We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Krystal Hudson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Krystal, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
I’ve learned to be effective over time because I’m a very observant person. When you’re the only one who looks like you its not difficult to feel as though you don’t belong, however, I am a black woman who works in the architecture, construction, and design industry. There’s many times I’ve found myself being the only one who looks like me in the room. By observing and knowing my audience, I’m able to be most successful in how I manage. But I’ve learned mostly to be prepared, be authentic, and to know that you deserve and belong in those rooms. You’ll come across people who have judged you before you’ve spoken, and you’ll come across people who are open-minded. There’s people of various qualities and backgrounds that we interact with on a regular basis. As a solution-oriented person, I’m always looking for the aspects of our lives that unite us because we really have more in common than we think. We all relate to aspects of being human and I think that’s the comfort that my industry affords us. We work in homes, and therefore its important to have the interpersonal skills that help you connect with the humanness in people no matter what background we come from. I’m most effective because I’m able to unite people behind a common goal. At the end of the day we’re all there for a purpose and we want something, whether its success, a smooth project, or whatever the goal is. If we remove our personal egos and focus on our larger goal it makes it that much easier to connect and work together. Of course, you also have those people who are just difficult and all about themselves only, but having thick skin and staying focused on the bigger picture is what matters in those situations. I’m all about the end product, goals, and results. Sometimes you’re the only one in the room who looks like you because you’re mean to stand out, and anywhere someone doubts whether you deserve to be there or not, the work will speak for itself. I handle myself very professionally, am personable, and generally excited when meeting new people and I think that is received well a lot of the time.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m an interior designer. I provide architectural drawings, interior detailing, custom cabinetry, and an assortment of other design and architectural services. We help homeowners, builders, and investors to find a home, design a home, and/or sell their home. I love helping people reach major milestones in their lives, as well as solving problems. Helping someone purchase their first home, assisting with their investment property, or helping them design their dream home are major goals for my business.
More recently we’re focusing on expansion. Already getting work outside of California, we began taking on projects in other areas in the country. Its exciting to see architecture in other major cities and get more intimate with the building styles there. Currently working on projects in Los Angeles, Northern California, Chicago, and beyond.
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?
Three qualities I will definitely emphasize is being goal oriented, mindset, and consistency. There are always going to be highs and lows, that’s just a part of life, but its really how we manage these moments and our mindsets that determine how we progress. In business I stress the importance or managing expectations, and the same can be said of life. Just showing up is half the battle, keep a positive attitude is the other half. When you’re solution-oriented, challenges present themselves as opportunities for growth. So focus on the goal at hand, keep pushing forward, and know that where there’s a will there’s a way. You can always learn a skill, but its the people who keep showing up everyday that go somewhere.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I’m always looking to build long term relationships, whether that’s with clients or industry professionals. For partnerships and collaborations, I am looking for realtors and developers who are in need of design services from a company who understands the nuances of their clients and how to bring those ideas to life. I work with homeowners who are often looking to sell and want to remodel before selling to increase their market value. Developers who are looking for a high-end look within their specific budgets and to help maximize their earning potential. As well as homeowners who recently purchase a property because they like the location, but need it remodelled so it can become their dream home. Homes are investments, and I enjoy working with people who deal with the present and future/potential value of these investments as well.
Homeowners who want their dream homes are amazing too! Even if the house isn’t for an investment property, its still an investment and typically increases in value over time. I occasionally check the sell price of homes I’ve worked on and it never ceases to amaze me how much they profit from the sell. I think its a beautiful thing to be able to live in your perfect home during a particular phase in your life, and to profit if and when you choose to sell.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.krystal-hudson.com
- Instagram: @khds.interiors
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/khdstudio
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/khds-los-angeles
Image Credits
Pictures represent the day in the life of an interior designer. Major credit to vendors Arhaus and marble and stone shop.
