Dawn Carroll (right) has been Patti Austin’s (left) guiding light in her design goals.

In an effort to spread the message globally about the importance of mentoring, the Over My Shoulder Foundation founding members Patti Austin and Dawn Carroll went to Germany to attend the Leaders of Design Council Conference, which was held April 3-5, 2013, at the Hotel de Rome. The event was sponsored by CUMAR Marble and Granite, and the company in conjunction with the Over My Shoulder Foundation used this opportunity to share their collaborative mentoring mission known as “Designing the Next Generation” to inspire others in the industry to share their experiences and knowledge with the rising generation of designers.

CUMAR is a natural fit to sponsor the event, as the company attributes its eight generations of leadership to embracing mentoring within the company. Dawn Carroll is an award-winning stone designer at CUMAR and has benefited from learning special craftsmanship that has been passed down to her from mentors within the company. Today Dawn serves at Patti Austin’s guiding light, helping her to make the transition from a successful music career to her dream of becoming an interior designer. Both women have been positively impacted by strong mentoring relationships in their lives and, therefore, want to encourage others within the design community to assist with “Designing the Next Generation”.

Prior to the Leaders of Design Council Conference in Germany, the two women had a speaking engagement at the Design Bloggers Conference in L.A. regarding their passion for the mentor-mentee relationship. They were also recently recognized by the American Society of Interior Decorators with an Excellence in Design Award in Boston.

For more information about the Over My Shoulder Foundation and our mission of “Designing the Next Generation”, please contact us today.