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.
Founders & Friends
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 beginnings to leading one of the most respected firms in the industry.
Brad shares his entrepreneurial journey, the challenges of starting and scaling in the construction world, and what separates builders from general contractors. Together, they dive deep into the often-overlooked synergy between designers, builders, and architects — the “trifecta” that defines exceptional projects.
You’ll learn how designers can market to general contractors, how collaboration elevates brands on both sides, and why strategic leadership and generosity are key to long-term success.
This conversation is packed with insight for anyone in the design and construction world — from emerging designers to established builders ready to take their business to the next level.
You can find Brad Leavitt
https://www.aftconstruction.com/
https://www.instagram.com/aft_construction/
https://www.contractorscoalitionsummit.com/
This Episode was brought to you by Vetted by Design
If you are looking to outsource anything in your design business check out Vetted by Design to find some amazing highly vetted pros you can trust to help you grow your business.
www.vetted-bydesign.com
https://www.instagram.com/vettedbydesign/
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