Confronting Privilege in Design

Susan Pilato, a Virginia interior designer and CEO of furniture manufacturer Mantra Inspired Furniture, is using her power as a commercial manufacturer and her 30-year interior design career as tools to dismantle racist systems where she encounters them and to amplify this work. We explore the importance of authenticity in professional interactions and the need for genuine connections in certain spaces.Lastly, we emphasized the importance of having those tough, uncomfortable conversations. They're the ones that push us towards a more inclusive and understanding professional landscape. It's about being in spaces that allow for genuine and meaningful discussions.

Formally trained as an interior designer, Susan Pilato is the CEO of Mantra Inspired Furniture and a co-founder of PC&A Business Environments, a commercial furniture dealership. Pilato is one of Virginia's Top 50 Women Leaders of 2024 and a 2021 recipient of Interior Design magazine’s HiP for Greater Good Award, given to industry pros who improve the lives of others.