Jen Pinto, 38
Senior Interior Designer & Design Department Head, Jackson Design & Remodeling, San Diego
To say Pinto welcomes a challenge is an understatement. She began her career at Jackson as a design assistant straight out of college, worked her way up to senior designer, and in 2022 was promoted to lead the Interior Design Department while expecting her daughter. “I was a new mom at home, and at work I needed to figure out how to strengthen our team of younger designers,” she recalls.
#1 Question: Pinto knew it was all too easy for a designer (especially the quieter ones) to get lost in the crowd while trying to connect with a client among salespeople, PMs, and architects. To help develop her team, Pinto started with the question: “How do we get clients more engaged with designers in the beginning?” Pinto refined the design and sales process to be more client-centric and explored engagement tactics that started with the designer having questions prepared prior to the initial client meeting, and one-on-one meetings that could be done remotely.
The Power of Mentorship: “I strive to guide designers by sharing the experiences and lessons that shaped my career,” Pinto says. “I was fortunate to work with incredibly talented designers who encouraged my growth, and I want to do the same for the next generation.”
Podcast Recommendation: Design Matters