Adriana Rosani Interiors founder Adriana Zanga brings medical precision to Zimbabwean interior design, creating healing sanctuaries amid economic turbulence. Her story of resilience showcases entrepreneurial lessons on valuing your work, overcoming setbacks, and building a legacy beyond business.
Adriana Zanga stands as a testament to the Zimbabwean spirit of innovation born from necessity in a country where entrepreneurship is not just a career choice but a test of resilience,. "If you can make it in Zimbabwe as an entrepreneur, you can make it anywhere in the world," goes the saying, and Adriana embodies this truth through her thriving venture, Adriana Rosani Interiors.
Combining a Medical Career and Design
As a practicing radiation therapist, interior designing might seem like an unrelated field but for Adriana, these seemingly disparate fields share fundamental principles. "In radiation therapy, structure, precision and protocols are critical and I bring that same meticulous attention to interior designing." As a child, Adriana would transform ordinary household items into decorative pieces, rearranging furniture to create a new atmosphere in her family home. "I didn't know then that what I was doing had a name but I felt good doing it," she highlighted
A Balcony Dream Unfolds
The birth of Adriana Rosani Interiors was not the result of an elaborate business plan but rather an organic evolution of passion. Adriana found herself making curtains for her new home on a small balcony; a humble beginning that would later blossom into something extraordinary. "My first clients were friends and family who appreciated what I had done in my home and the referrals continued," Adriana remembers. That makeshift workshop on a balcony has since transformed into a sophisticated showroom in Milton Park, with a team of dedicated employees bringing her visions to life.
With Zimbabwe’s economic turbulence, Adriana's work takes on deeper significance. "I am not just selecting fabrics or arranging furniture," she says with conviction. "I am creating sanctuaries where people can connect with their spaces and find healing. I believe that healing is not just medicinal, beautiful spaces have a healing effect as well.”
The Expensive Lesson
Success has not come without a fair share of setbacks, however, a strong support system comprising her husband, family and friends keeps her going. Adriana recounts a particularly painful lesson involving a large curtain order which went wrong. Despite following all the protocols, the fabric failed, resulting in a flawed product. "I had to replace everything at my own expense, it was a depressing experience," she recalls. It was during this crisis that her mentor; a veteran with over two decades in the industry, came through and provided perspective. “She reassured me that such hiccups are to be expected in business and they served as valuable lessons for growth,” Adriana said.
The Pricing Paradox
For most emerging entrepreneurs, Adriana identifies a common pitfall which is undervaluing their work. "A lot of upcoming entrepreneurs operate in survival mode. The fear of rejection is so powerful that they would rather earn less than lose a client entirely," she explained. Through exposure from her mentor who deals with high value clients and assertively charges for her worth, Adriana gained an invaluable lesson. Her key take-away from seeing her mentor in action and consistently delivering high quality service is that, "Building a strong brand attracts high-quality clients. It also gives one the liberty to refuse to work with people who do not appreciate her work or those who are diariespectful even if they are bringing significant business.”
Literary Influences and Personal Growth
Two books have shaped Adriana's entrepreneurial philosophy. Daniel Priestley's "Key Person of Influence" inspired her distinctive social media approach which is a blend of education and entertainment that establishes her expertise without being pedantic. Robert Greene's "Mastery" taught her to embrace the mundane repetition necessary for excellence and mastery. Apart from gaining insights from reading, Adriana adds that she has gained valuable lessons from running her business and that has made her more assertive and vocal, overcoming some of her introverted tendencies. She has also become more spiritually grounded and emotionally aware, as entrepreneurship has forced her to confront and understand her emotions when dealing with clients and challenges.
Building Legacy Beyond Business
Looking towards the future, Adriana envisions more than just commercial success. "I want a warehouse-sized showroom that doubles as a training center," she stated with enthusiasm. "Zimbabwe has incredible artisanal talent that needs nurturing and exposure." Her ambition extends beyond profit margins to creating a legacy of skilled craftspeople who can elevate Zimbabwe's reputation in the creative space.
If she could travel back in time, Adriana would offer her younger self three simple but powerful words: "Start. Learn. Adjust." She wishes she had known that building a business is a marathon, not a sprint, requiring a steady pace and consistency over time. With Zimbabwe ranking poorly on ease of doing business, challenges could easily become excuses but Adriana has transformed them into the very foundation of her success. Through her work, she does not just design interiors, she creates spaces where healing begins, one beautiful room at a time.
