Meet the Member: Mackenzie Collier

One of our earliest members, Mackenzie Collier, is an award-winning entrepreneur, interior designer, and business coach. Through her studio, Mackenzie Collier Interiors, she leads a wide range of projects grounded in creativity, inclusivity, and sustainability.

What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever received?

When I first met Kevin and Celine, Kevin and I grabbed a networking lunch at DeSoto Central Market. He said something that has stuck with me for over a decade.

“Far dumber people than you are successful. They just got out of bed one day and decided to do something. Most people miss out because they wait for all the stars to align before they take action.” I had never considered that.

What is your motto?

“Logic never produced magic.”

When you are building a small business, you have to trust your gut and be willing to swim upstream sometimes. It is okay if no one understands your vision yet. Not every decision has to be logical. Some choices are just for the plot. Sometimes the best business decisions seem totally illogical when you're making them- and they pan out better than you could have imagined.

What is your favorite memory of The McKinley Club?

There are so many, but the early McKinley Club Obama-era Thursday happy hours really stand out. There was a real sense of optimism and possibility in the air. Around 3 or 4 pm every Thursday, the whole community would start gathering around the big table. Politicians, entrepreneurs, community organizers, artists. Everyone together. The keg beers would start flowing, the lights would slowly dim, the music would turn up, and before long we were dancing, singing karaoke, or playing games. I regularly left after midnight. Our still-standing Summer Friday policy was born directly from those hangovers.