The BOLD Summit

One of the most important factor to success, regardless of your career or industry is a willingness to learn new things and open oneself up to new challenges on a regular basis. I’ve been blessed to get off to a very strong start since officially opening my design firm in May of 2013 and in spite of the fact that I’ve been fortunate enough to have a continuous stream of wonderful clients, I recognize that I have a long way to go in order to hit the various career goals and milestones I have set for myself. Chief among them is the need to have my business operate like a well-oiled machine. I still handle just about everything on my own with the exception of my bookkeeping and I know that I can implement new systems that will allow me to maximize my productivity. Things like this and the desire for a little guidance as I grow my business have driven me to seek out one-on-one time with my mentors, opportunities to bounce ideas off of friends who are also in the design business, and educational conferences and events.

This is exactly why I am thrilled to be attending the BOLD Summit (formerly the Business of Design Conference) in Las Vegas at the end of this month. For years now, I’ve heard about Julia Molloy and her eponymous design business consulting firm, Molloy Management and the wonders she has worked for both veteran and up and coming designers in helping them to maximize productivity, organization, and profitability by establishing operational systems and working on team development along with attracting their ideal clientele, and growing their business year after year.

I first heard about the BOLD Summit through my friend, Lauren Liess whose journey has been so inspiring to watch as a fellow blogger-turned-designer. Lauren has worked with Molloy Management for a few years now and she will be speaking at the conference along with some of the industry’s most prolific design talents who have expanded their businesses into the realms of licensing and publishing, areas I know many of us dream about venturing into some day. The two-day conference, held on August 28th and 29th at Las Vegas’ most luxurious resort, the Wynn, will feature presenters Vicente Wolf, Mario Buatta, Clodagh, Richard Landry, and Crans Baldwin who along with the other presenters, will speak about a variety of topics from luxury branding and billing model strategies to project management and getting published.

If you are looking for inspiration, want to network with other designers, and would like to take your business to the next level, then I encourage you to get out there and attend as many events as you can, especially one as valuable as the BOLD Summit. I have been to many design industry events, panels, and conferences and have never regretted doing so as they’ve each been an opportunity to learn something new, make valuable contacts, meet new friends, and discuss the ins and outs of the design business with likeminded individuals who can offer a different perspective. You can check out more details on the event, including a detailed agenda by visiting the BOLD Summit website. I hope to see you there!