.png)
Founders & Friends
Founders & Friends is where interior designers and creative entrepreneurs come for real conversations about building a business—and a life—that feels good.
Hosted by a designer-turned-founder, each episode dives into honest, behind-the-scenes stories from industry leaders, creative thinkers, and bold business owners who are shaping the design world on their own terms. We talk about the big wins, the hard lessons, the financial truths, and the messy middle of entrepreneurship.
Whether you're just starting out or scaling something big, this podcast is your reminder that you're not doing it alone—and that success can look a lot of different ways.
Come for the insights, stay for the community. This is Founders & Friends—where business gets personal, and conversations get real.
Episodes
38 episodes
38. I Am Hiring And I Am Scared Sh*tless
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.instagra...
.png)
37. The Biggest Mistakes Interior Designers Make in Business
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.
.png)
36. Behind the Drawings: The Missing Piece in Interior Design with Jessica Marchant
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 backgro...
.png)
35. How Kaitlyn Wolfe Built A Multi-Dimensional Brand
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...
34. How to Price, Package, and Protect Your Interior Design Business with Georgia Economakis
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...
.png)
33. Everything You Need to Know About Finding Your Niche With Rebecca West
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 h...
.png)
32. From Graduation to Founder: Abbey's Barbays Journey Through Entrepreneurship
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.
.png)
31. Niche Is Rich: Scaling a Marketing Agency in the Home Industry
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 sha...
.png)
30. From Corporate E-Commerce to Web Strategist for Interior Designers
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 design...
.png)
29. Starting Young, Thinking Big: Lessons from Building a Photography Brand
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...
.png)
28. From Fiver to Full Service Branding With Julia Stanton
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 ...
27. OBM vs. VA vs. Consultant: What Interior Designers Really Need
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...
.png)
26. How I Secured $33k in design fees going into 2026
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 ...
25. Process, Pricing, and Packages: Designing a Business That Actually Protects You with Georgia Economakis
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...
.png)
24. What Designers Get Wrong When They Go Out on Their Own with Georgia Economakis
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 R...
.png)
23. A Deep Dive On Design Process With Candace Plotz
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...
22. Top Money Mistakes Interior Designers Make (and How to Fix Them) with Carleen Lamay
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 st...
.png)
21. From Junior Designer to Rendering Powerhouse: Cassidy Martin’s Journey
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 Interior...
20. Leading with Heart: Kristen Thomas on Building a Firm That Lasts
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 integ...
19. Designing Your Why: A Conversation with Rick Campos
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 fu...
.png)
18. Why Every Builder Needs a Designer on Their Team with Brad Leavitt
In this episode of Founders & Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Brad Leavitt, founder of AFT Construction, to unpack what it truly takes to build a thriving construction company — from humble beginn...
17. From $60 Consultations to Luxury Design: Lessons in Growth with Judi Lee-Carr
In this episode of Founders & Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Judi Lee-Carr, founder of Jubilee Interiors, to explore her unexpected path from fashion merchandising in Singapore to running a thriv...
.png)
16. From Stay-at-Home Mom to 7-Figure CEO: Breanna Cain’s Entrepreneurial Journey
In this episode of Founders and Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Breanna Cain, founder of the VA Leadership Academy and agency owner, to talk about her journey from stay-at-home mom to seven-figure entrepreneur. Breanna sh...
15. Behind House of Huck: Growth, Rentals, and Designer Retreats
In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Meredith Huck of House of Huck to talk about the realities of building a thriving interior design firm while raising a family. Meredith shares how motherhood shap...
.png)
14. From Assistant to CEO: Caroline Lewis on Leading Lawson House & Marketing That Works
On this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Caroline Lewis, CEO of Lawson House, to talk about her journey from administrative assistant to business owner, and the mindset shifts required when moving...
