At the tender age of five, Golam Sarwar Sarina set foot in America with his parents from India and was deeply influenced by his dad’s profession as an architect. For four decades since then, he has shone brightly in the domain of interior design studios.
After growing up around the craft of architecture and committing four decades to interior design, Golam has earned a reputation for his reliable skill set and creative approaches. His enthusiasm is unmatched; he continuously introduces imaginative concepts combined with incomparable knowledge into every project.
Under the careful guidance of Mr. Sarwar, Golam was exposed to a world of design and interiors that quickly ignited a passionate spark within him. From summer vacations spent at his father’s studio to after-school days spent exploring different creative arts, he knew that this was something he wanted for himself.
During his time with his father, he learned the nuts and bolts of design, from color theory to more intricate concepts such as how colors can manipulate people’s feelings.
From a young age, Golam’s dream was to become an interior designer. He leapt at the opportunity to participate in dual enrollment programs during his senior year of high school, taking decisive steps towards realizing this ambition and setting himself up for future success.
By the time his classmates were just starting their freshman year, Golam had already completed two years of college and was heading into his sophomore year. After graduating from Austin’s School of Design and Creative Technology with a Bachelor’s in Interior Architecture and Design, he officially joined forces with his father at their architectural design firm as an assistant to launch a brand new interior design department!
Golam’s eye for creativity and his knack for choosing the perfect colors, combined with his expertise in window treatment design and furniture placement, endeared him to many. After he lost his father in 1993, Golam decided to start Sarina Interiors – a business built on delivering beyond expectations by continuously introducing ideas that excited customers.
For over thirty years, Golam has served hundreds of residential and commercial clients with unparalleled business success. Today, these same customers are reaping the benefits from their wise decision to trust in Golam’s expertise.
Golam Sarwar is absolutely thrilled to have been able to make his dream of a career come true. He enjoys hearing from customers and observing their delight when he makes their decorating ideas come to life. Not only does Golam bring joy to the lives of others, but he also loves being an amazing father for his two children, as well as being supportive of Rakhi in her freelance IT job. Besides work commitments, traveling around the world and exploring its different culinary delights are some of Golam’s favorite pastimes.
Thanks for joining us! Let’s start with getting to know who Golam Sarwar Sarina is. And what are you doing these days?
Thanks for having me! I am Golam Sarwar Sarina. I moved from India to the United States with my parents when I was 5 years old. I have been working in the field of interior design for the past four decades. My biggest inspiration is my father who had an architecture studio. My father was the one who first introduced me to the world of design. I started helping my father during my summer breaks and then I decided to take up this profession. I enjoyed being surrounded by colors and designs so I planned to pursue interior design as my career. I graduated from the School of Design and Creative Technology, Austin with a bachelor’s degree in Interior, Architecture & Design. After graduation, I formally joined my father’s architectural design firm as an assistant where I started a new department of interior design. This role enabled me to gain meaningful experience with color selection, window treatment, furniture placement, and ideas. In 1993, I founded Sarina Interiors and since then there is no looking back.
Nowadays I am in the process of expanding my business and opening another studio in Ohio.
What made you decide to become an entrepreneur?
Working for anyone else was never my goal, I always knew I would work for myself, just like my father did. After completing my education, I spent a couple of years working as a freelancer to gain in-depth working knowledge of the industry. I got an insight into the practical tips and tricks to develop a loyal clientele. I did numerous short courses in business management so that I can polish my entrepreneurial skills before I started my design studio. Even to date, I keep on learning new skills.
What would you say are the top 3 skills needed to be a successful entrepreneur, and why?
I am a designer and a creative person at heart and business management isn’t my strength but through my experience what I have learned over the years is one needs to master a couple of fundamental skills to succeed as an entrepreneur. According to me, a successful trajectory of an entrepreneur depends upon the following three skills.
First, you must have the service-based expertise that the market needs.
Second, you must have the proficiency and wisdom to connect with your intended client at the right time.
Third, one must have a growth mindset without worrying about failure.
You sound quite passionate about your work; why? Is there a story behind it?
As I mentioned earlier, my greatest inspiration was my father. He struggled after migrating from India but he made a life for himself and his family without giving up and all because of his passion and commitment to work. My father was a passionate designer and entrepreneur, and I spent hours at his studio witnessing his creative process and client dealing. My first exposure to the world of design was very exciting. I learned much about the psychology of colors and patterns just by being around creative people. This is how I started my journey as a designer.
How do you separate Sarina Interiors from your competitors?
The main factor that separates Sarina Interiors from its competitors is Golam Sarwar Sarina Son of Sarwar Gupta. Yes, I am the only difference because no one else is the son of a talented man like I am. My father always encouraged me to believe in myself and inspired me to have a creative approach to every project. I learned from my father to have a customer-centric business approach. I have solid experience, spread over 4 decades giving me a distinctive perspective on each project.
I am truly passionate about what I do, and I genuinely want to see my clients happy.
What was the biggest problem you encountered launching your Design Studio and how did you overcome it?
Not exactly a problem but the process was overwhelming at least for a creative and sensitive person like me. I felt really intimidated when I decided to make the huge investment of purchasing my Design Studio. Sarina Interiors was doing pretty well even in my home’s garage but I often felt the need for a proper setup to scale my business and for that, I had to take that giant leap. I was doubtful until I came across an excellent opportunity to lock in a deal at a fantastic price.
How do you stay driven and motivated to keep going in your business?
For me, staying motivated is directly proportional to a seamless process. When I started Sarina Interiors, I found it really challenging to keep up with all the creative work, managing staff, meeting clients, and visiting sites. But over the years, I have successfully built and established a process that has enabled me to stay on top of it. I have learned time management is the key. When you master this skill, you automatically stay motivated because of the timely completion of goals. Now all the processes at my studio are automated and spread out between me and my team.
What’s the best part of your job?
My client’s showing satisfaction with my skills and craft is the best part of my job. It fills me with new vigor to work even better when I find people trusting me and my creativity.
What is your definition of success?
Success is in the process. Success is when you build a community along your way to the top! Being the CEO of Sarina Interiors I have realized nothing is sustainable and worthy unless you build a fantastic support system in place. Every success is temporary without being a good team player. When you surround yourself with an incredible support system and grow them along with your dreams, success comes as a by-product.
Thank you so much for this truly amazing interview!
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