Article on Gazella featuring K5's Sales Executive: LISA CUNNINGHAM
EXCERPT FROM GAZELLA.COM.AU FOR THE FULL ARTICLE CLICK HERE
“A zoom meeting in February, out of lockdown but still not out and about, we caught up with Lisa to hear about her journey through the design and furniture industry. Lisa has such a wide-ranging experience on projects big and small, in design, in sales and in business. It was really great to learn about her journey and how she has carved out a path that suited her, her family and her career..”
I got to the point where I had been there for six years and I wanted to do something new, so I went across to KFive. Erna Walsh is an amazing CEO and she gave me a lot of support and a lot of opportunities, and we’ve done some really good projects together and it’s been a real win win. I love working with them. They insisted I go to the Milan Fair, which I had never been to. Last year we went to the Stockholm Fair, and the very first year I started with them I spent two weeks in Sweden going to all the factories and brands and learning about all the products. I love traveling and it’s something I really enjoy doing, so yeah, I kind of always tell people that the world of furniture has taken me around the world and that’s been a real bonus in my career path.
I think what I’m always wanting the best outcome. You know, if the conversation starts getting heated or going off the rails you just get back to getting the solutions and getting the best outcome for everyone. There’s no point in getting emotional about things. There’s no winner. It’s not like I’m competing with these consultants or with these builders. We are there to work on the project together. I hate conflict and I hate having to justify why I’ve done something. I hate being spoken down to. I always bring it to that level playing field that the outcome is for the client and looking for the solution. It can be so frustrating just dealing with these people that make it overly complicated and have unnecessary drama. If you’ve got a project, and a supplier and a lead time then put it all together and happy days.
Lisa in the Melbourne K5 FURNITURE Showroom, with our very own Artie!!!
In those two years of mat leave I still went and got some training, and I went back online and did some recognition of prior learning in project management and management. I thought, I’m going to keep myself employable. I’ve got a lot of close friends who are still in the industry as interior designers, and I still catch up with them. Two years as a first time mum it just flew. I was very lucky, because I was 43 when I had my baby. We had to do IVF and so I was just thrilled to be a mum. Having my baby late wasn’t by choice. I wanted to be a mum in my mid thirties, but I had a relationship that failed and then trying to find a new partner and a potential dad isn’t easy in your late thirties. I was lucky, my husband came along and we both had the same goals – we wanted to be parents pretty quick, so, it all happened.