Corcoran Ota
Corcoran Ota

COG Culture Blogs: The Yin & Yang of Leadership

Operating a closely collaborative studio is a bit of a math equation and a magic trick. You have to have great business acumen of course, stay updated on technology and trend, and do amazing work that exceeds clients’ expectations. All of those things are fundamentals; fairly empirical in nature. But there’s something a lot less tangible (and more human) that a truly successful firm also has to have: great culture.

In this series, we’ll look at what defines COG’s culture; what makes this our favorite place to work with some of our favorite people. And today, we’re going to begin where all things COG start and end: with our intrepid Partners, Michael Corcoran and Dean Ota.

We sat them both down and asked them to talk about their relationship, their different management styles and personalities, and how they come together to make COG the place it is.

COG: Go back to the very beginning and tell us how you guys got together.

Michael: We both were working for a firm called Rabun Hatch, which is a hospitality firm. I started there in 1980, and Dean started there in 1981 or 1982, and we didn’t know each other yet. It was a wild time. I left in 1990 to start another firm, Corcoran Nelson Nardone, and that went on for about another 10 years, until I decided it was best to separate from those guys. Dean and I had stayed in touch, and it seemed like a good time… 2001? 2002?…to start something completely different.

Dean: It was 2005.

Michael: All right, 2005; whatever it was. It seems so long ago. So, we had a go at it.

COG: When Michael came to you and said, “Hey, I’d love to start this new firm with you,” what made you decide to say, “Yeah. This is a good idea?”

Dean: Oh, I don’t know if I had any conscious thought about it. It was just time for change and I thought I would see how it would work out. I’m still here after all this time, so something must have gone right.

Michael Corcoran
Dean Ota

COG: Michael, describe Dean as a Partner.

Michael: We might not talk to each other for the next three weeks now… I’m kidding. Dean is easy to work with, easy to get on with, and we listen to each other. He is much more technical and involved in production, but he also does a lot of the intricate design. I take on more of a front-end role with clients, and Dean takes care of a different aspect of the work.

COG: Dean, same question. What is Michael like to work with?

Dean: When we started, I knew that as long as we acted professionally things would work out. When things don’t, I think it’s a personality problem rather than a professional one. And we work well together. There’s a natural division of our duties, and we rely on each other to fulfill them, but we’re not the same people at all… Michael’s more extroverted. I’m more introverted. I like doing my work, and Michael likes interfacing with people: clients and staff. And that works out just fine.

Michael: I think more than that, there’s a lack of ego that makes things work. We’ve got to get the job done and if you can do it, you do it. And at least on my side, there’s no issues or worry about him (Dean) working his best and his hardest. He always does. Two partners might like each other, but they may not have the same work ethic. That’s not true here.

Dean: I call it professionalism. Michael says it’s a lack of ego. Regardless, we encourage all of it with our staff, and treat them professionally and with transparency too. When people act in an ethical way, you get a lot done.

COG: Last question: Dean, what’s the most unexpectedly good thing about working with Michael? The thing that you’re the most surprised about?

Michael: You’ll never find anything.

Dean: Oh, I think it’s that we’ve been such good friends. That’s a very nice thing. You don’t have to be friends with your partner in a professional setting like this, but it’s nice when you are. Overall though, I think maybe a telling point is that when Michael retires, I am, too. Because I have no interest in working in a company without him.

Michael: Oh, I’m never going to retire, so this is going to go on for a very long time. (laughs)

Corcoran Ota Office

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