Her Story
About Jharna
Jharna Madan is a seasoned interior designer, senior project manager, and community leader with more than 25 years of professional experience in commercial design, corporate space planning, and project management. She currently serves as Senior Project Manager/Designer at Officeworks Inc. in Burlington, Massachusetts, where she specializes in creating innovative workplace environments, custom commercial furniture solutions, and comprehensive design strategies for corporate clients. Her expertise includes space planning, interior design, furniture specification, and managing projects from initial concepts through ordering and installation while collaborating with clients, architects, and industry partners.
Originally from India, Jharna began her career in public relations before transitioning into interior design after moving to the United States in 2000. She built her design foundation through formal education, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and commerce, an MBA in Marketing from IMI Delhi, and an associate degree in interior design from Mount Washington College. Throughout her career, she has combined creativity, organization, and business knowledge to deliver functional and visually engaging workplace solutions. She also holds a Scrum Master certification, reflecting her commitment to effective project management and continuous professional growth.
Beyond her professional achievements, Jharna is deeply involved in community engagement and cultural initiatives. She serves on the boards of several South Asian nonprofit organizations in the Boston area, works as an event manager, and contributes as Bureau Chief for Boston at TV Asia Network. Her dedication to service, leadership, and community building has earned her recognition, including the Community Capitalist Award and New England Choice Award. Outside of work, she enjoys dance, arts and crafts, and using her creativity to inspire others both professionally and personally.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Jharna
01What do you attribute your success to?
I think obviously I was raised with very strong core values so I always depend on that. As long as you're honest with yourself honestly you know like do your and ethical and do your work don't cut corners put in that hard work. Listen to your managers you know obviously ask questions when you rent out. Always ask questions. I've asked so many questions you know. That's what's given me my confidence is don't assume. And don't be shy. And if you make a mistake be the first to admit it.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Best career advice has always I think without fair enough this thing it's always been find good mentors. Find good mentors and you know follow them and see what it is. In every field as long as you are honest and you work hard you're gonna get success. But if on top of that if you have a guide it makes the journey even better.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
When it comes to commercial design every product that we specify because it's very our products are very each we we represent so many different lines. Every product is different. Don't assume when you're designing. It's very important to go back and look at the details because it's all in the details. You can't don't make assumptions that hey this is a desk this will go with this and this will go with that. It doesn't. Everything is pretty much unique in our world and the best thing is to do your research read up and make sure you're following the application guides.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Of course when COVID hit because of course we're selling off you know we're doing office design there was a lot of during that time of course there was challenges but we got even more creative there where we started you know designing screens for existing spaces you know giving people that privacy they need at this site. Right now the challenge thankfully we are not too where we don't have the AI affecting our jobs per se right now. Moving and learning a new software. Like I work on CAD but now we are transitioning into CET which is it is a more intelligent software and it's gonna help us do more. But after you know be working on one particular software for the last 25 years software we that seems to be challenging.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity. I think that kind of is extremely important for me as a human being. I you know I value I put in a lot of hard work and effort into my work and I want to be very honest with what I do. And that's what I project outside. And I don't want anybody to question my work ethics so that I hold very very dearly. I think that's how I was raised that you need to be you know integrity is a very very very strong foundation. You need to be true to yourself and true to what the work you're doing because what you put out there is what you're going to receive. And I think that's true for any aspect of my life.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.