In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with three women who have each built a business on their own terms: Laylah Holmes, founder of Holmes Bespoke, Kalpa Patel, owner of Prestige Bathrooms, and Deborah Fiddy, founder of Gingerlily.

Their routes into the industry look very different. Laylah moved from fashion and Ralph Lauren into rug design and started her business when her first daughter was eight months old. Kalpa went from retail management into bathrooms, then took over the business she had joined as an admin hire. Deborah left a career as an in-house...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie sits down with award-winning designer Róisín Lafferty, founder of Róisín Lafferty Studio and Róisín Lafferty Gallery, for a rich and generous conversation about creativity, craftsmanship, and building a design business with no script to follow.

Roisín shares the story of starting her studio at just 24, with no funding, no safety net and no real business plan, and how sixteen years of discipline, curiosity and self-belief have grown it into a team of 26. She speaks candidly about the intimidation of working with far more ex...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with Jenny Weiss and Helen Bygraves, the founding directors behind Hill House Interiors, for a warm and candid conversation marking 29 years in business together.

Jenny and Helen tell the story of how a chance meeting through their ex-husbands, and an impromptu champagne-fuelled trip to Henley, turned into a working partnership built on a six-month trial neither of them expected to outlast a single season. They speak openly about who they were when they started, Jenny rebuilding her confidence after stepping back from work to raise her children...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with award-winning architect and interior designer Natalia Miyar for a candid and deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and a decade of building one of London's most distinctive design studios.

Natalia shares her unconventional path into architecture, a journey that began in Mexico City, moved through Miami, and led her to London, where she has now spent almost twenty years. She speaks openly about the naivety of starting her own studio, the toughest lessons of the first few years, and why she believes happiness, like resilience, is...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with interior designer Enass Mahmoud, founder of Studio Enass, for a powerful and honest conversation about heritage, representation, and what it means to build a design career with no roadmap to follow.

Enass shares her journey from Sudan and London, growing up surrounded by the colour, craft and eccentric self-expression of Sudanese culture, and how that visual language has shaped her design philosophy. She speaks candidly about the reality of starting out with no industry connections and no Sudanese reference point in design to look to, and...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with artist and founder Caroline Chinakwe for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about identity, creativity, and building a brand that reflects culture and truth.

Caroline shares her unconventional journey from a 20-year career in fashion into the art world, a transition that was never planned, but driven by a desire to represent Black women with authenticity, strength, and beauty. She speaks candidly about imposter syndrome, starting again later in life, and why she refused to follow the narrative of the “struggling artist.”

The conversation expl...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with Rose Murray, founder of These White Walls, for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about creativity, identity, and the evolving role of the designer.

Rose’s path into interior design was anything but traditional. With a background in anthropology and early experience in editorial, she began her career working alongside Nigella Lawson before moving into festival spaces, scenography, and hospitality. This organic journey shaped her belief that space is never neutral, it is a powerful tool for storytelling, identity, and human connection.

Since founding Th...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Brian Woulfe, founder of Designed by Woulfe, for a candid conversation about building an international interior design studio without a traditional path.

Brian’s journey into design was anything but conventional. Originally trained as a musician, he found himself unexpectedly working on luxury properties in Thailand during the global recession, an experience that would shape his practical, on-site approach to design and business.

Since then, Brian has completed projects across five continents and built Designed by Woulfe in...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, for an in depth conversation about global hospitality design, cultural luxury, and building an international studio without ego.

From leading iconic projects for One&Only, Six Senses, and Banyan Tree Dubai, to growing BLINK into a 120 person practice across Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, and London, Clint shares what it really takes to scale a creative business while protecting its culture.

Born in Hawaii and now based in Bangkok for over 20 years, Clint reflects on...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen Zeremariam sits down with interior designer and founder of House of Black, Toni Black, for a candid and powerful conversation about fighting racism in the design industry.

Toni shares what it was really like trying to break into interiors as a young Black woman, including the bias she experienced during recruitment and interviews, and the resilience it took to keep going when doors repeatedly closed. She reflects on how prejudice shaped her strength, why representation still matters, and what it means to stand firm in your identity while building...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down for a candid conversation about her journey from luxury fashion at Dior and LVMH to founding OLISE Magazine.

From cold-calling her way into the industry to managing high-pressure fashion shows, relocating between Paris, New York, and London, and ultimately creating her own platform, Annie shares the realities behind ambition, resilience, and creative leadership.

She reflects on building OLISE without permission, trusting her instincts, assembling a high-performing team, and staying focused in the face of doubt. Along the way, she opens up about motherhood, marriage...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Bilen sits down with interior designer and founder Alex Dauley for an honest conversation about identity, ambition, and building a career with integrity.

Alex shares her journey from a small village in Wales to creating a thriving design studio in London, and how she entered the industry later in life with no network, no portfolio, and a decision to back herself anyway. She speaks candidly about motherhood, the reality of “having it all”, and why boundaries, honesty, and kindness matter in an industry that is often more polished than transparent.

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with Vanessa Brady OBE, founder of the Society of British and International Interior Design (SBID), to explore her extraordinary journey through the design industry, from its unregulated early days to today’s global, professionalised landscape.

Vanessa reflects on resilience, integrity, and the importance of standing up for yourself in business. She shares candid stories from working with global clients, navigating cultural complexity, and building an organisation that protects and elevates designers worldwide.

Together, they discuss why boundaries matter, how the industry has evolved, and wh...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White sits down with James White and Elliot March, founders of the internationally renowned studio MAWD (March and White Design).

Together, they explore how design creates emotional impact, what it means to build hospitality spaces with soul, and how a global perspective influences their work across London, Dubai, New York, and Los Angeles.

James and Elliot talk openly about the creative process, the value of collaboration, and why the most successful interiors are the ones that make people feel something.

In this episode:<...

In this episode of the OLISE Podcast, Annie White speaks with Farshid Tafazzoli, Co-Founder of Material Bank, about the future of material sourcing, sustainability, and the technology reshaping the design industry.

From simplifying the sampling process to building smarter circular systems, Farshid shares how Material Bank is transforming the way architects and designers work and what’s next as the platform expands across Europe.

In this episode:
• How Farshid started his path to becoming a tech entrepreneur
• The story behind Material Bank and its expansion to Europe
• How technology is improvin...