Women Who Inspire: Nirmala Ferrao

Interior Designer

“This is one kick-ass woman! Although she started out as a client, I consider Nirmala to be one of my dearest friends. A powerhouse woman in business and design, she has the warmest, biggest heart and an infectious sense of humour. Her depth and wit are outstanding.”

Tell us what you do

What I do is 60% managing an interior design office and 40% managing a real estate business. In that first capacity, we work with clients to turn their dreams into a reality, to create three-dimensional spaces that reflect who they are, that become an extension of who they are. There are links between the two, but in my second capacity, there’s also the element of understanding the history of a construction, understanding how people live and how they want to live, understanding neighborhoods and looking into the future to see how those communities can grow.

What do you love about your job?

I love the collaborative process, negotiating between the client’s vision and our interpretation. I love working with talented people who can make that dream into a reality. I love the dynamic, funny and authentic people who work in my office and who make our work meaningful with their passion. And I especially love working with a new generation, passing on to them the thoughtful intelligence, integrity and respect that’s needed for real success, for real job satisfaction. Our office is like a family and that human connection is so key to our collective ability to grow and prosper.

Core values

Humour, authenticity and honesty

What/who inspires you?

My children and they way they look at the world, innocent and new. I am amazed to see my value system reflected in the decisions they make, their honesty and how they overcome their own personal challenges. I believe in them and they are going above and beyond what I had hoped.

What advice would you give the next generation?

Do everything in an honest way, have courage and fortitude and everything is possible. Be unwilling to give up. Apply yourself and believe in yourself. Courage must be built, so don’t be scared to fail, to be rejected. Don’t give with the expectation of receiving, but know that it will come back to you. If you strive to be a decent human being in everything you do, you will succeed.

Your future goals

What we do is so ethereal, fleeting. The work that we do will probably be replaced in 5-7 years, but relationships are timeless. Leaving a legacy is not about business, it’s about leaving behind good people, so I will continue to be gracious and generous with those around me. I will continue to live with what I require and give when it’s needed. I will continue to choose love over fear.

The Olimpia Questionnaire

What is your favourite quality in a friend?

Humour, intellect and personal honesty.

What is your motto? 

There are no short cuts to any place worth going.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Raising my sons to be grateful for all they have, remembering where our family comes from and giving back to the world through hard work, honesty and generosity.

To learn more about Nirmala and her work, visit DiMarco Ferrao Design.