Meet Jillian Ziska | Creative Director & Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jillian Ziska and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jillian, what is the most important factor behind your success?
The key to success is your people. The people you choose to fill your bus seats with is ultimately going to be the key ingredient to a successful outcome. By that, finding not just the most qualified people, but the people who are more excited about the potential than the destination. Meaning, if the company changes course or the end destination, that the employee is on board because they ultimately know their future and the future of the company is in good hands. As a business owner who has seen exponential growth in the last few years, I honestly have to attribute a good bit of that success to the team behind me! This company wouldn’t be half of what it is without the endless efforts of those who not only invest their time and talents to the company, but do so with an incredible attitude and positive outlook. Are we always going to be perfect? No. But we have every bit of reason to give our all and push the limits and boundaries to continue to grow and expand our brand in the hospitality industry.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
To Be Designed is a hospitality brand in the San Diego area. We specialize in bringing unique, out of the box designs and elements to all aspects of a persons life. Whether we’re designing their home, their wedding or producing some of our own passion projects, we are extremely proud of what we’ve built and brought to the table. I’ve always wanted a place where I could dream big and not worry about failure. That sounds a little crazy, and of course everything has to have calculated risk, but it’s incredible how much you can accomplish or do if you’re willing to put yourself out there and go out on a limb. Is anything in life easy? I don’t think anything is easy, but things that are meant to be or make sense always seem to flow nicely. With this company, we’ve had the opportunity to grow bigger and better than I ever imagined. We’ve been fortunate enough to expand not only internally with our staff, but in projects that affect our community and our clients. The best part is knowing and staying true to the saying “experience is everything”. Whether it’s an initial meeting or a full day install or production, we want the experience to be nothing but amazing with our clients. Being cookie cutter isn’t our style and we’re willing to push the envelope and create the elements people wish existed; that right there has been the key to our success and what continues our growth. I’ve always said, relationships are the most important thing you can have in the hospitality industry. A good rapport and relationship can be the ticket to incredible success and I truly feel blessed to say we have accomplished this.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a food lover, I would definitely take them straight from the airport to Little Italy – walk the Piazza, grab some yummy brunch at Morning Glory, maybe hop down to the harbor and take in the salty air. Once our bellies were bursting with Bloody Mary’s and waffles, I’d hop over to Coronado and rent beach cruisers to ride around the island; show them all of the beautiful homes and sites Coronado has to offer – walk the beach at the Del! For dinner, we’d head up the coast to Campfire in Carlsbad. Shop the little stores around and enjoy the yummy, smoky food + drinks!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who have touched my life in positive ways. From my parents who have taught me hard work and the benefits of it, to mentors in the industry who have showed me how to manage a P&L or deal with a difficult situation, everyone has played a part. I’m thankful for my mom who showed me the ropes in decorating and making not only a beautiful home, but valuing an even more beautiful life. Taking pride in those elements of my life have given me the opportunity to bless others with incredible weddings and events, homes that feel just right and relationships that have encouraged a lot of growth. To my husband who has never let me down and has pushed me to challenge me to think bigger and bolder; I am forever thankful for an incredible partner who inspires me to be my best self daily. They say raising children takes a village and if you believe that your business is just like having a child, it too takes an even bigger village of people willing to ride or die with you!

Website: www.tbdsandiego.com
Instagram: @tbdsandiego
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tbdsandiego
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/to-be-designed-san-diego-2

Image Credits
Suzanne She Wanders Cavin Elizabeth Your Face is Rad Honey Photographs