creativity.
Contact Info:
- Email: sheyla.conforte@scb.com
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