Today we welcome Jen Davidson — Owner & Principal Designer of Interiors by Jen Davidson, a full-service interior design studio based in Chicago, Illinois. In this episode, we discuss the evolution of Jen’s creative career and how her former career as a flight attendant has uniquely shaped the way she leads her team, connects with her clients, and manages her design projects. Jen shares how she leverages structure, adaptability, and emotional intelligence to run a streamlined and meaningful business. We also dive into her storytelling-driven design process and how turning vulnerability into a strength has helped her design homes that are not just beautiful but deeply personal.
SHOW HIGHLIGHTS
- Jen’s unconventional journey from flight attendant to interior designer, and how she conquered her fear of flying to change careers.
- The transferable skills from aviation to design — leadership, structure, and client care.
- Building a team using a hybrid model and how it supports efficiency and collaboration.
- The importance of hospitality in design and how Jen creates a client experience rooted in empathy and proactivity.
- How her work with storytelling strategist Jude Charles reshaped her design process and inspired deeper client connections.
- The “road mapping” method she uses to uncover her clients’ stories and design with long-term legacy in mind.
- Why vulnerability and trust are essential elements of her client relationships.
- Jen’s personal definition of success: forward motion, and how it guides her through life and business.
NOTABLE QUOTES
- “We’re not just designing — we’re helping write their story, their legacy.”
- “You don’t have to wait until it’s perfect. Just start.”
- “Even when I was scared, forward motion was the thing that kept me going.”
- “Clients are looking to us to give them that peace of mind — we’re their calm in the turbulence.”
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