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
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 Interiors, to unpack her evolution from junior designer to sought-after rendering artist and business owner. Cassidy shares how she discovered renderings as a powerful niche, what it took to step into entrepreneurship, and the pivotal moments that shaped her approach to contracts, communication, and client boundaries.
Ronniesha and Cassidy dive into the real value of outsourcing renderings — from saving designers 30+ hours per project to elevating presentations with CM Interiors’ signature realistic style. They address common fears around outsourcing (cost, timelines, deliverables), break down what designers actually need to provide to make the process smooth, and talk about the role a strong welcome guide and clear expectations play in great collaborations.
Cassidy also opens up about early challenges, including a major payment dispute that ultimately reinforced why terms, conditions, and boundaries are non-negotiable for new business owners. She shares her vision for CM Interiors’ future, her love of collaborating with designers and builders, and her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs: have drive, communicate clearly, and find the niche that sets you apart.
If you’re a designer considering outsourcing—or an entrepreneur navigating your own early growth—this episode is full of insights you won’t want to miss.
You can find Cassidy at:
https://www.cminteriors3drendering.com/
https://www.instagram.com/cminteriors_3drendering/
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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