BEAT

As founder and owner of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, Mackenzie Collier knows first-hand how hard it is to run and grow a business. She learned that the key to financial success in interior design was going to be streamlining her business systems and processes to be more efficient. She launched her latest venture to share her knowledge with others. Groundwork for Growth is a personalized training program for service-based business owners that teaches them how to implement systems, increase profits and instill values that are vital for company growth and culture. “I’ve been through the trenches and learned so many lessons the hard way. So I want to give back to my industry and help other interior designers avoid the same pitfalls that I fell into,” she says. “When COVID19 hit, many of my fellow interior designer friends were struggling to keep their doors open. During conversations, I realized how much other designers might benefit from my own expertise in running a profitable interior design business.” When she says she’s been in the trenches, she means it. “When I graduated from design school, the economy was struggling, and it was tough to find an entry-level position. I decided to nanny and freelance my design skills on the side,” says Collier, a graduate of Harrington College of Interior Design in downtown Chicago. Her freelancing work quickly snowballed into steady business and a decade later, Collier has a team of 10 employees working on projects all over the country. She maintains a diverse portfolio of both residential and large-scale commercial projects today. Collier has built her business with the core values of community, positivity and integrity. That credence combined with her strong work ethic and entrepreneurial spirit have led her to create several successful companies—each designed with specific and well-organized processes in place. Although she has stepped away from producing interior design work herself, Collier remains devoted to her team. “I love analytics, strategizing and developing systems and processes, but my absolute favorite part is mentoring designers as their careers develop,” Collier says.

BY MANDY HOLMES / PHOTO BY BEVERLY SHUMWAY