Not Ready? Do It Anyway with Kathryn O'Callaghan Mills

Episode notes

Subscribe to Show Notes for more from Space by Stansons at In this episode, Guy sits down with Kathryn O’Callaghan-Mills, founder of Studio Sevyn, to explore her journey through the design and build industry and what she has learned about leadership, listening, and backing yourself. Kathryn reflects on her path from starting out as a receptionist to rising through the industry, joining leadership teams, and eventually launching her own studio. She shares how hard work, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose shaped her career, alongside a drive to make the journey easier for other women coming into the industry. A key theme throughout the conversation is equality in design and build. Kathryn speaks openly about the lack of female role models at senior level, the importance of true support and mentorship, and why better leadership means creating opportunities for people to grow in ways that work for them. The discussion also explores what makes great design. Kathryn explains why listening is one of the most important skills in the process, arguing that the best outcomes come from understanding the client properly rather than chasing the biggest idea in the room.