Column: Carolyn Mitchell – Leadership at CIUK Annual Luncheon

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In this month’s column, we are delighted to share the keynote address delivered by Carolyn Mitchell, Chairwoman of Commercial Interiors UK, at the recent Commercial Interiors UK Annual Luncheon.

Speaking before an audience of 570 members of our commercial interiors community, Carolyn extended a warm welcome to both familiar faces and new attendees. Her inspiring speech touched on themes of leadership, collaboration, and the vital contributions each member brings to shaping the future of our industry. We invite you to read her address in full and join in the vision for a stronger, more supported industry ahead.

‘You may be attending here today as a guest, a client, a member company, or simply supporting a colleague. You may be here in your capacity as a designer, an architect, a manufacturer, or a supplier. However, it’s important that each of you know how uniquely you contribute to shaping the future of our community and network. Together, we strive to create a dynamic collective of talent, innovation, and forward-thinking creativity.

However, we also all have a joint responsibility for shaping our industry culture. This is so important for attracting and retaining existing and new talent. We all know that the biggest asset to any business is its people and how we lead them.

We are here, representing our companies and products. And yes, it’s important to emphasize sustainability, technological innovation, and our “why.” But in the end, valued employees will be the ones to drive that creativity, problem-solving, adaptability, and ultimately drive profitability. When we respect, nurture, and invest in our people, we build a culture that is resilient and super productive. It’s so true that when our teams are happy, clients are happy, and in my experience, success generally follows.

The current industry landscape remains tough. It presents challenges that demand more from leaders than ever before—from the continued rise in raw material costs to the complexity of integrating sustainable practices. In an increasingly dangerous world of war and politics, and, more closely to home, navigating new government strategies and financial demands, yes, the pressure is immense. Added to that is the acceleration of digital transformation and the changing expectations of a multi-generational workforce.

It is clear that leadership today requires not just vision and resilience, but increasingly, being human, we seek out authenticity, compassion, and kindness from our leadership too. Of course, retaining valuable skills and talent avoids the costs of high turnover and frequent retraining. So, prioritizing your people isn’t just about workplace culture; it is a smart financial strategy. Stability results in stronger teams, building lasting relationships with clients, resulting in smoother project execution and higher customer satisfaction.

So, how leaders lead is not just about the what; it’s more importantly and increasingly becoming about the how.

Recognizing this, the CIUK Next Generation Awards 2025 are crafted to spotlight the rising stars and leaders within our industry—those whose outstanding leadership and forward-thinking initiatives elevate the work of designers, architects, and our clients. CIUK remains a guiding force in this area, supporting individual careers and development.

For me personally, throughout 35 years working within the industry, CIUK has fostered wonderfully enduring relationships and genuine friendships with others who share the same passion for pushing boundaries and ensuring the long-term success of our industry. In the end, we all want to work with people we like and trust. And that’s why, ultimately, we are all here today.

It’s also why I firmly believe that ensuring your business is fit for the future means bringing CIUK in as your co-pilot on this journey. CIUK is so much more than just a network of professionals; it’s a committed partner that stands alongside you as we work together to shape the future of our industry.

From thought leadership to trade shows, from resource-sharing to fostering collaboration, CIUK equips its members, and you as individuals, with the tools and knowledge needed to retain a commercial edge on a sustainable journey to success.’

Carolyn Mitchell, Chairwoman of Commercial Interiors UK

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