Her journey from aspiring artist to accomplished entrepreneur is marked by a passion for creativity and a commitment to enhancing the well-being of individuals through design. Dilushi Mendis believes that good interior design has the power to uplift moods, increase happiness, and boost productivity.
Ms. Dilushi Mendis, a Chartered Architect and the Managing Director of DM Interior Studio, is making waves in the industry with her entrepreneurial accomplishments. With a creative flair and a penchant for design, she has seamlessly merged her roles as an architect and interior designer, dedicating herself to transforming spaces into memorable experiences.
Her journey from aspiring artiste to accomplished entrepreneur is marked by a passion for creativity and a commitment to enhancing the well-being of individuals through design. Dilushi Mendis believes that good interior design has the power to uplift moods, increase happiness, and boost productivity.
In a recent conversation with Global CEO Magazine, Dilushi shared insights into her unique approach to design and her vision for the future of interior architecture. Join us as we delve into the creative journey of this dynamic architect-cum-interior designer who is redefining spaces and shaping the way we experience our environments.
Can you share with us your journey from your school days to your current position as a prominent businesswoman?
I was born in Galle and attended Southlands College for my school education. Being the “silent type” I was naturally drawn towards improving my inherent talent for drawing and passion for designing. Given that there were very limited opportunities back then for a young girl like me to showcase my creations, I took every opportunity available to participate in competitions, submitting them to newspapers and magazines. Although I entered the Science stream for my Advanced levels, I found that I could not build my future by fulfilling a stereotype that most youth were pursuing. As such, I chose to further my efforts in designing, as it brought me immense satisfaction.
My father was always supportive of me following my dream and I kept on improving my talent and creativity. I then started working towards becoming an Architect, as the subject fascinated me and fuelled my creative passion. After having worked under different prominent Architects for 7 long years, I gained my qualification as a Chartered Architect. At some point, I got the opportunity to work for an Interior Design company.
It was then that I found my true passion. I realised that the field of interior design allowed me to be more creative and bring out my creative talent and skills. My first office was the living room of my home, and my first big break came by way of a project awarded to me by Softlogic Holdings. From there, slowly but steadily, I have managed to form my own company, with a team of over 25 employees working under me. I also have a factory now, where we turn out unique pieces of furniture and fixtures that are unique to my designs.
What were some of the major challenges you faced along the way, and how did you overcome them?
The first and biggest challenge was winning my first project. As you know, not many people would place their trust and confidence on a young designer who has no previous projects to show except for conceptual designs. Also, being a woman and trying to create a successful business too had its disadvantages. Winning the trust of potential clients was an uphill task, especially as a woman, trying to win projects that were also contested by other designers who were more experienced and had previous projects under their belts.
It was my relentless efforts to keep pushing and somehow win, that paid off and I finally won my first project. Therefore, I learned – first-hand that persistence was of utmost importance if you want to achieve success in anything that you do. I also maintained a firm belief in my talent and my abilities. That kept me going despite the numerous setbacks I faced on my journey to where I am now. Every new project I undertake presents its own set of challenges, as no two design projects are alike. But thanks to the confidence I have gained by defeating the numerous challenges I have faced in the past, I meet them head-on, and somehow overcome them.
Could you highlight some of your key achievements throughout your career?
My initial achievement in my career as an Interior Designer was obtaining my professional qualification as a Chartered Architect. It was after 7 long years of arduous training that I managed this. The formation of my company – DM Interior Studio was my biggest achievement. Since then, I have accumulated a team of young, talented, and committed individuals who have been by my side, helping me to achieve many milestones.
Winning 14 different interior design projects within the “One Galleface” Mall – and completing all of them on time was another memorable achievement. Recently, I was awarded the “Wanithabhimani” award for Corporate & Professional Sector Entrepreneurship at the 2023 event organised by NDB Bank and the “News First” division of the Maharaja Organisation. This award is very special to me, as I feel it signifies my achievements as a female entrepreneur, who had to fight so hard – alongside other women like me, to build my business up and to finally be recognised for my efforts.
How do you define success, and do you feel you’ve achieved your goals in life so far?
Success is an ongoing journey. One cannot become successful and then rest on it. Rather, it’s the ongoing process of staying successful. This applies to all entrepreneurs like me. Every day, you take on new challenges, overcome them, and then look forward to the next day and the next set of challenges that come with it. Being able to overcome these challenges with relative ease is indicative of having achieved some measure of success. As for achieving my goals in life, both in my personal life and my professional career, while acknowledging the fact that I still have a long way to go, I am happy with what I have achieved so far. On the professional front, I am the owner of a fledgling interior design business that employs around 25 professional and semi-professional individuals. I also operate a factory with around 30 employees, to help meet my requirements for interior fit-outs. In my personal life, I am blessed to be the mother of 3 beautiful children, wife to a loving and supportive husband and to receive the love of my parents and brothers who have always supported me in whatever I set out to achieve.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received in your professional journey, and how has it impacted your approach to leadership?
My husband Chinthaka Dayaratne, who is also a Chartered Architect has been my rock whenever I had doubts about overcoming challenges I encountered in my career. The best advice he gave me is “Stay resilient, continuously learn and adapt to change”. Resilience is a quality that is a must-have quality for an entrepreneur, as we have to face challenges head-on while keeping a cool head.
Continuous learning that is relevant to any profession. The world around us is always evolving – be it new design concepts, technologies and methods. You risk becoming obsolete in whichever profession you are in, if you fail to keep yourself in touch with these developments. Change is something we have to contend with consistently. In today’s fast-paced society, we cannot rest on assumptions that things will not change. If we prepare ourselves with the awareness that everything we have today – be it clients’ expectations to the latest design concepts, it all can change overnight, it will soften the impact that will have on us. This preparedness also gives us the motivation to adapt to those changes.
Considering your experience, what advice would you offer to aspiring businesswomen who are just starting their careers?
I would say the best advice that I can give any of them is that once you have identified the direction you want to go in your professional or business career, never stray from it – no matter what obstacles that lay in your path. You must develop a stubborn ambition to achieving your goals. Study the lives of the people who have achieved success in the same field as yours, and try to emulate their practices wherever possible. Have a clear vision of what you want to achieve, and define a set of short and long-term goals on how to achieve that dream. Ask for help wherever you need it. Be humble, always willing to learn, and keep reviewing your efforts to see where and how you could have done things better. Be open to criticism, but do not hesitate to disregard any advice that you feel is not in line with your moral compass. Keep an eye on your competition, but do not fall into the trap of trying to beat them and lose your individuality. Rather, your competition should always be with yourself, trying to better your skills and talents on a daily basis.
In your opinion, what qualities make a great leader, and how do you embody these qualities in your own leadership style?
A great leader in my opinion is someone who always tries to improve and enrich the lives of those around her – be it at her workplace, social circles or her own family. She is empathetic, compassionate and open to feedback both positive and negative. She has a clear vision of what she wants to achieve in life, but is guided by a strong sense of ethics and morals. Integrity is of utmost importance to her, and she will not tolerate any departures from the established values from anyone – be it in her business or personal life. A good corporate citizen who gives back to society to help the underprivileged. She willingly imparts her knowledge gathered over the years to those around her, while advising them to develop their own methods and style of work.
I have in my own way, invested a lot of time on my team, showing them the pitfalls that they should avoid, guiding them through my experience, and allowing them to cultivate their own style and personality when it comes to their creative work.
Setbacks are a shared pain, and victories are cherished as a group as well. My team and I have given back to society in our own way. For example, helping schools with very poor facilities and their students with economic difficulties. I am always open to new ideas and suggestions from my team and give them due recognition when their ideas are successfully implemented.
Their well-being both at work and in their families is very important to me and I see all of them as my extended family. I also encourage them to engage in continuous learning to develop their minds and their skills.
Can you share your thoughts on the importance of fostering a positive attitude towards employees within an organisation?
It is said that the most valuable asset in a business is its employees. In my line of work especially, I need my employees to come in to work every day with a positive attitude.
This is of utmost importance since they are in an environment that deals with creativity. If they are not in a good place – mentally, then their creative energy will not be at an optimum level, thereby negatively affecting the entire team’s creative output. However, we cannot demand that employees approach their work in a positive frame of mind. As their leader I have to display a positive attitude towards them and ensure that they too are in a positive frame of mind, in order to give their best work consistently.
This is something I have to do with a commitment, especially since I work with a set of young individuals. Open and clear communication that flows both ways is vital for us to maintain a healthy working environment. We also have periodic discussions among the team to air out any issues that affect any of them and try to resolve as many issues as possible. I firmly believe that if we take care of our employees well, they will do their best to ensure the company’s success.
How do you prioritise work-life balance, and what strategies do you use to maintain it in your busy schedule?
I have set clear boundaries when it comes to allocating time for my work, and my family responsibilities. It is essential to maintain a system and a set of operating procedures within the workplace so that my employees don’t need my constant involvement in the business. But of course, there are instances that I have to stretch my time with either my business or family from time to time. For me, I am thankful that I have a very understanding and supportive spouse, my parents and my siblings, who will help me to fill the gap on either side when I request their help.
What do you believe is the role of mentorship in career development, and have you had any influential mentors throughout your journey?
A mentor can guide you in your chosen path, helping you to avoid many pitfalls that you may fall into if not forewarned. Mentors also act as proof that if you do things in a certain way, you will succeed. I have learned many things from people whom I have worked for, associated with, and befriended. Some of them are eminent leaders in the industry and I am eternally grateful for their advice and guidance. However, I cannot name anyone who acted as a mentor when it came to learning my craft, I think in the field of Interior Design, the role of a mentor rarely comes into play, since it is the talent and creative eye that sets designers apart.
