Influential Woman · Interiors
Kelly Scott
Interior Designer & Workplace Project Manager | Corporate Tenant Improvements | Principal, Kelly Claudine Interiors, Kelly Claudine · Self-employed
San Marcos, CA
Her Story
About Kelly
Kelly Scott owns and operates her own interior design business, which she launched six years ago after twelve years in the field. She earned a master's degree in Business Economics and Psychology with a minor in Spanish at the University of California at Santa Barbara, followed by a master's in interior architecture and design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Additional training includes internal project management courses, the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and certifications in design software such as SketchUp. Prior to starting her business, Kelly gained extensive corporate experience at Salesforce, where she managed high-profile executive briefing centers and global real estate projects, and at Oracle for large-scale events. She also collaborated with architects at Gensler. Her expertise spans project management, corporate environments, hospitality, retail, and residential design. Kelly participates in female entrepreneur social groups in San Diego and is a member of NAOP, now known as CREDA. She has volunteered with the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society for eighteen years. She attributes her success to the strong work ethic instilled by her father and brothers.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kelly
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say probably my father and my brothers. I come from just the most hardworking family. My parents both came from absolutely nothing, and so we were just the culture of our family, to just really work very hard for what we wanted. Especially my father and my brothers are just the hardest workers I've ever met. They know what I'm capable of doing and that keeps the bar very high for me. I have this very strong foundation of what I know I'm capable of doing and that tireless work ethic that I've been ingrained with from the very get-go.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My eldest brother said to think about your career as a graph that's going up and to the right. Whenever you're faced with a big decision, to always think about that next point that's up and to the right, and make your decisions that will get you to that and keep you on the line of going upwards and to the right. It's just a visual representation of how I want to operate.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to dive deep into project management. I think that there are a lot of designers that have an amazing eye and a huge passion for design. But design is only a small portion of the job, and project management is essential for success. So I would look into project management opportunities, whether that be at a company just to get some experience or certifications like a PMP, to really dive into the foundation of project management.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: finding a good team. You aren't able to execute on the design without a great team of contractors and subcontractors behind it. Opportunities: I come from the corporate world doing work for huge technology companies on a global scale, so I have true project management experience and corporate experience. I was lucky enough to do both retail and hospitality. I'm in a unique position because it checks all the boxes from project management, corporate, hospitality, retail, and residential.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My value system would be first of all truth, honesty, kindness, peace, and connection. I think that all of those are my truest values. When I was in the corporate world I experienced people trying to play politics. One of the things I learned early on is I wasn't money motivated but I was good at sales because I was authentic. I believe that when you operate in the professional world and personal life you always have to be your true self, and that's what's carried me through my career.
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