Creating Lasting Connections in Architecture With Baran Mutlu

Baran Mutlu is the Director of Sales at AKDO, a global supplier of luxury natural stone, tiles, and surface materials used in residential and commercial design projects. As an industry leader for over 30 years, AKDO has expanded its reach to around 200 showrooms nationwide and grown its presence in both residential and large-scale commercial projects, with a focus on innovation and cutting-edge design. Baran brings an international perspective to the business, shaped by his education at Babson College and a family heritage of entrepreneurship.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [04:28] Baran Mutlu highlights what fuels entrepreneurial drive in luxury design industries
• [06:20] Why relationships are your greatest competitive business advantage
• [08:24] How trust unlocks exclusive products and industry-leading innovation
• [13:37] How designers balance budget, uniqueness, and beauty
• [16:23] Baran’s hard-won lessons on setting boundaries in business partnerships
• [18:53] Strategies for motivating and collaborating across diverse cultures

In this episode…

Great design doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s built through a web of trust, timing, and collaboration that often determines whether a vision comes to life or falls short. What really makes those connections last?

According to Baran Mutlu, a relationship-driven sales leader in the design materials space, strong partnerships are the single most important factor in long-term success. He explains that in a competitive industry, it’s not just about having the best product, but about nurturing genuine, organic relationships built on trust and consistency. From calling in favors on tight deadlines to securing exclusive materials before they hit the market, those connections create a competitive advantage. Ultimately, it’s this mutual support system that turns one-time transactions into lasting collaboration.

In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Baran Mutlu, Director of Sales at AKDO, to discuss how relationships shape success in architecture and design. He shares how trust influences supplier and designer partnerships, why observation is key early in your career, and how global collaboration requires understanding personal motivators. Baran also talks about balancing service with business growth.

Resources mentioned in this episode

• Lisa Kilrea on LinkedIn
• WSI eResults
• Baran Mutlu on LinkedIn
• AKDO

Quotable Moments

• “The most important thing for any company’s success is the relationships and the network and how you nourish those relationships as well.” 
• “What really gives you the competitive advantage as a company is your relationship, your relationship with the suppliers, and your relationship with the architects.” 
• “It’s not necessarily like I give you this, you give me that type of relationship, but it’s more so it’s organic.” 
• “You always need to enter the room by thinking that there’s going to be a smarter person than me in this room.” 
• “You need to talk to those people, you need to sit down, and you need to have a chat outside of work.”

Action Steps

1. Build and nurture genuine relationships across your network: Strong, trust-based connections create long-term advantages that go beyond transactional business interactions.
2. Take time to understand what motivates each individual: Knowing personal drivers helps you bring out the best in people and strengthen collaboration.
3. Observe before acting, especially early in your career: Careful observation helps you identify gaps, understand dynamics, and contribute more effectively.
4. Balance being helpful with driving business outcomes: Maintaining relationships is important, but growth requires knowing when to push for results.
5. Stay grounded during high-stakes opportunities: Managing expectations and emotions helps you make better decisions when outcomes are uncertain.

Sponsor for this episode…

This episode is sponsored by WSI EResults Manufacturing Marketing — revolutionizing digital marketing for the manufacturing industry.

At WSI EResults, we help B2B manufacturers, OEMs, and industrial distributors elevate their digital presence through AI-powered, data-driven strategies designed to generate targeted, impactful leads.

From AI-powered SEO and content marketing to tailored campaigns built for the unique challenges of the manufacturing sector, WSI EResults delivers the tools and expertise to help your business stand out, grow, and thrive.

Learn more at wsi-manufacturing-marketing.com. Your blueprint for smarter, more effective manufacturing marketing.

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