It’s not just about what you know or who you know, but who knows you. Today, Eileen Madigan, Senior Vice President of Global Interior Design at Las Vegas Sands Corp joins Defining Hospitality to discuss the power of networking and mentoring within the hospitality industry. With over 35 years of experience in luxury interior design, Eileen shares her journey from working at Four Seasons and Rosewood Hotels to leading significant projects in Asia for Sands. She discusses the importance of having a design philosophy, her experience with a life coach, and the intricacies of scaling luxury design for massive integrated resorts. Eileen highlights the importance of creating everlasting memories through thoughtful design, and offers valuable insights on career progression and the significance of internal and external partnerships in achieving design excellence.

Takeaways: 

• Take time in your career, ideally in your twenties, to understand and define what makes you unique. This clarity will help guide your professional journey and open up opportunities.
• Don’t wait until later in your career to work with a coach or mentor. Regularly seek outside perspectives to help you uncover your strengths, clarify your goals, and stay aligned with your purpose.
• It’s not just about what you know or who you know, but who knows you. Build genuine relationships and make your work and value visible to others in your industry.
• When leading projects or teams, assess and invest in the right people, establish clear processes, deliver quality products, and ensure profitability. All four fundamentals must be aligned for success.
• Whether designing spaces or leading teams, always consider the human experience. Details matter—focus on how people feel and interact with your work.
• Trust your instincts, appreciate the people and opportunities around you, and remember to enjoy the ride—even when it’s challenging.

Quote of the Show:

“At the end of the day, we’re creating everlasting memories.” - Eileen Madigan

Links:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eileenamadiganasid/ 
• Website: https://www.sands.com/ 

Shout Outs:

• 0:40 - Leo A Daly https://leoadaly.com/ 
• 0:41 - Rosewood Hotels and Resorts https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/default 
• 0:43 - Four Seasons https://www.fourseasons.com/
• 1:29 - Bruno Viterbo https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruno-viterbo/ 
• 8:44 - Rob Goldstein https://investor.sands.com/governance/executive-management/default.aspx 
• 8:45 - Patrick Dumont https://investor.sands.com/governance/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=9c208f5c-ee7e-4166-a224-99617ab747a4
• 15:44 - New World https://www.newworldmillenniumhotel.com/en/?utm_source=glopss&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=campaign 
• 15:57 - Sonia Cheng https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Cheng 
• 16:12 - Hotel de Crillon https://www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-de-crillon 
• 16:40 - Carl Lagerfield https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Lagerfeld 
• 26:32 - Tom Pheasant https://www.thomaspheasant.com/ 
• 26:36 - Turtle Creek https://www.turtlecreekcasino.com/ 
• 35:13 - David Collins https://www.davidcollins.studio/ 
• 37:31 - All Suites Tower https://www.sands.com/news/marina-bay-sands-multi-billion-dollar-expansion-enters-final-phase-of-design-enhancements/ 
• 40:32 - Katherine Blaisdell https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-blaisdell-1103ab5/ 
• 40:37 - Evan Burton https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanburton1/ 
• 45:33 - HD Vegas https://hdexpo.hospitalitydesign.com/ 
• 48:23 - Kevin Tyjer https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-tyjer-ncidq-a33778a/ 
• 50:56 - Dallas Mavericks https://www.mavs.com/ 
• 1:01:47 - Sivan O’Leary https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhanholeary/ 
• 1:01:49 - Aubergine Partners https://aubergine-partners.com/ 
• 1:01:52 - Seven Levels of Energy https://amzn.to/41pCimh 

🏨✨ Defining Hospitality is Sponsored by Berman Falk https://www.bermanfalk.com/ - Check out their impact page! 🌍🌱 https://www.bermanfalk.com/impact/ 

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
• Transistor: https://www.defininghospitality.live/