Instinctive Management. Know Your Employees and Enjoy Your Work.

Published: 9 November 2011

Sasha Titchkosky

In this In Her Shoes interview, Sasha Titchkosky, CEO of Koskela discusses her company motto, "Follow your heart, trust your judgement, do it for joy," the importance of being environmentally responsible when creating products and how her company manages to compete with larger competition.

Sasha Titchkosky is the Director and co-owner of Koskela, a furniture and homewares design business that manufactures all its products in Australia. Sasha's company motto is "Follow your heart, trust your judgement, do it for joy."

In this In Her Shoes interview, Sasha discusses:

how she left her careers as a lawyer and accountant to start her own business
her company motto: Follow your heart, Trust your judgement, Do it for joy
how a boutique operation competes with larger competition
- how to stand out
how all Koskela products are Australian-made
the importance of being environmentally responsible when creating products
- the impacts on the world that businesses must consider
her top strategies for being successful in your own business

Enjoy this interview with Sasha Titchkosky!

About Sasha Titchkosky

Director and Co-owner, Koskela Pty Ltd

Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky created Koskela in 2000. Koskela was born out of a perceived gap in the Australian market for locally made furniture that suited a modern environment, but was neither cold nor overly fussy.

Sasha trained as a lawyer and accountant, and after five years working for the Australian Stock Exchange, left the corporate world to start up Koskela.

Russel and Sasha both felt strongly about supporting the Australian manufacturing industry. This is why all of the range is produced here and all the smaller products stocked in the showroom are designed and made by Australian artists, designers and craftspeople.�

Another integral feature of the range is the strong commitment to minimising its environmental impact. It is a strongly held belief of Russel and Sasha�s that designers have the power to hugely impact environmental degradation and this thinking underpins all of Koskela�s product development. Over 85% of Koskela furniture has been independently certified by GECA as being environmentally innovative. In addition to being extremely selective in the materials and processes used in manufacture, Koskela offsets all its carbon and uses solely green power. Koskela products have featured heavily in many of Australia�s 5 star green star rated buildings.

The Sydney showroom embodies the way Russel and Sasha imagine people would like to interact with the products.� It�s on the first floor of an old warehouse building in Surry Hills, the former rag trade district of Sydney. Because it�s not in a traditional ground floor showroom space it feels a bit more like coming into someone�s home.� The idea is that people feel comfortable in the showroom, not like they are entering a museum for furniture.�

Koskela furniture is used in both corporate fitouts and residential environments.� Recent projects featuring Koskela furniture include Stocklands Head Offices, Bovis Lend Lease�s The Bond building, NAB, Westpac and the Republic One Apartment for Contemporary Hotels. Pieces are being specifically tailored for two Sydney waterfront residential projects currently undergoing construction.

Koskela recently added accommodation to their portfolio, after renovating a traditional fishing shack in the tiny fishing hamlet, Patonga, on the Central Coast. It features a mix of Koskela furniture and restored pieces and can be booked through the Koskela office.�

Connect with Sasha

Email: sasha@koskela.com.au
Website: www.koskela.com.au
Facebook: The Koskela Facebook Page
LinkedIn: View Sasha's Public Profile

About the In Her Shoes series

In Her Shoes is a regular video series presented by the Australian Businesswomen's Network and BNet.com.au. Each interview features an inspiring businesswoman and her strategies for success. New episodes are released regularly. Become a Community Member for regular updates. CommunityPlus, StartUp and Growth Members get updates automatically.

Become a Community Member.

More Articles . . .

5 months FREE on phone system rental

Rent a new phone system and connect your phone lines with Commander to receive 5 months rent free.

Why rent with Commander?

Tailored complete solutions
Great offers from leading phone system brands
Rental & communication on a single bill
Renting systems conserves cash flow

Hurry — Act before 30 June!