Meet Amanda Maday

 

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

Amanda, 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.

Over a decade ago, I took a leap and started my own commercial design firm with no formal business training and only a passion for design with an entrepreneurial spirit. I had a drive to create something on my own; I told myself if I made it 3 years, I’d be happy yet here I am 12 years later with hundreds of projects created under our brand.
In an architecture industry where men have historically taken the lead, I’ve had my fair share of imposter syndrome moments and still do. But we keep showing up, designing incredible spaces, and proving that talent and vision know no gender or age. Today, I get to lead a powerhouse team of talented women, building something we’re truly proud of. The doubt still sneaks in, but so do the wins—and those always speak louder. I’ve learned to quiet the uncertainty with confidence built on experience, resilience, and the undeniable impact of our company designs.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Studio Grey is an award-winning, women owned and operated boutique design firm in Minneapolis. We deliver customized, brand-specific designs for hospitality driven spaces. For over a decade, we’ve produced elevated design interactions for commercial projects through architecture and interior design services ranging from concept planning to construction documentation and furniture procurement. Our bespoke approach creates exclusive environments that embody the brand ethos into physical space for restaurants, hotels, workplace, multi-family, mixed-use and more.
There is no rinse and repeat here; each project is curated for it’s specific identity and operational
goals with a highly developed aesthetic. Utilizing our immersive design practices, we enhance the
user experience by designing to each of the senses. We believe it’s not just about the visuals, but
how people explore spatial surroundings.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Drive
Talent
Resilience

First off, to start a company, you have to want it. I put my heart into this each and every day. There will be hard days, but my love for what I do makes this process enjoyable, even through the tough moments. Using each failure as motivation to improve or shift tactics has been a big challenge yet ultimate allows us to enhance our process.

Tell us what your ideal client would be like?

Our ideal client is someone who brings the same level of passion and excitement to their business as we do to design. We love working with visionary entrepreneurs, especially those who are always thinking ahead, dreaming up their next venture, and pushing boundaries in their industries. The best collaborations happen when our clients see design as an investment in their brand and are eager to create something truly unique. We thrive on that energy, bouncing ideas back and forth with fellow creatives and risk-takers who, like us, are always looking to build what’s next.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Landmark, Ashley Sullivan, Korey Kevin

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