Today, Dan finally gets to sit down and talk with Malcolm Berg, who is not only a designer, but an entrepreneur who founded Edge of Architecture. He is all about pushing the boundaries and innovating to the next degree. Malcolm provides his insights on hospitality and how important it is to bring empathy and human connection to the forefront of design and architecture. The conversation also delves into the significance of gratitude, the role of mentorship at EOA, and the enduring philosophy of reflecting values and unity in their projects. Listen along to hear Malcolm and Dan’s conversation!

Takeaways: 

• Cultivate empathy within your team and client relationships. Understanding and responding to people's needs and emotions is crucial for creating meaningful work and strong bonds.
• Strive beyond good enough. Aim for spectacular and aim to create experiences and designs that evoke strong, positive reactions.
• Hire people for their enthusiasm, work ethic, and potential rather than just their current skills or experience. Develop a culture of mentorship to nurture growth from within.
• Work with stakeholders, including clients and team members, who share similar values and vision. Avoid relationships that are purely transactional or financially driven.
• Emphasize continuous learning and innovation. Do not settle into a routine; constantly push the boundaries to stay ahead in a world that is rapidly changing.
• Develop a strong, cohesive concept as the foundation for all your design elements. This helps maintain a consistent narrative and creates a more immersive experience.

Quote of the Show:

“It’s how you behave in the trenches that kind of makes you who you are. Things are going to go sideways, shit happens. It’s how you fix it that counts.” - Malcolm Berg

Links:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/eoagroup?lang=en
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/malcolm-berg-75b46910/ 
• Website: https://eoagroup.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• IIDA https://iida.org/
• Gold Key https://www.goldkeyphr.com/ 
• Curio by Hilton https://www.hilton.com/en/brands/curio-collection/ 
• Andaz Miami https://www.hyatt.com/andaz/miaob-andaz-miami-beach
• Mario Andretti https://www.instagram.com/andrettimario/?hl=en 
• Travel by Design by Marriott https://traveler.marriott.com/travel-by-design/ 

Ways to Tune In: 

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0A2XOJvb6mGqEPYJ5bilPX
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/defining-hospitality-podcast/id1573596386
• Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZGVmaW5pbmdob3NwaXRhbGl0eS5saXZlL2ZlZWQueG1s
• Amazon Music: ​​https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8c904932-90fa-41c3-813e-1cb8f3c42419