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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
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 fulfilling, profitable career.
Rick shares his journey from running a design studio during the recession to pivoting into education and mentorship for designers. He opens up about lessons learned through failure, why contracts are non-negotiable, and how understanding your “why” can shape a business that truly fulfills you.
Together, Ronniesha and Rick challenge the old narrative that designers lack business acumen and dive deep into what it really means to treat creativity like a business.
Listen in for insights on:
- Building a business that reflects your values
- How to know when you’re ready for a business coach
- Why imperfection leads to growth
- Turning lessons learned into leadership
How you can connect with Rick:
https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/
https://www.instagram.com/designbizsurvivalguide/
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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*Only for interior designers & pro's who serve the industry