Today’s guest on the “Phil with Forbes 30” podcast is Kate Machtiger – Founder of Extra Terrestrial Studio

Forbes List: USA

Year: 2016

Category: Education

Kate Machtiger creates spaces that diversify and enhance our sensory landscape. She brings a strategic vision to complex projects and harnesses her multi-disciplinary design and business background to translate concepts into physical space.

• She was formerly Design Director at Assignment Studios, where she helped clients bring their brand visions to life in the form of retail spaces, pop-ups, and events.
• In 2016, Kate was selected to the Forbes 30 Under 30 for her role in developing emerging technology programs with the federal government.
• Previously, Kate served as a creative consultant on numerous large-scale real estate and hospitality ventures and as an innovation consultant for Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits. She began her career as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs where she put her math skills to work.
• Kate is living in NY City and is facing all the COVID challenges. Recently, she has put her efforts into creating rooms using spatial designs for frontline workers. The rooms are unique as they provide sensory relief to reduce stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of PTSD. They have proven to be effective and a great showcase for Mount Sinai to share with other healthcare facilities.
• Kate graduated from Princeton University with a B.S.E. in Civil Engineering and an M.B.A. from Said Business School at the University of Oxford. She began her career as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs where she put her math skills to work.
• I am sure you will learn and appreciate how she went from corporate America to doing work that was more personal to her. The transition took a lot of work and hustling, including creating a portfolio of work that was not completed “on the job.” The lessons Kate shares are appropriate for so many people who are reflecting during this time as to what are the next career moves one can make and what it takes to get there.
• During our conversation, she also shared thoughts on mentors and even Instagram influencers. And she is unique in how she looks at a product in relation to how it needs a space that embodies it. You can see the evidence in her pop-up work. Take a look at some of the spaces she has created, pictured on her website. And read her thought leadership piece on the future of physical spaces, retail and brands also on her website.  

• You can read Kate’s HBR article here: https://hbr.org/2020/06/what-will-the-retail-experience-of-the-future-look-like
• To learn more about the hospital design work, check out Kate’s friend, Mirelle on IG @studioelsewhere or https://www.studioelsewhere.co
• And please, think about supporting the Frontline Strong Relief on the GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/f/frontline-strong-relief-fund

“Under 30 Seconds Round”

1. What is the book you’ve gifted more often than any other book, and why?

• Einstein’s Dreams, Alan P. Lightman 

2. What’s one of the best investments and one of the worst investments you’ve ever made and why?

• Best - Weighted blanket.
• Worst - Overhyped shared house.

3. What is your favorite guilty pleasure or favorite cheat meal?

• New York Pizza

4. Pretend you won the Peter Thiel Fellowship and you were going to get money to start a business instead of go to college, what’s the very first thing you’d do to start a new business?

• I’d build a chocolate factory or theme park.

5. What’s something you never knew you needed?

• Margaritaville Frozen Concoction Maker(™)

GUEST INFO: Kate Machtiger – Founder of Extra Terrestrial Studio

• CONTACT: On IG & Twitter @katetigre
• WEBSITE: www.katemachtiger.com

HOST INFO: Phil Michaels

• SOCIAL: @iamphilmichaels
• YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/philmichaels
• PODCAST WEBSITE: www.philwithforbes30.com
• PHIL’s WEBSITE: www.iamphilmichaels.com

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