Welcome! Today, we have Juan Carlos Rodriguez-Artigas on the show with us. Juan Carlos is an accomplished architect and interior designer with extensive experience in high-end hospitality, restaurant, commercial, and residential design. He is currently the design director of the London Studio of the global interior architecture firm, Wilson Associates. Juan Carlos's position is multi-faceted, and in today's episode, he discusses his role and responsibilities, as the firm's design director, where he oversees the day-to-day operations and projects of the London studio. In addition to creating beautiful projects, he has been in charge of the hiring and building of a cohesive and talented team, which he has then had to lead and guide. Also, a large part of his job involves finding, meeting, and creating opportunities for new business for the firm, and he explains that this all starts with relationships and with connecting to people. Tune in now to find out more.  Wilson Associates is a collection of 10 design firms around the world whose work encompasses interior architectural design, architecture, art consultancy, concept development, branding, and food and beverage design. Their portfolio includes some of the most prestigious hospitality projects in the world. Listen in today, to hear what Juan Carlos has to share. Show Highlights: Juan Carlos shares some of his experiences from the past year while building the London studio. The pros and cons of first working for a small firm, and then jumping to a big firm. Juan Carlos shares what he was looking for when hiring his team members. Starting out with a small team and growing organically. When building his team, he was looking for flexibility and team players. That's his secret to creating a small, winning team. Running a small office has involved wearing a number of different hats. Juan describes the difference between his last position and his current one, with Wilson Associates. Creating a strong foundation with the team he built. The kind of skill set that Juan Carlos required his team members to have. Why Juan Carlos prefers working in hospitality, rather than in residential. Having to take into account what the operations team is telling you when designing for hospitality. Juan Carlos describes his superpower and the superpower of Wilson Associates. The way that all the offices of Wilson Associates collaborate and support each other. Even though Wilson Associates is a global team, each studio has its own identity. How Juan Carlos, personally, cultivates a pipeline of hospitality projects. The event that Juan Carlos would recommend for everyone to go to. The biggest challenge that Juan Carlos has faced, that has also been a great lesson for him. Some advice for keeping a pressured team happy and moving. Bio: Role & Responsibility: Juan is an architect and interior designer with an extensive and holistic international experience in high-end hospitality, restaurant, commercial and residential design. Combining strengths in architecture and interior design, Juan worked eight years as an independent designer and creative consultant on different high end commercial and residential projects in Spain and abroad. He was Designer Director at Rockwell Group Europe, managing a variety of projects in Asia and the Middle East for some of the most prestigious hospitality brands. He currently leads the recently open Wilson associates London office. In charge of this edition sleep & eat theater. Juan Carlos says: “People ignore design that ignores people” Education: College Degree in Architecture at Universidad Anahuac Mexico City, Mexico Interior design degree/ Instituto Europeo di Design Madrid, Spain Master degree in project management & design Universidad San Pablo Ceu Madrid, Spain Links and resources: Wilson Associates website:  Wilson Associates’ Designer Questionnaire Basics Title: Design Director London Office Languages spoken: English / Spanish and a bit of Italian Education: Col