Shows
Design Curious | Interior Design Podcast, Interior Design Career, Interior Design School, Coaching151 | Mindset Shift Series #3: Step Into Your Power as a Creative Business Owner“I’m not a numbers person!” “I just want to design, not run a business!”Does this sound like you?Many interior designers have a passion for dreaming up beautiful spaces, but stepping into the role of a CEO can feel uncomfortable, like wearing a hat that doesn’t quite fit. I understand—I've felt the same way before.In this episode, I share how I changed my mindset and embraced the CEO role, and how you can do the same. My goal is to help...2025-08-1118 min
Founders & Friends08. Fabulous, Not Perfect: Lesley Myrick on Doing Business BoldlyIn this episode of Founders and Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with bold-but-introverted designer Lesley Myrick, founder of Lesley Myrick Interiors and co-creator of a designer coaching program alongside Nancy Quinn.Despite identifying as an introvert, Lesley shares how she's grown a public-facing business by leaning into relationship-building, in-person networking, and staying true to her vibrant design style—even when it defied local trends. She and Ronniesha dive into the realities of running a design firm, including what design school didn't teach them, why certifications may not matter for residential designers, and how AI is shaping (an...2025-08-081h 09
Founders & Friends07. Building Sidemark: What It Takes to Launch a Platform with 4 Co-FoundersIn this episode, I sit down with Ben Rutledge, co-founder of Sidemark, a marketing and lead-generation platform created specifically for interior designers. Alongside co-founders Michelle Lynn, Nicole Ogden, and his brother, Ben shares how Sidemark evolved from a simple marketing tool into a full-service growth engine for creative entrepreneurs.We unpack Sidemark’s journey from MVP to a hybrid SaaS and agency model, explore how they address user overwhelm, and dive into the real reasons why many designers struggle to grow beyond referrals.👉 You’ll learn:The power and challenges of buil...2025-08-011h 33
Founders & Friends06. Defining a Niche Through Resilience: Emily Aborn's Journey To Starting Her Copywriting BusinessIn this episode of Founders & Friends, I’m joined by Emily Aborn — content writer, podcast host, and creative entrepreneur — who helps businesses find their voice and communicate with clarity. Emily shares how thoughtful copywriting can transform how you connect with your audience, what most creatives get wrong when writing about their work, and why being yourself is one of the most powerful tools in your marketing toolbox. She also walks us through the businesses she started and closed down and how that lead to her starting her copywriting business. She also highlights on why saying yes to every job can ac...2025-07-2555 min
Founders & Friends05. Trust Your Gut: Designing a Business That Fits with Ashleigh Cochran of Oar Haus InteriorsWhen the traditional path in interior design didn’t feel like the right fit, Ashleigh Cochran trusted her instincts and chose something different. In this episode, she shares how that bold decision led to the creation of Oar Haus Interiors — a CAD and rendering studio built specifically to support other designers behind the scenes.Ashleigh opens up about her early love for the technical side of design, why she walked away from the full-service model, and how she turned a niche skillset into a thriving, values-aligned business. We talk about the power of learning through experience, setting boun...2025-07-1858 min
Founders & Friends04. Just Do It – Scared: Nina Silver on Facing Fear and Building a BusinessIn this episode of Founders & Friends we chat with Nina Silver, the founder of Drafted by Design. Nina talks candidly about how the birth of her son inspired her to make big moves within her drafting business. As her family grew so did her business so she talks in depth about the struggles and advantages in balancing the two. She also dives into the complexities of hiring employees and how she navigates managing a team. She talks about the importance of finding employees that she really can trust on the internet. Nina has been a...2025-07-1150 min
Design Curious | Interior Design Podcast, Interior Design Career, Interior Design School, Coaching146 | How to Build Your Dream Design Team Without the Headache With Ronniesha RiveraHave you ever wasted hours searching for the right help for your interior design business, only to feel frustrated and stuck? What if there was an easier way to find the right people who truly understand interior design?In this episode, I chat with Ronniesha Rivera, an interior designer and founder of Vetted By Design—a free centralized platform for interior designers to connect with highly vetted professionals without stress.Ronniesha shares her painful story of hiring the wrong bookkeeper early in her business, which cost her thousands of do...2025-07-0726 min
Founders & Friends03. From Recession to Resilience: Kathryn O’Neil’s Journey to Building a Thriving Bookkeeping BusinessIn this episode of Founders and Friends, we’re joined by Kathryn O'Neil, a virtual CFO and bookkeeper who’s on a mission to help interior designers ditch the spreadsheets and build thriving, profitable businesses.With a degree in architecture and a promising career at a design firm, our guest never imagined pivoting to finance until the 2008 recession hit. After being laid off and watching her firm close its doors, she found herself rethinking everything. What followed was a bold move back to school for an MBA, a shift toward entrepreneurship, and ultimately, the creation of a virt...2025-07-0345 min
Founders & Friends02. Juggling 2 Kids and 2 Businesses: How Summerlyn Feckner Finds Intention in the ChaosIn this episode of Founders and Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with longtime friend and designer Summerlyn Feckner, founder of Ginger Designs, for a candid conversation about building a creative business, balancing motherhood, and embracing the unexpected turns of entrepreneurship.Summerlyn shares her early days juggling multiple jobs during design school, working her way up in a construction company, and eventually launching Ginger Designs after nearly leaving the industry. She reflects on how support from her husband and community helped her step into business ownership and how her company has evolved from its humble beginnings into...2025-07-0352 min
Founders & Friends01. The Failures That Built Me: How Betting on Myself Led to Building My Dream Design BusinessIn this episode, I open up about my own entrepreneurial journey. A path that, honestly, started with what felt like three major failures.My very first design job out of college was at a small boutique firm. I had interned there previously, built great relationships, and landed what felt like my dream “big girl” job. But as time went on, I found myself craving more responsibility, more creativity - just more. It became clear that there was no room to grow in that role, and although it was heartbreaking, I left. Walking away from what I thought was...2025-07-0338 min
Mom-Me36. Ronniesha Rivera | Motherhood on the Job Site : From Nursery Plans to New BuildsIn this candid conversation with interior designer and entrepreneur Ronniesha Rivera, you'll hear the raw realities of navigating motherhood, career, and selfhood—often all at once. Whether you're in the thick of sleepless nights, juggling business calls with baby feedings, or simply wondering how other moms are making it work, this episode offers a relatable and reassuring voice. Ronniesha’s story, full of grace, grit, and humor, is a reminder that while we can have it all, we don’t have to do it all at the same time. Listen in for encouragement, solidarity, and a powerful message that it's o...2025-06-3028 min
The Business of Beautiful Spaces, Interior Design Podcast119 -Let’s Talk About Working Smarter: Using VAs to Reclaim Your TimeSend us a textIn today’s episode, we’re diving into a topic that so many interior designers and decorators wrestle with—how to get help without the pressure of hiring full-time staff. I’m joined by the incredible Ronniesha Rivera, founder of Vetted by Design, who specializes in helping creatives streamline their businesses with the support of skilled virtual assistants.We’ll explore how VAs can become a powerful extension of your team—allowing you to delegate with confidence, reclaim your time, and finally loosen the grip on those tas...2025-05-0537 min