Blend Art And Business, Open Up Possibility with Devi Vallabhaneni
In this bonus episode, Devi Vallabhaneni joins Good Enough For Now as we explore how a creative life can blend with your professional one. Devi’s haute couture, three dimensional art is an expression of fashion and embroidery skills she honed as a hobby before becoming a professional artist.
She is the January/February 2023 artist exhibit at Sarah Gormley Gallery, owned by Sarah Gormley, a previous GEFN guest.
Tune in the be inspired by Devi’s discovery of her creativity how she brought innovation to a traditional craft based on her business confidence, and how not having a plan led her to success.
LISTEN NOW
what we cover in this episode:
How to follow your creative curiosity
Finding an art form, in Devi’s case haute couture embroidery, and using your confidence to innovate
Saying yes to risk when you’re trying a new skill
How not having a traditional ladder, outside of Devi’s corporate experience, allowed her to play and experiment
Don’t quit your day job to explore something new.
Appreciating where you are and not worrying about the next step can give you creative freedom.
What Good Enough For Now means to Devi:
Good enough for now is just being happy with somebody's response on Instagram. Like, there are strangers commenting on my Instagram. Like, really? That's so nice. And so that means I'm touching something in them. So I think good enough for now is just appreciating everything you have because I am forced to not worry about the next step. Whatever's next is next.
ABOUT
Devi Vallabhaneni is the owner and artist behind Devi Atelier, where she creates unique bespoke designs in handmade haute couture sequins and Japanese pearls. Each creation is infused with texture, color, and volume in the form of flowerings and parterre, mini gardens and sculpture tableau. She's also the founder of MBA IQ, which expresses her vision to make business education accessible and affordable. Through MBA IQ, Devi connects business schools with high quality candidates. She's also served on the Harvard Business School Admissions board.
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Stephanie (00:05):
Welcome to Good Enough for now a podcast aimed at dismantling perfectionism. One conversation at a time. I'm Stephanie Kruse and along with my guests on the show, we share stories of false starts, unexpected U-turns, and moments of reinvention that happen as we move through life. Thanks for joining me. My hope is that our conversations will help you stay grounded, feel a little less alone, and a little bit more together.
(00:41)
Today I'm talking to Devi Vallabhaneni. She lives two lives, one as an MBA admissions consultant, an entrepreneur, and the other as a visual artist. Devi Atelier was founded in 2015. Devi creates unique bespoke designs in handmade haute couture sequins and Japanese pearls. Each creation is infused with texture, color, and volume in the form of flowerings and parterre, mini gardens and sculpture tableau. She's also the founder of MBA IQ, which expresses her vision to make business education accessible and affordable. Through MBA IQ, she connects business schools with high quality candidates. She's also served on the Harvard Business School Admissions board and both sides, entrepreneur and artist live harmoniously. Her unexpected journey was the result of looking past the obvious and always believing that tomorrow is bigger than today. I really enjoyed this conversation with Devi and while we had just heard from Sarah Gormley about how to sort of get off the expected path of business and follow a creative interest, Devi and I talk a lot about following curiosity. And when you find an idea or a practice in Devi's case embroidery and the art form that it is that you want to follow and can't shake that idea in your brain constantly, how do you make efforts to incorporate it into your life? And letting go of the notion that we can control a ladder of achievement and just enjoying the knowledge that we gain and the discovery of a creative practice is enough. Enjoy this conversation. Hi. Welcome Devi Vallabhaneni.
Devi (02:29):
Well, thank you so much Stephanie, for having me today.
Stephanie (02:31):
What a fun conversation we're gonna have because you are somebody that has not only taken an unexpected turn and twist in your life journey and career, but you create beauty and high, haute couture fashion almost translated into your work. And so what I want to have our listeners understand is where you are in your life right now and what your work is about.
Devi (02:59):
Well, where I am in my life, um, this is the happiest I've ever been. I didn't think I could be this happy and calm and just like, eh, whatever's next is next. And that's a really good feeling to have.
Stephanie (03:12):
And what do you think is driving that?
Devi (03:15):
First of all, I think it's unexpected. I never even expected this life. I mean, to think that I would have a creative life to this level. I knew there was always something on the side that I always did. But for the longest time people are like, oh, that's just a hobby. No big deal. Right? But then to turn what you would've done anyway into something pseudo professional, the only reason I say pseudo is that I have a very big day job as well. But my art life is a professional. And to be a professional artist is something that <laugh>, if you had said, what are you gonna do in your future? I would've never put that even as a possibility, even though now I realize and I let myself even admit that it was a dream.
Stephanie (03:57):
Ah, you know, you hear about people in creative pursuits and don't expect to earn money. Right. Artists are popular and paid after they're dead <laugh>, you know, I mean so many of these conventions, this isn't a serious pursuit. And especially if you're creative, you know, keep it as a side project cuz it's not like you're gonna make anything of it. Right. I'm sure that there were some of those messages that you received.
Devi (04:25):
Oh, absolutely. So I realized I was creative from a young age, but I just figured, okay, that's just maybe part of me, but can I really do it and have people be enthralled by it? And I grew up in a very mathematical home in a very structured environment, uh, engineer, doctor, business person. Were, were the options. So I chose business. And then I guess the marriage of business and creativity was in my post MBA world of retail and fashion at the Gap. And so I figured that's enough. That was a great way to combine the two. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. But it wasn't until I said no, I think this is more me. So I went to fashion school and again, you think of after earning your mba, why are you gonna go back to school? Cause that's most people's terminal degree. But it was just more of, I needed more. And so fashion school became that outlet or that avenue for more. One of the first classes I took at school was an embroidery class, and this was haute couture embroidery. Completely different. And I'm like, and so it opened me up to a completely different world.
Stephanie (05:31):
Can you explain, just for people who maybe don't automatically understand what haute couture embroidery is, can you explain what that actual craft is about?
Devi (05:42):
So traditional embroidery is more with silk and cotton just threads. Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and flat. Haute couture embroidery is with what the French would call paillettes or sequin and beads. And the paillettes or the sequins are not what you see at Michael's or at a craft shop here, <laugh>. They're completely different. And on one of my trips to Paris, it was the summer, even before I started fashion school, I found the wholesaler in Paris that sells these materials to the haute couture houses. And it was a completely different world. So the manufacturer, there used to be 20 manufacturers in the late 18 hundreds and now there's only one left. And wow. They're the premier supplier for all over the world for these brands. And that's where I get my material. It's all custom made for me. It takes boring thread and completely changes what is possible,
Stephanie (06:35):
But the multi-dimensionality of it. Right. Exactly. Like my wedding dress. And it wasn't haute couture, but like that's the closest thing I can think of right. Is the beading the designs, those sorts of ideas.
Devi (06:47):
Exactly right.
Stephanie (06:48):
So you discovered it and thought, this is my thing.
Devi (06:52):
So I discovered it in my embroidery class in terms of the use of materials and whatever. It wasn't until I took a textiles class and I remember it was a summer of 2015 and it was an evening class. And the teacher Donna, amazing. She made all of us make something, make samples, just experiment for every single class you could knit, you can crochet, you can die, you can felt, you can weave. She didn't care what you did with textiles, she just wanted you to experiment. So one day it was like four o'clock in the afternoon, I didn't have anything for that day. And I was like, oh my God, what am I gonna do? Well, I have canvas and I have these beads and sequins that I got in Paris. I don't know, she doesn't care what I do. Let me do something. And I created some samples and at that point I just wanted to have something to show in class.
(07:42)
It was such a like A plus for effort. That's all she cared about <laugh>. Yeah. And so I was like, ok, I'll get the A. Like, cause I showed up with samples. Well, little did I know then that I was like, what I rushed to get through that day, I kept building on for each subsequent class. What I didn't expect is that it would take over my brain. Ah. So I'd be driving and I'll be like, oh, I could combine it this way. What if I did it this way? And then I would troll Etsy and eBay just to get my hands on different sizes and shapes and everything. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it just consumed me. It found me. I did not find it. It's like I feel like I'm the steward for this expression.
Stephanie (08:24):
Oh, how fascinating. Well, and I think one of the things you bring up too is your curiosity. You know, you kept asking yourself questions. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, I mean, as you just described, what if I did it this way? What if I use X? What if I use Y? Right. And I think, you know, when we get found by a passion that won't let our brains go, it's because we keep wanting to know more. Yes. So you're at this point, you're in this discovery process. It's got its, hold on you, you're in this, how do you go from experimenting and getting an A plus for effort in that class to actually becoming, you know, I'm an artist of this work.
Devi (09:06):
I took another embroidery class back with my first embroidery teacher, the same one. And her name's Beata, Beata won first place in this embroidery competition out of London several years before that class. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And so she would always tell me about it. And as I would show her my work, she encouraged me to apply to that competition. And so I was like, okay, I gotta take this seriously. So I created a 12 piece collection for that competition. Probably took me like eight months to work on. And I submitted and I got notified a few months later of like, you're a finalist. So I was like, okay, well that's good <laugh>. And then I won first place. Wow. I remember the next day I was sitting in my seat on the flight home back to Chicago and I just started crying.
Stephanie (09:55):
Hmm.
Devi (09:55):
And I kept thinking, I think your life's gonna change. Wow. I think your life's gonna change. I have no idea at that point what that meant. But I kept thinking, your life's gonna change.
Stephanie (10:07):
Wow. I like can feel that even having you explain it to me, like how close that is to you, even emotionally now, you know? And this was however many years ago. Yeah. So from that point on, what steps did you start taking to sort of move a bit forward?
Devi (10:26):
My friends and I were on vacation in Paris and at that point I didn't even have a gallery in the us. I just finished fashion school and then whatever that collection that I worked on, I'm like, oh well we're gonna Paris. I'll just take it with me. Maybe I can meet with galleries. There. Like, so naive, completely naive <laugh>, it's either like you're really bold, you're really confident, or you're really naive. Like it's
Stephanie (10:51):
No in between.
Devi (10:53):
Uh, and so I, I packed up my samples and brought them. And then as my friends and I were walking around, we found this one gallery that we really liked. And then we went back the next day and it was funny, like on the way there, I'm like, oh my god, what do I say? Like, so I practice with my friends, like literally like a block before we get to the gallery. Like on the street <laugh>
Stephanie (11:10):
In French or English?
Devi (11:12):
English. But still like
Stephanie (11:14):
How does this even work? Right?
Devi (11:15):
Yeah, exactly. Like complete stranger. Right. And so there's nobody there. So I said what I rehearsed, which was, hi, you know, I really like your gallery and your point of view. I'm a relatively new artist. And even then to say I was an artist, oh my God, like all I did was win this competition. Like I didn't. And I said, I would love, you know, if you have time, some feedback and maybe you can point me in the right direction of which gallery would make more sense. And she's like, sure, I'll take a look. And even with that, I was so happy, right. Just
Stephanie (11:44):
To have somebody look at it mm-hmm.
Devi (11:47):
<affirmative> and to speak with. And so I, you know, pulled out my pieces and we started talking and my friends were sitting on the chairs just kind of hanging out. And a few minutes into it, she's like, I'll take them.
Stephanie (11:59):
Wow. It was meant to be.
Devi (12:02):
And so I was like, okay, <laugh>,
Stephanie (12:05):
Did you even know like what you would wanna charge at that point? Or like what did you Yeah,
Devi (12:10):
Nothing weren't even framed.
Stephanie (12:13):
I love that. Oh my gosh, that's the
Devi (12:15):
Best. She had them framed.
Stephanie (12:17):
Wow. So that kind of started you off, you know, here you are, you're in this new identity, no more imposter syndrome. I am an artist. A gallery is showing my work. Were there any times where you had setbacks or questioned at all? Is this really, you know, gonna work out? Or where do I wanna take this and how did you deal with that?
Devi (12:40):
You know, I, I mean, the answer is I don't think I really have setbacks and knock on wood. And the reason is art is so non-linear. Hmm. It's not like at The Gap you're uh, an analyst, then you're an associate, then you're a senior associate, then maybe like you're assistant manager, man. Like there's no hierarchy. So that's what I'm saying. Like, and thank God. Cause otherwise I'd be like, what's next wrong? What's next wrong? I don't know.
Stephanie (13:05):
Right.
Devi (13:06):
So it prevents me from even thinking about setback. Actually, it's funny, like, that's such a good question because I don't have any setbacks.
Stephanie (13:14):
Maybe that's the key for all of us. We just need to, you know, get into something that has no ladder, <laugh>,
Devi (13:20):
No ladder. So how can I judge my own progress or lack thereof. Right. Or
Stephanie (13:24):
Criticize yourself. Right.
Devi (13:26):
It's one of those things of I know I can maximize what I have. The rest, I have no idea where it's gonna go. And so I can only focus on the inputs. I don't know what's next. I don't know what that looks like. And there's a huge element of luck and serendipity and being at the right place at the right time. So all of those have happened for sure. But I think it's also because I keep pushing myself of like, okay, well what's another idea that I want to pursue? How do I explain this? How do I, so it's very much right brain and trusting of like, I never expected this to happen. I have no idea what's next, but let's just keep on doing what I know what to do, which is ideating and executing.
Stephanie (14:08):
Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, after everything we've discussed and you your journey, one of the questions that I always like to ask guests is, you know, the name of the show is good enough for now, which is really about kind of anti perfectionism, right? And stories like yours are inspiring because they show everyone another example. You know, how to not get stuck in what you thought or a feeling that isn't serving you. When you think about that phrase good enough for now, what does that mean for you?
Devi (14:43):
Because I don't know what's next <laugh>, I don't even know what the next stop on the train is. And so I think good enough for now is just being happy with, it could be somebody's response on Instagram. Like, there are strangers commenting on my Instagram. Like, really? That's so nice. And so that means I'm touching something in them. So I think good enough for now is just appreciating everything you have because I am forced to not worry about the next step. Whatever's next is next.
Stephanie (15:14):
Thank you for that. So Devi, if people wanna find your art and learn more about your work, where can they find you?
Devi (15:23):
The best place is Instagram. That's probably where I'm most active. And that's Devi, d e v i v as Victor <laugh>, I, mm-hmm <affirmative>. Uh, ATA. A T E L I E R.
Stephanie (15:34):
Perfect. Thank you so much for joining me. Please share the show with your friends by word of mouth. Send them a text and baby leave a rating and review. It really helps people find good enough. For now, don't forget to also follow on your favorite podcast player like Apple or Spotify so you can get new shows automatically each time they're released. You'll find show notes at good enough for now, pod.com and you can connect on Instagram at good enough for now Pod. See you next time.
