Meet Olga Cotofana | Senior Director, Design at PMG

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

Hi Olga, what are you inspired by?
I am highly inspired by nature. Most of my inspiration comes from nature, because nature is the best designer. I also get a lot of my inspiration from books and travel. I read a lot and can become inspired from just about anything that’s written on a page. The adventure of reading and traveling inspires me a lot.

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?
What sets me apart is my heritage and knowledge of design throughout the world. I am originally from Eastern Europe, but I have lived in many places throughout my life, including Italy and London. I have also traveled around the world and am constantly being exposed to different design senses and traditions from other countries. This gives me a broader range of ideas on how to cultivate interesting spaces through design. Also, when I design a space, I actually envision myself living in that space so I don’t separate myself from the project. I make sure that I would feel comfortable and at home while living there to ensure residents will have a positive experience as well.

Up to today, it’s been a lot of hard work, grinding through the ups and downs, and dedication. If you wanted to quantify it, it’s been about 90 percent hard work, and 10 percent talent. However, it’s all been super rewarding to tackle. I’ve learned that I can overcome challenges through the love and passion I have for what I do. This isn’t work for me, it’s something I love. That makes any challenges that come through worth it.

I’ve learned that, no matter what comes through, everything’s going to be okay. Even if it seems like you are in a difficult situation or what you are handling is hard, everything will pass. In business, I’ve noticed that it can be rainy one day and sunny the next. You just have to work through it and focus on your goal at the end of the road. Things will be okay.

I am living my dream. When I was in architectural school, I remember telling everyone that I would be working with high-rises, and they laughed. Now, I get to work with them every day. It goes to show you that everything is possible.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
It depends which best friend I am with, but I do think I would bring anyone to District 11 so that I could introduce them to the vibrant nightlife around our project, E11EVEN Hotel & Residences. There is so much to do in that area and we could spend lots of time exploring. I would also have to take them to Faena for brunch and MILA for dinner. In our free time, I would bring them to explore the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Frost Museum of Science. I have a membership to both and they are really cool places for anyone to enjoy. The good thing about Miami is that there is so much to see and do no matter where you go.

If you are someone who likes sports, I highly recommend attending a Miami Heat game. That is a must. If you are someone who enjoys art and performances, the Pérez Art Museum Miami and the Miami City Ballet are wonderful. For more unique nature activities, the Frost Museum of Science or even Miami Beach is perfect. Beyond this, I really encourage people to check out the Wynwood Walls and the Design District. There are so many local restaurants, beautiful art pieces, and up-and-coming fashion designs to see there.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
PMG, absolutely. They have given me the opportunity to work on incredible projects that all look amazing and are truly awe-inspiring. Their belief in me is something I’m very grateful for every day. They should receive a shoutout, for sure.

Website: https://propertymg.com/

Image Credits
Credit: ArX Creative, PMG and PMG Residential