Page 38 - Lighting Magazine May 2018

2018 LeGends / Leaders / LumInarIes
LUMINARY
JODIE ORANGE Living Lighting on King RETAILER
HOW DID YOU ENTER THE LIGHTING INDUSTRY?
I was about to graduate from interior design school and knew I wanted to start my own company. I felt like I was ready, although I was still extremely uncomfortable with lighting. I’m a big advocate for pushing yourself to be the best version possible, so I got a part-time job in a lighting showroom. It was terrifying, but I felt like I couldn’t run my own design company without having that experience in my back pocket. It was one of the best decisions I ever made.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE SEEN?
Finding other people in the industry – reps, manufacturers, showroom retailers – that have something inspiring to bring to the table. I’m always on the look-out for like-minded individu- als, people whom I can collaborate with and those who inspire me. It’s been hard to nd them in my professional life. I do believe though, that the industry is slowly becoming more saturated with passionate, driven, and inspiring people that are creating a shi across the board. It’s exciting to see.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE KEY TO YOUR SUCCESS?
Trusting my gut. I have my hand in every aspect of my business. It took some time, but the more con dent I became in myself, the easier everything got. The more I embraced an authentic
life and gave my passion and creativity a voice, the easier making decisions – both big and small – became. I don’t want to sound too full of myself, but I never follow trends. I create them. I trust myself and if it feels right, 9 times out of 10, it is.
IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY YOU WOULD CHANGE?
Absolutely nothing. I started from the bo om and have loved building this business from the ground up. Every setback and every challenge led me to this moment. Those sometimes scary and overwhelming experiences made me a stronger person. I’m grateful for them because they’ve helped me fall in love with my story and they always leave me excited for the next chapter.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOUR BUSINESS IN
THE NEXT 5 TO 10 YEARS?
I know I will be in lighting because it feels good. It’s ironic because of how intimidated I used to be by this industry, but I can’t imagine life any other way. I would like to see myself con- necting with more like-minded individuals and hopefully I’ll be able launch some collaboration projects. I plan to continue to expand my brand and push the design envelope. I have a good feeling about the future.
34 enLIGHTenment Magazine | May 2018
www.enlightenmentmag.com