Rising ICON #27: Jenna Myrland
What name do you prefer to be called?
Jenna
What are your pronouns?
She/Her
Where did you grow up?
Twin Cities
What city are you currently based in?
Eden Prairie, MN
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
(genuine eye contact) Hi, I’m Jenna. It’s so wonderful to meet you!
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I am fierce and purpose-driven - qualities that have been my greatest assets throughout my career. A former colleague once gave me a nickname in French that roughly translated to “sweet iron”... kindness and compassion fueled by vision and the grit to see it through.
Who do you help?
I work alongside small businesses to help shape and realize their vision in the built environment.
What are you building now?
An integrated interior design consultancy. I provide creative guidance & direction to business owners as they navigate shaping their core values, business identity, and the myriad elements of designing an environment that brings the full vision to life.
What were you building ten years ago today?
At home - my first human & identity as a mother, At work - an engagement platform to elevate the voices, experiences and ideas of frontline humanitarian workers around the globe, and meaningful relationships with members of the Somali diaspora to re-envision a new collaborative humanitarian response in Somalia.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
Working alongside a multidisciplinary community of blue sky thinkers to reimagine and iterate holistic, human-centered design in the built environment.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
“According to IIDA (as of 2020), 69% of the 87,000 practitioners in the interior design industry are women, yet female leadership at design firms is only 25%. Additionally, only 36% of newly licensed architects are women and 2% are black.” Source: https://www.iands.design/interior-design/design/article/10168355/heres-why-the-design-industry-lacks-diversity-and-how-it-will-change
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
Through my work in the humanitarian field, I’ve seen the ability of intentional design of the built environment to imbue agency, belonging, dignity and beauty - leading to transformational impact at the individual and societal level. I believe that beyond the comfort & design of your current reality, environments form the contours of our memories and can help to shape our capacity to imagine what’s possible.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
While I’ve had many mentors who’ve shaped my path and thinking, I credit Daniel Wordsworth, current CEO of World Vision Australia & former CEO of Alight for having the greatest impact on my ethos and approach to design. He taught me how to truly see people, to begin from a place of curiosity and empathy… and that it’s all in the shoes.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Interviews on behalf of Alight, they gave me the chance to speak authentically as part of a much greater effort.
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
Mpls St. Paul Magazine
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Dax Shepard, Armchair Anonymous on the Topic “Epic Travel Fail”
If you had to give a TEDTalk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Design for Human Connection
What award would mean the most to win?
Core77 Design Award for the Built Environment
What makes zero sense to you?
So much, but especially mandated standardized tests in K - 12. More than ever divergent thinking and diversity of perspective are required in our society and world to form innovative solutions, yet we’re still prioritizing rote memorization.
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets re-evaluated?
Not a word, but an image… The endless pursuit of the perfectly styled Instagrammable interior. If we’re designing for the camera, aren’t we missing the whole point?
What game are you changing?
Design for authentic connection and belonging in commercial and public spaces.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Building more conversation, connection, and partnerships around the above topic. Where there’s energy, there’s momentum!
Where can we follow you online?
Instagram - @jennamyrland
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Empathy.
To visit Jenna online, you can view her work here: www.JMWorkshop.com
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We’re grateful to each Rising ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Jenna, for sharing your story!
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“I believe that beyond the comfort & design of your current reality, environments form the contours of our memories and can help to shape our capacity to imagine what’s possible.”
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