Ana Granados
“Just be authentic. Choose a company or product that meets your standards, and the rest will follow. I have always prided myself of the companies I have represented. Your name will be linked to those companies for the time you are working with them and probably even after, so choose wisely. ”
ArchNative, meet Ana Granados,
Ana is the Chief Operations Officer at Ferreira de Sa, one of the biggest and oldest existing companies producing hand-made rugs in Europe. In her role, Ana is expanding and establishing the company in the United States. We sat down with Ana to discuss her upbringing in Spain and the influence this had on her appreciation for architecture and history, her time studying business in Madrid, and her advice for individuals who are looking to start their careers in the Business Development side of design industry.
Tell me about yourself. What initially sparked your interest in architecture and design?
My arrival to the architectural and design world happened merely by chance. I had been awarded a one-year professional internship with the Trade Commission of Spain in New York and I was assigned to the Interiors from Spain department. That was in 2006 and it was my first exposure to manufacturers in the design industry.
I came from the public sector, and my first job had been in Brussels working for the European Union, so I always thought I was going to find a job at the UN! However, the design industry crossed my path during my first year in NYC and I fell in love with the companies and the people working in it! I found my passion there.
How has growing up in Granada, Spain, with The Alhambra in your backyard, impacted your appreciation for architecture and history?
When you grow up in a city like Granada, that is all you know, so you think that it is normal! My appreciation for architecture and history is something that has developed over the years, learning to appreciate my hometown even more from afar, enjoying it every time I go back to visit my family.
I have learned more about my city and the rich history of my country by being away from it. That appreciation keeps growing every day.
South Korea
You studied Internal Trade & Business in Madrid - describe your career evolution. How has living internationally strengthened your role as Chief Operations Officer at Ferreira de Sa?
My interest in the international scene began at a young age. I dreamt of being a journalist in New York City, feeling that my hometown was too small to fulfil my dreams. As a child I explored the world through books, which transported me to wonderful places.
As I grew older and entered college, I found a way to turn those dreams into reality. I had the opportunity to go study abroad, first in K.U. Leuven University in Belgium and then in France at the University of Rennes. When I graduated, I had completed my law degree at three universities, in three different countries, Spain, Belgium, and France, while immersing myself in the culture and making friends worldwide, that was a truly enriching experience.
Those years I spent away from home, opened my eyes to a world I did not want to give up. Being exposed to different cultures and working in different languages, allowing to broaden my horizons and had a great impact in my development personally and professionally.
I received my master’s degree in international business in Madrid, where previous international experience and knowledge of languages was highly valued. This opened the doors for what became my future career and prepared me to face a multicultural professional environment of a city like New York.
How would you describe your role and what does your day-to-day look like?
This is not the first time in my career that I am responsible for the establishment of a new company in the United States. When I joined Ferreira de Sá (FdS) I knew what it would mean to start the subsidiary of a European company in the United States, working on the day-to-day operations while also developing long-term strategy and goals.
The easy part on my new role is waking up every day knowing that I represent a company that has already a proven record of creating high quality rugs, certified by wonderful projects all over the world. All it takes after that is your capacity and being humble and tackle every day with your best energy.
My day to day is no different from that of any other sales representative: I set up appointments and presentations, attend events, provide support and assistance for our clients in their projects, and collaborate with our team in Portugal to provide excellent service.
Granada
What strategies do you employ to motivate and inspire yourself, your team, and industry professionals?
I wouldn’t define this as a specific strategy, rather, it is more a day-to-day exercise, I simply try to use empathy. Empathy allows you to connect with others through their experiences, emotions and understand their perspective.
My own inspiration, I usually find it in the people I work with, whether they are colleagues, clients, partners or suppliers, there is so much to learn from all of them!
I spent some time in Portugal with Ferreira de Sa when I joined earlier this year, and I got to spend time with the different departments, from design to production, from quality to logistics, all of them. It was wonderful to be surrounded by wonderful professionals full of passion for what they do. Passion is contagious.
Before Ferreira de Sa, you were employed at an architecture firm and various fabrication studios – describe the material production side of the industry and the impact on design and construction.
There is common ground in the manufacturers I have worked for, such as material innovation, sustainability, and quality control and standards. Throughout my career, I have mostly worked for European manufacturers, which are at the forefront of sustainable practices in their processes, and Ferreira de Sá is no exception.
Companies like Cosentino have invested in innovation and research, not only to create innovative products, but also to make their factory and processes more sustainable.
The impact that products have on design and construction is a shared responsibility between many players. Manufacturers need to guarantee the durability of their products but also ensure that they are manufactured sustainably, with respect for their employees. Architects and designers, and their clients, play a crucial role in selecting those products for their projects.
I have noticed a growing trend among design offices, with Spacesmith being a great example, where they require every manufacturer to fill out a sustainability questionnaire before they invite them to come into their offices and get a spot in their libraries. They hold themselves accountable for the selection of products and materials used in their projects.
The next steps in this process will involve addressing the responsibility for managing the afterlife of products, which involves all players in the design industry, from manufacturers to end users.
Alaska
Is there a specific project or achievement in your career that you're particularly proud of? If so, what made it meaningful or memorable for you?
Professionally speaking, my time with Marset was the most memorable in my career and I owe it to who I have always considered my mentor, Mikel Orbe, who at the time, was the Head of Interiors at the Trade Commission of Spain.
He was the matchmaker who saw the potential in me and made the connection with the Marset family, who thanks to him, entrusted a very young girl with little experience in the market, to build their company in the United States. Witnessing the growth of that project now, and seeing where they are today, fills me with pride.
It was also Mikel Orbe who built the confidence that I had to find in myself to be able to succeed with that project. He was a friend, a mentor, and the support I needed when times were difficult. My career would have not been what it is today without him.
I hope I can one day have a similar impact in the lives of young professionals in our industry.
Are there industry resources (literature, podcasts, organizations, etc) that you recommend to AEC professionals?
The offerings may be overwhelming, especially now that we have online access to almost everything written or published. I recommend choosing publications and organizations that have a direct link with your profession or the network you are trying to build.
More importantly, select those that will expand your knowledge in a subject matter you are interested in, whether it is related with your field of work or not. Anything that will enrich you as a person, will enrich you as a professional too.
I personally enjoy participating with professional organizations like IIDA, NEWH, etc. When it comes to literature, I love reading fiction (usually in Spanish) and business books simultaneously. As for podcasts, one of my recent favourites is hosted by Italian novelist and playwright Michela Murgia (who sadly passed away last summer) and Chiara Tagliaferri, called 'Morgana'. They share stories of women in history, from Veuve Clicquot and Angela Merkel, to Madonna and Marina Abramovic, J.K. Rowling and Zaha Hadid to name a few. I simply love it.
Ferreira de Sa
Do you have advice for young professionals entering a Business Development role?
Just be authentic. Choose a company or product that meets your standards, and the rest will follow. I have always prided myself of the companies I have represented. Your name will be linked to those companies for the time you are working with them and probably even after, so choose wisely.
In any business development role, proper follow up is always key: create your own system that will allow to follow up with the people you are interested in, and more importantly, to follow up with the things you said you would. Be true to your word.
What are your hobbies outside of work?
I love discovering everything New York City has to offer in terms culture, art, music with my partner Marco. When our schedules allow, we enjoy traveling around the world and discovering new places. We aim to visit at least 2 new destinations every year that we have never been to before. Last year, we explored South Korea and Alaska. In 2024, we are planning trips to Taiwan and Scotland.
Interview by: Natalie Dargham
Photos by: Marco Anelli