A Conversation with Nicole Craanen
As Nicole Craanen reflects on her path to her business, The Biophilic Design Institute, there is clarity to how personal and professional experiences and decisions over the last 25 years have led her to this moment.
“It is super clear, and I no longer have any doubts. I just had to figure out the steps to make it happen. It’s like a blurry lens coming into focus. That doesn’t mean there aren’t hard days, but I see it so clearly now, and everything is aligned.”
We asked Nicole to share some of her reflections with us. Learn about the people, resources, and actions that helped give her the clarity and confidence to create The Biophilic Design Institute.
Who have been the most influential people in your career journey?
In my journey, my professor Kristín Thorleifsdóttir was especially influential as she was the person who introduced me to biophilic design. Likewise, there are noteworthy, industry-recognized people who have been influential, such as Sonja Bochart.
Over my career, I have become very comfortable with reaching out and connecting to anyone whose work I admire. I encourage designers to do the same. So many professionals are willing to share their time and energy if you just ask. I am grateful to the ones who have been valuable resources to me. Some, like Kristín, have supported me for a long time.
I also want to acknowledge the students and young professionals who have written kind notes to me about how I inspired them. Sometimes, that has kept me going on this journey more than any senior professional. I print out those messages and hang them on my wall to inspire me each day.
What are some things you did to help you understand yourself and figure out the next step in your career journey?
I completed a strengths test and later a values test. The strengths test helped me see that I had been in roles that weren’t suited to my strengths, such as my ability to absorb information (Achiever, Input, Learner, Connectedness, Intellection). That is why I was feeling anxious in some of my positions. I was not able to utilize the skills that were natural to me. I had to find a way to do something that I really loved, that felt good to me, and that I was good at. When creating my business plan, I started with my strengths and values to ensure the business aligned with me as a whole person.
What resources were helpful for starting your business?
I connected with SCORE and took an entrepreneurship course through the University of Wisconsin Small Business Development Center.
I also joined a local group of small business owners. I never would have made it to my business launch without that group. I needed the sense of community and the support they offered. Talking to other entrepreneurs provides amazing support. So many entrepreneurs want to see others succeed, and they are willing to share what they’ve learned along the way.
Resources:
Learn more about Nicole’s Career Journey in the next blog post —Designing with meaning and purpose.