Founders & Friends

  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...

On this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera welcomes Julia Stanton , the creative force behind Design by JRS —a full-service branding studio known for its bold, colorful, magnetic design style. Julia shares how she skipped the traditional career path and launched her business immediately after college, then grew it during the pandemic by leaning into education, strategy, and serving...

In this episode, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Kat Oldershaw , founder of Kat & Co. , to unpack what actually makes operations work for interior designers—and why more tools don’t always mean better systems. Kat shares their unconventional path from studying psychology at UC Berkeley, through biotech and creative studio leadership, and into entrepreneurship as an Online Business Manager (OBM...

What happens when you actually track your marketing—and tell the truth about what worked and what didn’t? In this episode of Founders and Friends , host Ronniesha Rivera pulls back the curtain on a four-month experiment she calls the “Six Marketing Shifts.” Born out of a slow season in early 2025, the experiment generated nine leads and $33,000 in secured design fees and product revenue —but the r...

Returning guest Georgia Economus of Designs by Georgia joins Ronniesha Rivera for a candid continuation of their earlier conversation — this time diving deep into the realities of process, pricing, and packages in an interior design business. Georgia shares how running a “one-woman show” boutique studio has allowed her to expand beyond cabinetry into full renovations while still protecting her tim...

After nearly 30 years in the interior design industry, Georgia — founder of Designs by Georgia — reached a pivotal moment: stay comfortable, or take the leap into business ownership. In this episode, Georgia and host Ronniesha Rivera have an honest, no-fluff conversation about what it actually takes to start and run a sustainable design firm — especially at the construction and kitchen & bath...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Candace Plotz , founder of Candace Plotz Design , for a candid conversation about building a design business rooted in intention, clarity, and real-life balance. Candace shares her unlikely path into interior design — a leap from a secure career in healthcare and pharmacy into a creative life sparked by renovating her own wa...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Carleen Lamay, founder of C2 Accounting — a financial powerhouse serving over 60 clients, nearly half of them interior designers. Carleen shares the real story behind C2 Accounting’s growth from a part-time solo venture into a multi-member firm with a strong niche in the interior design industry. She breaks down why so many...

utsourcing, boundaries, and the journey to finding your niche — this episode has it all. In this episode of Founders and Friends , host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Cassidy Martin , founder of CM Interiors , to unpack her evolution from junior designer to sought-after rendering artist and business owner. Cassidy shares how she discovered renderings as a powerful niche, what it took to step into...

In this episode of Founders and Friends , host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Kristen Thomas , founder and principal designer of Studio Thomas , for an inspiring conversation on building a design firm rooted in integrity, education, and heart. Kristen shares how her journey began with a desire to provide for her family and a love of design inspired by her late father. She opens up about the early...

On this episode of Founders & Friends , Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Rick Campos — interior designer turned business coach, podcast host, and public speaker — to explore the business side of design and what it takes to build a fulfilling, profitable career. Rick shares his journey from running a design studio during the recession to pivoting into education and mentorship for designers. He o...