Our Founder’s journey from corporate burnout to creative entrepreneurship

Boardroom to Bespoke: Why I Built Elisa Design

What began as a home renovation turned into a life-changing leap—from corporate leadership to creative entrepreneurship. This is the story behind Elisa Design, and why it matters.Audrey – passionate designer, former corporate strategist, and founder of Elisa Design. I believe your home should reflect your life beautifully — not just look good, but work hard for the way you live.

It Started with a Compliment—and a Realisation

When friends first visited my home after our renovation, I kept hearing the same thing:
“You have such an eye for this. You should do it professionally.”

I was flattered—but at the time, I was 23 years into a corporate career as a senior executive in investment banking, managing multi-million-pound projects across Brexit, regulatory reform, cost reduction and more. It was high-pressure, high-responsibility work. I was good at it. But I was also tired.

Tired of spending weekends and nights building someone else’s business.

Tired of yearly battles to justify promotions and pay rises.

Tired of a leadership culture I no longer aligned with—even though I was part of it.

And tired of measuring my value through meetings about KPIs instead of meaningful work.

Then one day, my children asked me to speak at their school about how I contributed to society. 

And I couldn’t say yes.

While I had delivered high-value projects for global clients, I realised I wanted my work to feel more personal, visible — and impactful. Especially to the people who matter most: my family. 

That question changed everything.

From Corporate Confidence to Creative Courage

Leaving a well-paid, stable career was terrifying. I was the main earner for my family. I was walking away from status, structure, and certainty. And for a while, I worked unpaid, building something from nothing.

But I discovered something priceless:
Every hour I worked, I worked for my business. For my future.
And every part of that business could be shaped around my children’s lives—not the other way around.

After managing multi-million pound projects across London's financial district, I discovered my true passion lay in creating beautiful, functional homes for Hertfordshire families. Combining corporate project management rigor with creative vision, I founded Elisa Design to help busy families navigate home renovations without the stress I experienced in my own projects.

I began working with wonderful clients, trades and suppliers. I found joy in helping people make better decisions, avoid the costly mistakes I’d made in my own home renovations, and create spaces that reflected who they are and how they live.

Most of all, I heard something I hadn’t heard in decades of corporate life:

“Thank you.”

Not the formal kind. The genuine, heart-warming, sometimes tearful kind.

I’d delivered hundreds of high-stakes projects for corporate clients—and yet I could count on one hand how many times someone truly expressed gratitude. Now, it’s a regular part of my work.

The Name That Means Everything

The name Elisa Design is a blend of my children’s names:
Eloise and Isaac.

It’s a daily reminder of what inspired this journey—and why it was worth every risk.

Today, they’re not just proud of me—they’re involved.
My son has developed a passion for drawing in perspective, learning 1-point and 2-point techniques with me. My daughter curates colour palettes and reviews moodboards, even choosing the scheme for her own bedroom refresh using my Benjamin Moore fan deck.

They see design not just as décor, but as care, creativity, and impact.

Corporate Rigour Meets Design With Heart

Before interior design, I was delivering complex programmes across global banks—coordinating 50+ team members, overseeing large budgets, mapping dependencies, resolving risks under pressure, and steering through projects where mistakes could cost millions.

Now I bring that same rigour, foresight and calm to design projects.

Clients benefit from:

• Detailed planning (not just visual dreaming)
• Realistic budgeting and forward thinking
• Trade coordination and issue resolution
• And a cool head when things (inevitably) get tricky on site

Nothing fazes me. I’ve led multi-national programmes. So a joinery delay? We’ll solve it.

Design, with Purpose and Personality

When I first renovated my own home, I faced the same decision fatigue many clients experience—choosing sockets, architraves, skirtings, lighting placement... all while juggling a demanding career and young kids. Some of those decisions still haunt me (false economies, layout regrets).

That’s why I now guide my clients with insight, empathy and planning—so they can enjoy the process, avoid the overwhelm, and love their home for years to come.

My favourite room? My bedroom.
It has double-height ceilings, and a bespoke joinery design that brings function and elegance together—just how I like it.

The Future of Elisa Design

Today, I run a growing studio supported by three incredible women—contractors based in Spain, France and Scotland—who are all fellow mums building their own creative businesses. One day, I’d love to build a full-time team of like-minded women: designers, planners, stylists and creatives who want meaningful work without sacrificing family.

Because for me, design has never just been about “beautiful rooms.”
It’s about creating lives that feel balanced, supported, and truly lived in.

And if I can help someone else feel that sense of pride, peace and purpose in their own space?

Then it’s all been worth it.