This week on AVD Inspire, Aly sits down with lighting designer and creative entrepreneur Kate MacNeill, founder of Concord Custom Lighting — the all-female Canadian studio known for crafting bespoke light fixtures for luxury residential and high-end hospitality interiors.

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Kate built a women-led lighting design studio from scratch

• The behind-the-scenes process of custom lighting manufacturing

• How to turn a design vision into a functional, code-compliant product

• What it really takes to thrive as a female founder in the design industry

• How to overcome imposter syndrome and trust your creative instincts

Kate opens up about leaving behind a commerce degree and stepping into the world of industrial design, fabrication, and creative business ownership. Her lighting work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House & Home, The Globe and Mail, Dezeen, and The Local Project (Australia) — and we get into the raw, real moments that shaped her journey.

Plus, we chat about our recent commercial design collab, why Canadian-made design matters, and the beauty of building a brand that empowers creativity, collaboration, and craftsmanship.

“Sometimes you just need to take the leap… because the pain of living out of alignment becomes too heavy to carry.”

Connect with Kate MacNeill & Concord Custom Lighting

• Website: thisisconcord.com

• Instagram: @concordlights

Presented in Partnership With Napoleon FireplacesNapoleon Fireplaces, a Canadian owned and operated manufacturer, combines smart design with standout style, offering gas and electric fireplaces in a wide range of sizes, styles, and price points. Built for easy installation and long-term performance, their innovative portfolio gives designers flexible, customizable options for any space, from traditional to contemporary and everything in between.

• Website: napoleon.com

• Instagram: @napoleonfireplace

• Facebook: Napoleon Products

Media Sponsor: Western Living Magazine

A huge thank you to our media sponsor, Western Living Magazine.

• Get your free subscription at westernliving.ca/subscribe

• Follow: @westernliving

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• Instagram: @designs_av
• YouTube: Aly Velji Designs Podcasts
• Website: alyveljidesigns.com