Boston Home Spring 2010: Following Suit

MENTOR: Barbara Goldberg, partner, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

MENTEE: Jill Goldberg, 34, designer and owner, Hudson.

Business partners since 2005; mother and daughter.

Barbara: “I’m a frustrated designer, but Jill is a real designer — I take forever to make a decision, but she’s right on target; she knows her vision and stays with it. When she was 10 years old, she said, ‘Mom, I need spray paint and a sponge,’ then disappeared into her room. Hours later, she’d sponge-painted her window frames — she was always designing. So when she said that she wanted to open a store, I said, ‘Let’s do it!’ She has my work ethic, so I knew could she do it. I’m truly inspired by her talent.”

Jill: “My mom was always willing to try something new—she’s worked in retail for 30 years, from small shops to Bloomingdale’s to Mitchell Gold. Growing up, I got to see her in action, dealing with clients, establishing relationships. She’s a workaholic, a quality which I inherited. She was a bit hesitant when I wanted to open my own store, but when I showed her in detail what I wanted to do, she got it. We talk every day, and we talk about business every day. I have wisdom to give her from a younger perspective, and she has a more mature outlook on what I’m going through; she can see the long view. Her best piece of advice? ‘Don’t give it away for free.'”