Founders & Friends

In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha sits down with interior stylist Mary Zenker to talk all about the art of styling and the little details that make a house feel like a home. From preparing homes for professional photoshoots to creating spaces that actually feel lived in, Mary shares her approach to layering textures, mixing old and new, and knowing when a space finally feels fi...

In this episode, Ronniesha sits down with Elizabeth Vos and Ashley Fassbender to talk all about their individual journeys in interior design, how their paths eventually led them to each other, and the decision to take the leap and start Remnant Creative Studio together. They share the story behind Remnant, what it’s been like building a firm as co-founders, and the vision they have for this next c...

In this episode, Ronniesha sits down with Kelsey McGregor, founder and principal designer of Kelsey Leigh Design Co., to talk about what it really looks like to grow a design firm from the ground up. Kelsey shares how she got her start as a self-taught designer working alongside her husband’s home-building company and how those early projects eventually grew into a full-service design firm with a...

In this solo episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha shares a behind-the-scenes look at how she’s reinvesting credit card rewards back into her interior design business, from marketing and education to stronger client and trade experiences. She also reflects on what “unreasonable hospitality” can look like in the design industry, her goals for building better trade partnerships in 2027, and...

In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha sits down with interior designer and Designer Bank founder Marcy Sagel to talk about the growing importance of Revit in the interior design industry and the major training gap she saw firsthand. Marcy shares her journey from residential design into large-scale multifamily and commercial projects, and how Revit became essential as her firm grew....

In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Carleen Lamay of C2 Accounting to talk about one of the biggest financial challenges interior designers face: figuring out how to consistently pay yourself while still keeping your business financially healthy. Carleen breaks down why designers need to shift from making financial decisions based on fear to making them base...

What happens when your portfolio is beautiful—but your words aren’t doing it justice? In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with copywriter and novelist Kamala Nair to talk about what makes interior design messaging actually connect with potential clients. Kamala shares her career journey from editorial roles at Parenting and Elle Decor to writing for brands like Wes...

On this solo episode we dive into a few taboo topics. Basically just my thought on different topics in the design industry!!

Art has the power to completely transform a home, but too often it's treated as the final finishing touch instead of an essential part of the design process. In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with New York City interior designer Susann Eva Goerg to discuss what it means to create truly art-forward interiors. Susann shares her journey from a successful care...

Building a successful interior design business doesn't mean you have to do it alone. In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Sonia Barney, founder of Kaivari, to talk about the power of finding the right business support. Together, they discuss overcoming burnout, knowing when it's time to ask for help, and how choosing the right coach, consultant, or...

  The best interior designers know that a beautiful space doesn't end when the furniture is installed. In this episode of Founders & Friends , I sit down with interior stylist Mary Zenker , owner of Shaker Home Studio, to talk about the often overlooked role of styling in creating homes that feel layered, lived in, and worthy of publication.  Mary shares her journey from a successful care...

In this episode of Founders & Friends , I sit down with Chloe Legras, founder of Boxwood Avenue, to discuss the realities of building and scaling a successful interior design business. From her humble beginnings on a cattle ranch and running an Etsy shop to leading a multi-million-dollar design firm, Chloe shares the operational strategies, hiring philosophies, and growth decisions that have f...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Samantha Cuello, founder of Strata Marketing Studio, to discuss what effective marketing really looks like for interior designers and home furnishings brands. With over 15 years of experience in the design industry, Samantha shares her journey from journalism and editorial work at Business of Home to building marketing progr...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Erin Hackett, founder of Hackett House Studio, for an honest conversation about pricing, profitability, and scaling a luxury interior design business. Erin shares her unconventional journey from financial advisor to interior designer and how her background in finance shaped the way she approaches business strategy, pricing m...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with returning guest Candace of Mark Brook Photography to discuss the unexpected journey behind The Design Ledger — a curated coffee table book celebrating Charleston’s best interiors. What began as a creative marketing idea quickly evolved into an accidental business, opening up conversations about publishing, collaboration, ent...

Heyyyyyy a solo episode by yours truly! All about how I am hiring and how I am scared and how I calm myself down :)  You can find me at: https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/ https://www.instagram.com/alderandstone_/ https://www.instagram.com/foundersandfriendspod/ This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vet...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera is joined by Erin Hildmann and Keri Hinterreiter, co-founders of The Collective for Designers, to unpack the real, often unspoken side of building a design business.  Drawing from their backgrounds in event management, client communications, and telecom consulting, Erin and Keri share how they transitioned into the design industry and ulti...

In this episode we chat with Jessica Marchant, founder of Blue Sky Creative, joins Ronniesha Rivera to share how she built a thriving B2B technical design business from the ground up—starting in the uncertainty of COVID-19. With a background in corporate technical design, Jessica leaned into her strengths in AutoCAD and 3D rendering to create a “back-of-house” partner for interior designers. She o...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with multidisciplinary designer and founder Kaitlyn Wolfe to unpack the evolution of her growing design empire. What began in 2016 as Iconic Design and Build has transformed into a multifaceted brand encompassing luxury interiors, product design, and retail. Kaitlyn shares how rebranding under her own name created clarity, allowi...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with returning guest Georgia Economakis of Designs by Georgia for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation on process, pricing, and packages in today’s interior design business. Georgia shares how she runs her boutique “one-woman show” studio while collaborating with trusted experts to deliver full-scale renovations—evolving beyo...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Rebecca West, founder of Seriously Happy Coaching & Consulting, to unpack her 17-year journey from interior designer to business coach. Rebecca shares how she built her design business out of necessity and navigating early financial pressure, imposter syndrome, and pricing uncertainty before evolving into a sought-after...

  In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Abbey Barbay, founder of Abbey’s Creative Designs and a Vetted by Design pro specializing in 3D renderings for interior designers.  Abbey shares how she launched her business just weeks after graduating from Louisiana State University , following an unexpected discovery during design school: a deep passion for the technica...

 In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Amelia Horton-Eynon, founder of Serene Marketing, a full-service marketing agency serving interior designers and the home industry.  Amelia shares her journey from working in corporate construction marketing to launching her own agency—and leaving her 9–5 just four months after starting. What began as a one-woman operatio...

In this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Cathleen Hall, founder of Cathleen Hall Creative, to unpack her 13-year journey from corporate e-commerce leader to full-time web strategist for interior designers. Cathleen shares how she originally launched her business in 2019 as a consulting firm, stepped away during the intensity of the pandemic, and later reignited h...

 In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Candice of Mark Brooke Photography to unpack what it really looks like to build a creative business from the ground up — and evolve it with intention. Candice shares how she and her husband launched their photography business at just 21 years old, armed with little more than wedding gift money, ambition, and a willingness t...