Meet Misty Molloy

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Misty Molloy. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Misty below.

Misty, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a journey, mainly because I entered the interior design field without a design degree. Education has always been incredibly important to me. I have a Master’s Degree in Leadership & Organizational Change, and am passionate about continuous learning. Stepping into a new field without formal training initially made me uncomfortable.

Recognizing how my 20+ years of non-profit and corporate experience are relevant to my work as the CEO and Principal of an interior design firm helped me move past imposter syndrome. My project management and strategic leadership experience laid the foundation for leading a company, managing complex projects, coordinating with various partners, and delivering exceptional results on time and within scope.

One of the greatest joys in this transition has been building a team to fill gaps where I don’t have expertise. I realized I don’t have to be everything to everyone to run a successful business. Successful businesses thrive by building a team to support growth and achieve long-term success.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the Founder + CoCreative Director of CoCreative Interiors, a design firm based in the Lake Norman area outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.

A master of outside-the-box solutions that make life easier (no really, I hold a Master’s in Organizational Design), I’m obsessed with streamlining spaces for optimum functionality. I bring my background in full-service design and an in-depth understanding of the industry to help my clients confidently make design decisions.

Known as the anti-gray design firm, CoCreative Interiors was founded exclusively for those who aren’t afraid to color outside the lines but don’t have the time or expertise to develop and execute a cohesive vision.

We collaborate with our clients to create fun and fabulous homes, providing a turnkey experience. Our one-of-a-kind process allows them to maintain control while still being surprised.

Our interior design services include full-service furnishings and space planning, “no demo” reno, renovations, and custom new builds. I partner with homeowners to expertly guide them through the design and build process, offering comprehensive, start-to-finish design services. As a trusted advocate, I help clients bring their vision to life, transforming ideas into beautifully crafted, functional spaces perfectly tailored to their needs, complete with furnishings and finishing touches.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three skills that most impacted my journey are tenacity, relationship building, and project management. I honed these skills while working in the nonprofit and corporate sectors, where I learned to keep multiple plates spinning without dropping any.

My advice for anyone early in their journey is to take every opportunity to hone your skills, no matter your position, role, or place in life. The skills I developed in my previous roles make me a better business owner. Don’t stress over the time needed to get your footing—everything you do leads you to where you should be. Even when an experience doesn’t seem to matter, it’s paving the way for your future success.

We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?

Focusing on our strengths, rather than spreading ourselves thin by trying to master areas that don’t come naturally, is far more effective. We all have unique gifts, and with the same number of hours in a day, concentrating on what we do best is most effective. This approach allows us to excel as leaders and creates opportunities for others to shine in areas where they are passionate.

In my experience, collaboration is critical. Early in my career, I often felt the need to be proficient in everything, which led to burnout and a diluted impact. Over time, I realized that partnering with others who have strengths where I may have gaps leads to win-win situations. I can focus on my talents, and my collaborators can do the same, leading to a more cohesive and high-performing team.

I personally excel at editing. My specialty is working closely with a team that has mastered the technical aspects, such as drawings, and providing input and feedback based on the overall vision I’ve developed. My true strength lies in big-picture thinking, where I can see things from a 10,000-foot view while creating unique designs that skillfully layer color and patterns.

Ultimately, I’ve found that doubling down on our strengths and collaborating with others where we might not be as strong leads to better outcomes, more fulfilling work, and a more successful team overall.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Images 1, 2, 6, 7, 10 = Heather Ison Photography
Images 3, 4, 5, 8 = Tiffany Ringwald Photography
Headshot image, 9 = Julia Fay Photography

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