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 understan...

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 synerg...

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 thriving design studio in California. Judi opens up about starting her firm in 2020 after being laid off during the pandemic, embracing uncertainty with courage and calculated risk. They dive into what it takes to grow an interior design business organically—from refining brand messaging...

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 shares how she built a thriving business teaching and connecting virtual assistants, the strategies that fueled her growth, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. They dive into balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship, why virtual assistant roles are espec...

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 shaped her entrepreneurial journey, why setting boundaries with clients is essential for work-life balance, and her approach to pricing luxury design services. We dive into the evolution of House of Huck, from hiring a senior designer and opening a studio space to e...

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 from employee to CEO. Caroline opens up about leading her team through transition, building a strong brand identity, and shifting Lawson House’s focus to create deeper impact locally and nationally. The conversation dives into marketing strategies for designers—from w...

In this episode of Founders & Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Rumble Interiors to unpack their inspiring journey from a 30-year hairstyling career to launching a thriving interior design business during COVID-19. We talk about taking a leap of faith into design, finding clients through Instagram and word-of-mouth, and the power of playful, authentic branding. Stephanie with Rumble Interiors shares candid insights on the financial realities of running a design business, why s...

On this episode of Founders and Friends, host Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Kiara Magee, founder of Honey Home Designs, a thriving home staging business in Spokane. Kiara shares her journey from staging one home a month to running a business that now transforms 15–18 homes every month—all while balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. She opens up about the real challenges of starting a staging business without loans or credit cards, the importance of strategic sourcing, and the lessons s...

In this episode of Founders & Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Kate Greunke, founder of The Socialite Agency, to talk about the real journey of entrepreneurship—the grit, sacrifice, and resilience it requires. Kate shares how early influences shaped her path, why she walked away from traditional employment, and how rebranding her business unlocked long-term scalability. Together, she and Ronniesha dive into the power of niching down, the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship...

On this episode of Founders and Friends Podcast, I’m opening up about the six major marketing shifts I’m making for Alder and Stone between now and the end of 2025. After taking 18 months of maternity leave and going through a challenging client experience that almost made me close my business, I realized I needed to rebuild with intention. These shifts are all about setting myself up for stronger projects, better leads, and higher design fees in 2026. I share why I’m changing my Instagram st...

In this episode of Founders and Friends, Ronniesha Rivera sits down with Lindsey Borchard, founder of Lindsey Brooke Design and co-founder of Design Camp, to explore her journey from unpaid passion projects to running a profitable, full-service design firm. Lindsey shares how she overcame early pricing fears, built a supportive team, and learned to separate emotion from business decisions. The two dive into the challenges of balancing motherhood with entrepreneurship, the value of industry fr...

In 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 realit...

In 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 ...

In 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 d...

When 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 ...

In 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 ...

In 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 hea...

In 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 re...

In 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 t...