Toma is in Venice with antiques industry icon and legend Olga Granda, someone she admires and who makes things happen. This podcast was recorded over lunch at Terrazza dei Nobili - we apologize that it's a bit difficult to hear - but well worth the effort!

Meet Olga C. Granda: Cultural Entrepreneur

Olga began antiquing as a child traveling through Europe with her father, an antique dealer. Growing up in Miami, Olga left home at 14 to train as a ballet dancer and fell in love with the art and history and travel. After her early career in dance, Olga joined her father in his antiques business Alhambra Antiques in Miami for 14 years. Olga is an expert in European art and antiques and earned the respect and admiration of dealers and clients worldwide for her keen eye and exceptional taste. Fluent in four languages, Olga's career merges 21st-century technology with the arts, both visual and performing. 

In around 2007 and the early days of blogging, through Toma's blog The Antiques Diva she met Olga and her blog Dancing Through Paris in around and they met in Paris at the Mercanteinfiera Antique Show a few years later. 

Olga's experience as a dealer fueled her drive to pursue her own point of view and create new trends in the antiques industry as the Founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Highboy, an online antiques marketplace for exceptional antique and vintage furniture, art and decor. 

Today Olga is a cultural entrepreneur and the Artistic Director and CEO of Sanctuary of the Arts, an artist-led institution created for the purpose of healing, empowering, and uplifting. 

Talk to you soon,

Ciao Ciao

Toma Clark Haines, The Antiques Diva

Also check out The Antiques Diva here:

• The Antiques Diva & Co: Antique buying tours and sourcing services in 16 countries on 3 continents
• Antique Dealer Training Program: Antique dealer training and mentorship & services for new and experienced dealers
• The Antiques Diva Furniture Collection by Aidan Gray: Reproductions using classic design mixed with modern materials
• Republic of Toma: Custom jewelry designed by Toma, inspired by her love of antiques and travel
• The Business of Antiques: Podcast on making your antiques business sexy, modern and fun...and PROFITABLE!