203: Edith Ponciano | An Unexpected Look into Hospitality

Today we welcome Edith Ponciano, founder and principal of EP Atelier, a Nevada-based hospitality interior design studio specializing in sports venues. In this episode, Edith shares her ten-year journey of honing her skills, cultivating relationships, and building the confidence to launch her own interior design business. We unpack the complex niche of sports venue design and how the tenets of hospitality design have influenced the look, feel, and function of the world's leading sports arenas. Edith also shares the value of personal brand building and how it helps establish relevance and trust with existing and future clients.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

• Edith's unique path into hospitality design and the inspiration behind EP Atelier
• How a decade at Gensler prepared her for entrepreneurship
• The intersection of hospitality and sports design, from club suites to locker rooms
• The evolving role of stadiums as year-round entertainment destinations
• Why personal brand building within a firm is vital for long-term success
• Insight into long-term, large-scale projects like Nissan Stadium in Nashville
• Navigating confidentiality in high-profile design work
• How Edith is mentoring the next generation of hospitality designers through her course

NOTABLE QUOTES

• "Essentially, it is hospitality design, but just on a different scale."
• "Everything that you do really builds your future credibility."
• "Success is living a life that feels meaningful at the end of the day and not just productive."
• "I wish someone would have told me to treat myself like a brand earlier."

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

• EP Atelier Website: epatelier.com
• Instagram: @ep_atelier_design
• Mastering Hospitality Interior Design Course: View Course
  • Use code PODCAST10 for 10% off

SPONSOR LINKS

• Design Manager
• Design Biz Retreat + Business of Interiors Continuity Summit