1203: Madelaine Mayer: The Interior Designer Who Spent 20 Years as an Architect Before Choosing Joy

1203 The Interior Designer Who Spent 20 Years As An Architect Before Choosing Joy Thumbnail.png

Today with Madelaine Mayer:

Today with Madelaine Mayer, licensed architect, certified interior designer, and founder of ADROIT Architecture & Interior Design in New York City, we are getting into what it really means to bet on yourself when everything you have built says you should stay put. Madelaine spent nearly 20 years in commercial and institutional architecture before making the leap to interior design — and the story of how she got there, and what kept her tethered so long, is one a lot of people in this audience are going to recognize.

We talk about the sunk cost trap, the expectations we inherit from the people who love us most, and the permission we withhold from ourselves when our credentials start to feel like an obligation instead of an asset. Madelaine also gets into how that 20-year technical foundation now gives her a genuine competitive edge in the complex, code-heavy world of New York City residential renovation — and what it looks like to build a company culture intentionally, from scratch, when you know exactly what you don’t want it to be.

More About Madelaine Mayer:

Since founding ADROIT Architecture & Interior Design in 2022, Madelaine has earned a reputation for infusing complex New York City residences with boundless joy, innovative problem solving, and ineff able style. Drawing inspiration from her extensive travels, contemporary art, and architectural history, Madelaine wields a keen eye to create deeply personal and practical interiors alongside fun and memorable client experiences.

Madelaine has been featured in numerous publications, including Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, Apartment Therapy, and Real Simple, and was awarded the Apartment Therapy Small/Cool Best Vibe award for her own home in 2023.

With over 20 years of experience in New York City, Madelaine is a licensed architect, certified interior designer, LEED and WELL accredited, and a faculty member at the New York School of Interior Design. She earned her Masters in Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology and her Bachelors in Architectural Studies and Art History from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Ah Ha Moments with Madelaine Mayer:

“There are pressures, internal and external. Sometimes they serve us, sometimes they don’t. Sometimes they serve us until they don’t. And then our job is to recognize the gift that they gave us, but then to break free and listen to the inside voice that’s calling you to do the next thing.” — LuAnn Nigara

“Just because something is difficult to achieve, just because something is perceived as elite or having a high barrier to entry, that it therefore has a higher value and it’s better or more appropriate or more applicable. And that’s just not true.” — Madelaine Mayer

“You literally have to decide to be excellent as the boss every day. How do I show up in the inside of my business that no one else sees?” — Madelaine Mayer

Connect with Madelaine Mayer:

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Boardroom for Creatives

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #1100: Best Of Show: Erika Ward: Identifying Your Transferrable Skills with Erika Ward

AWDB #930: April Gandy: The Key to Managing a Successful Renovation Project

1202: Ceo Conversations with Kate O’Hara:Is Your Next Idea a Revenue Driver or a PR Play? Part 2

1202 In Good Company Ceo Conversations With Kate O Hara Is Your Next Idea A Revenue Driver Or A Pr Play Part 2 Thumbnail.png

Today With Kate O’Hara:

Today on In Good Company: CEO Conversations with Kate O’Hara, we’re discussing diversifying your revenue—how to expand your business without losing focus on what’s already working.

Kate O’Hara, CEO and Creative Director of O’Hara Interiors, joins me to unpack what it really looks like to grow beyond design. We talk about service expansion—adding furnishings to construction, or vice versa—opening a second location, stepping into commercial, and what to know before diving into retail or e-commerce.

We also get honest about the “fun stuff”—books, licensing, TV, speaking, and podcasts—and why those often fall into the PR bucket, not the profit one. Kate shares how to test new ideas as CEO-level experiments, keep your core business airtight, and balance quick wins with long-term plays that build lasting opportunity.

If you’re ready to grow with intention, this conversation will help you run every next move like a CEO.

LuAnn Nigara and Kate O’Hara’s Ah-Ha Moments

“When you are diversifying, each moment of diversification is an experiment.” – Kate

“When you go to diversify…you’ll immediately see what isn’t buttoned up in your core business.” – Kate

More About Kate O’Hara

Kate O’Hara grew up in the world of design. After a decade with the company, she stepped into the role of CEO + Creative Director, expanding the family design firm into new regions of the U.S. When she isn’t traveling between our Minnesota and Texas offices, you can find Kate speaking at conferences, working with our design team, and connecting with new clients and furniture lines.

Connect with Kate O’Hara

⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Pinterest⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠Houzz⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara

⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch the Docuseries!⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.luannnigara.com/cob⁠⁠⁠⁠

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

1201: The Boardroom for Creatives Is Open. Here’s Why I Built It.

1201 The Boardroom For Creatives Is Open Here S Why I Built It Thumbnail.png

Today with LuAnn Nigara:

The Boardroom for Creatives Is Open. Here’s Why I Built It.

After nine years and over 1,400 episodes of bringing the best voices and the most qualified experts to this community, LuAnn built something new.

In this episode she tells the full story, the heartfelt emails she couldn’t answer the way they deserved, the Instagram DM that crystallized the problem, and the interview with Corey Damon Jenkins that made everything click into place.

She also goes behind the scenes: the genius moment followed by the tech panic, the two green lights she got in a single afternoon from her coach Amber De La Garza and her husband Vin, and what happened when she started inviting Board Members into the room.

The Boardroom for Creatives is a curated platform where you book a private 50-minute session with a vetted expert personally selected by LuAnn. Someone she would send her own clients to. No long-term commitment. No contracts. No pay to play.

Board Members are taking appointments now.

boardroomforcreatives.com

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Audiobook: ⁠⁠The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action⁠⁠

Book 2: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts⁠⁠

Book 3: ⁠⁠A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

1200: SPONSORED SHOW: Mr. Steam: Optimize Wellness Design with Steam Showers Built for Performance

1200 Sponsored Show Mr Steam Optimize Wellness Design With Steam Showers Built For Performance Thumbnail.png

Today with William Kauker and Dawn DiGregorio of Mr. Steam:

We all know that wellness-focused design is steadily trending. And in today’s sponsored show, we’re talking about what exactly that means in terms of bathroom design, and how you can be ahead of the cutting-edge to meet clients before they even know what they’re looking for. 

My guests today, William Kauker and Dawn DiGregorio of Mr. Steam, join the show to talk about how steam showers can change the game for your clients. They talk about the language behind wellness design in bathrooms, why steam is so important, and they break down the operational logistics that might be holding you back from implementing these features into your designs. Learn how to start creating a new, elevated experience for your clients in every bathroom design. To learn more go to luannnigara.com/mrsteam

More About William Kauker and Dawn DiGregorio:

Dawn DiGregorio

Vice President and General Manager- MrSteam / Feel Good Inc.

With over 25 years at MrSteam, Dawn continually drives success in planning, business and product development, customer service, technical service, human resources, operations, sales, and marketing while building a culture that empowers every individual to innovate, grow, and thrive.

 

Dawn has devoted herself to the promise of fostering positive relationships that unite groups while allowing individuals to find their voice, grow their talents and succeed.

 

Dawn pridefully and passionately approaches every initiative with a focus on care and service, truly embodying the MrSteam-Feel Good Inc. ethos; “We feel good when you feel good.”

William Kauker

Director of Marketing- MrSteam / Feel Good Inc.

The peanut butter and the chocolate. The strategist and the creative marketer.

 

William’s CV is a legacy of leading global advertising agencies tasked to champion some of the world’s biggest consumer and business brands.

 

William is now focused on delivering elegant solutions that help shape and guide the product, marketing and brand experience for MrSteam / Feel Good Inc. where every innovation is thoughtfully designed, and every individual is empowered to champion making people feel good.

Ah Ha Moments with William Kauker and Dawn DiGregorio:

“We don’t make faucets tile or plumbing fixtures, we make steam showers, and now saunas too. And when designers call with questions, how-to questions and the like, they’re talking to people who have spent their entire careers on this one experience.” -Dawn “People are not just saying, I want a beautiful bathroom anymore. They’re saying, I want to change my life. I want my home to make me perform better in my life.” -William 

“So it sounds like Mr. Steam is built on this philosophy, number one. This is not like, oh, by the way, we have a product and we can make an angle out of it. This is a core culture belief for your company.” -LuAnn

“We really do need to steam. We need to be aware that steam will be part of the project as soon as possible. It’s not something that could be an afterthought, right?” -William

Connect with Mr. Steam:

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

1199: Jasmine Roth: Say No to the Small Things So You Can Say Yes to the Big Ones

6a720e8a5c702f4e18f22be5aba4b0a4 Jasmine Headshot 1 (1)

Today with Jasmine Roth:

We all want to stand out and get noticed in our businesses…but sometimes we get so caught up in trying to do what we’re “supposed” to do or put out what we think people are looking for that we forget the most important thing—loving what we do and committing to who we are as people and business owners.

My guest today, Jasmine Roth, host of HGTV’s hit shows and the upcoming series Roast My Rental, joins the show to share her journey to her high-profile career. Jasmine breaks down the reality of building a standout firm rooted in authenticity, explaining how keeping her early construction business and her network helped her stay efficient, why saying no to the wrong projects clarifies your true business values, and how embracing seasons of life is the ultimate secret, not just to long-term entrepreneurial happiness, but also to getting noticed and standing out from the crowd.

More About Jasmine Roth:

Jasmine Roth is the founder of Built Custom Homes, curator of the online retail store The Shop by Jasmine Roth and host of HGTV’s hit shows Hidden Potential and HELP! I Wrecked My House. She was also on HGTV’s Rock the Block Season 1, but we won’t spoil the winner for you! Jasmine will also be starring alongside comedian Leslie Jones in a new HGTV series Roast My Rental, premiering July 24th, 2026 at 9:30pm ET/PT. Building custom homes is her bread and butter and she loves finding ways to make homes as personal, functional and beautiful as possible.

Growing up, Jasmine spent her childhood weekends building playhouses and furniture in her dad’s garage. In college she met her husband, Brett, and graduated with a business degree in entrepreneurship and new venture management from the school of business. In 2012, Jasmine launched her boutique development company, Built Custom Homes. As owner and founder, Jasmine runs her projects with a hands-on approach and customizes each home to the family that will eventually live there. Jasmine’s website is rapidly growing, and her first book, titled, “House Story: Insider Secrets to the Perfect Home Renovation,” was published in 2021. In 2023 she rolled out Virtual Design Consulting with Built Custom Homes to assist clients around the world.

She lives in Park City, UT with her husband Brett and their daughters Hazel Lynn (6) and Darla Rose (1). She is also excitedly expecting a new baby due October 23rd, 2026.

Ah Ha Moments with Jasmine Roth:

“If you’re doing something you love, share that. Don’t share, don’t try to be somebody else. Don’t try to post things cause you think that’s what somebody’s looking for or that’s what they wanna see, you just post what you’re doing because what you’re doing is interesting.” -Jasmine Roth

“Saying yes to the right things and really what it comes down to is saying no to the right things can give us the opportunity to say yes to the bigger things, to take that seat at the table.” -Jasmine Roth

“If it makes sense to you, if it feels good to you, if you are engaged… you’ll be engaging. You can’t look and say, what should I say to show up to be one in the noise? It either is you or it isn’t because you can’t keep up the facade, right?” -LuAnn Nigara

Connect with Jasmine Roth:

Website

Instagram

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #759 Power Talk Friday: Rachael Bozsik: Discover Your Goldmine and Unleash Your Marketing

AWDB #987 Kate Wood: Discovering and Leaning into Your Niche

AWDB #1035 Lindsay Hunter: The Equestrian Interior Designer: Getting Ultra-Specific with Your Niche

AWDB #1183 BEST OF SHOW: Fred Berns: Own Your “Only” Word & Tips to Discover Yours

1198: Isabel Ladd: Build a Business that Matches Your Vibe

1198 Isabel Ladd Build A Business That Matches Your Vibe Thumbnail.png

Today with Isabel Ladd:

Today with Isabel Ladd, self-taught interior designer and unapologetic maximalist, we are getting into what it actually looks like to build a business entirely on your own terms. Isabel is a 2026 High Point Market Authority Style Spotter, a Kips Bay and House Beautiful Whole Home Showhouse alum, and someone who has spent 11 years in business deliberately engineering her client process so that by the time someone works with her, it’s a love match — for both of them.

Isabel walks us through the intentional speed bumps she’s built into her intake process, the 15-page handbook her clients receive before they ever get on a call with her, and the mindset shifts that changed everything — including why she deleted more than half of her portfolio and never looked back. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to run a business from a place of joy instead of obligation, this is your episode.

More About Isabel Ladd:

A ride-or-die Maximalist, Isabel Ladd thrives on creating homes saturated in a kaleidoscope of intelligent, meticulously layered colors and patterns. A girl of many mantras, Isabel loves to preach: More is More, Less is never enough; and Mix: don’t match. 

Isabel has participated in both the Kip’s Bay Designer Showhouse and House Beautiful’s Whole Home Showhouse. She won the Luxe Magazine Red Award “Interior Design: Best of the Rest” , is a House Beautiful “Next Wave” Designer, represented Kentucky in Business Of Home’s “50 States Project, ” and was named a “New Trad” in Traditional Home magazine. Her work is regularly featured in design + lifestyle outlets.

Ah Ha Moments with Isabel Ladd:

“It’s not about the market that you’re in that determines if your aesthetic is successful. It’s about who aligns with your vibe. And good vibes are more important to me than anything else.”  – Isabel

“There’s not a problem. There’s just a solution we haven’t figured out just yet.” – Isabel

“I give myself authority to make the best decisions for you on your behalf.” – Isabel

“If I don’t care if there’s only 5% of the people in Kentucky that appreciate your look — you’re going to get 100% of that 5% because you’re willing to say, this is who I am and this is how I show up.” – LuAnn

Connect with Isabel Ladd:

Website

Instagram 

Pinterest

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB Episode 991: Chloe Bullock: Conscious Design

AWDB Episode 831: Flashback Friday: Nate Berkus: The Importance of Creating An Exceptional Client Experience

AWDB Episode 1141: Nate Berkus: “Foundations”: His New Book and 30 Years of Interior Design Business Wisdom

AWDB #1006: Power Talk Friday: Tammy Nagem, CEO, High Point Market Authority. Why You Should Go to HPMKT

1197: Jason Saft: The Systems, Standards, and Boundaries Behind Luxury Home Staging

1197 The Systems Standards And Boundaries Behind Luxury Home Staging Thumbnail.png

Today with Jason Saft:

Today with Jason Saft, founder of Staged To Sell Home and one of the most recognized names in luxury staging. Jason has built a business staging multi-million dollar properties across New York City — the kind of apartments and townhouses that were stuck on the market for years until he came in and transformed them into spaces that sell in weeks. With over 20 years in real estate and interiors, a 24,000 square foot warehouse of curated inventory, and a team of 15, Jason operates at a level most stagers only dream about. But what’s fascinating about this conversation is how openly he talks about the journey to get here — the years of saying yes to everything, the projects he took for little to no money, and the boundaries he’s learned to set (and strategically break) along the way.

We dig into how Jason communicates his value through data, why he’ll negotiate on certain projects but hold firm on others, and what it’s really like to manage impossibly tight timelines while maintaining his signature design aesthetic. Jason also shares why he stepped away from occupied staging after one particularly brutal project, how he’s built systems that allow his team to execute flawlessly under pressure, and why he believes sharing his process openly has been one of the smartest business moves he’s ever made. Whether you’re a stager, designer, or running any kind of creative business, this episode is packed with insight on building something sustainable at the highest level.

More About Jason Saft:

Jason Saft is the founder of Staged To Sell Home and a visionary leader in the home staging and design industry. His contemporary, curatorial style seamlessly blends eras, integrating modern pieces into historic settings and allowing antiques to feel fresh in new builds. With over 20 years of experience in real estate and interiors, he has overseen more than $3 billion in sales and possesses a unique ability to transform unsellable properties into a sale through the art of interior staging. By realizing every space’s inherent potential, he creates homes where buyers envision their most aspirational lives

Jason’s audience of more than 100k followers looks to him for insight on design that resonates both culturally and commercially. His work has earned awards from the Real Estate Staging Association and has been featured in some of the most prestigious and recognizable outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, Architectural Digest, Vogue, The New York Times, Forbes, and more. Explore his world at http://www.stagedtosellhome.com. 

Ah Ha Moments with Jason Saft:

“I spent the last 20 years saying yes to everything, so I could finally start to say no.” – Jason

“You hired my expertise. Stop getting in the way of it.” – LuAnn

“While I try not to negotiate a lot, because that is the difference of taking care of your employees, hiring that extra person, investing in your inventory, there are a lot of times where I absolutely will negotiate, because there is value in association.” – Jason

“You can make whatever deal you want when you know the reason for it.” – LuAnn

“Don’t ever give anybody anything without telling them that you’re giving it to them.”  – LuAnn

Connect with Jason Saft:

Website

Instagram 

Press

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #76: Shauna Lynn Simon- Home Staging is not Interior Design and Here’s Why

AWDB #741: Leia Ward: Getting Started with Luxury Staging

AWDB #1104: Corey Damen Jenkins: How He Manages Imposter Syndrome and Builds Client Loyalty in Design

1196: OVERHEARD: Janelle Photopoulos, Amy Peltier and Liz Walton: How to Build a Referral Pipeline That Actually Works

New Size Overheard (instagram Post (45)) (2)

Today with Janelle Photopoulos, Amy Peltier and Liz Walton:

Today we’re continuing our referral marketing series with three more designers who transformed their businesses by working with Stacey Brown Randall.

Liz Walton shares how she went from throwing spaghetti at the wall to systematically generating referrals, and she’s now more profitable while working less. Amy Peltier reveals her brutal boot camp of calling 40 people per week when she moved cross-country, and the consistency lessons that still drive her business. And Janelle Blakely Photopoulos shows how intentional relationship-building brought in $750,000 in referral business, with seven of her last ten projects coming from referrals.

You’ll learn why language is everything when sending video messages, why tracking actual dollar amounts changes your approach, and how to position yourself so realtors and architects want you in their back pocket. These designers were already successful, but they recognized that hoping for referrals and systematically generating them are two very different things.

This is Part 2 of our referral series. If you missed Part 1 with Darci Hether, Rebecca Robinson, and Lacey Michalek, listen to that episode first. Stop winging your referral strategy and start building relationships that actually convert.

Connect with Janelle Photopoulos, Amy Peltier and Liz Walton:

Janelle Photopoulos

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

Amy Peletier

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Liz Walton

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

LinkedIn

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

Episode 69 Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall – Take Control Of Your Business – Employee Management

Episode 93 Power Talk Friday- Stacey Brown Randall- How To Create an Awesome Client Experience!

Episode 364 Janelle Photopoulos: Leading, Not Simply Running, Your Interior Design Firm

Episode 426 Power Talk Friday: Stacey Brown Randall: Generating Business Referrals…Without Asking

1195: BEST OF: Campbell Minister: Building a Referral Based Interior Design Business

1195 Best Of Show Campbell Minister Building A Referral Based Interior Design Business Thumbnail.png

Today With Campbell Minister:

Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Building a referral-led business isn’t always easy. It takes commitment, dedication, integrity, and accountability. Most of all, it takes the ability to navigate speed bumps and navigate challenges. 

My guest today, Campbell Minister, knows what it takes to do all of those things. She has created clear processes, learned how to set up proactive client expectations, and built strong relationships that bring referrals and repeat business her way. Today, she’s sharing her insights on what it takes to create those relationships and bring referrals your way.

“It’s a testament to understanding the core belief that interior design is a personalized, high-level luxury service. You’re not in competition with everyone, and you’re not the right fit for everyone.” -LuAnn

“Discipline and dedication are it. Really, at the end of the day, what makes me happy is if my clients are happy, so I am always thinking about what it takes to create that client experience. What do you want people to say about you?” -Campbell

“It’s not who’s right or wrong. It’s who’s bringing their perspective and that lens, and what’s their lens for the situation. There’s your story and my story, but there’s always a third story.” -Campbell

Campbell Minister Design (CMD) is a boutique, referral-led decorating firm.

Campbell started her firm in 2016 while taking courses in interior design. She dove headfirst into a new build construction project, forcing her to become intensely focused on project execution, and working under tight construction timelines. Fast forward 7 years later and you will find Campbell leading a team of designers, operational support staff, and tradespeople to bring her clients’ vision to life.

Campbell acts on behalf of her clients at every step of the design process, caring for their home as if it was her own. She leverages strong working relationships with trusted vendors to execute each client’s vision.

As the daughter of a serial decorator, artist, and antique shop owner, Campbell has an innate sense of style and an eye for good design. Merging this background along with degrees in communication, education, and art history, Campbell uses these skills to successfully turn clients’ design ideas into gorgeously real spaces.

Website

Instagram 

Facebook 

Pinterest

The Power Talk Friday Tour

Watch the Docuseries!

https://www.luannnigara.com/cob

For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999!

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

AudiobookThe Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Hiring Toolkit Bundle

#346 Do Not Let Us Design: Taylor Dieterich & Yashlie Negron

#547 Power Talk Friday: Jamie Lieberman of Hashtag Legal: 5 Steps to Sharpen Your Negotiation Skills

#939 Power Talk Friday: Amy Flurry: From Creating Media Opportunities to Creating a Product line; Aloka Home

#282 Blanche Garcia – You Teach Clients How to Treat You

#370 Kesha Franklin: A Different Path to a Career in Interior Design

#374 Ellie Mroz: The Reveal Install & Working with Trades

#704 Power Talk Friday: George Oliphant: George to the Rescue

#871 Power Talk Friday: Desi Creswell: Out of Overwhelm: Why Time Management Begins With Your Mindset

LuAnn Nigara and Campbell Minister’s Ah-Ha MomentsMore About Campbell MinisterConnect with Campbell MinisterWhat’s new with LuAnn NigaraGet The Goodies!Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:Connect with LuAnn NigaraOther Resources Mentioned:Other Shows Mentioned:

1194: Zach Perez & Zach Keenan: Automate Tedious Tasks and Scale Productivity with Agentic AI

1194 Zach Perez And Zach Keenan Automate Tedious Tasks And Scale Productivity With Agentic Ai Thumbnail.png

Today With Zach Keenan and Zach Perez:

Are you spending more time checking boxes in your project management software than you are actually designing? We all love the idea of technology making our lives easier, but even with tools and systems, we still end up taking a lot of time out of our day to make them work for us. But what if you could fully and seamlessly automate your most annoying, time-consuming tasks…like searching for a specific receipt in a cluttered drive, manually logging site-visit hours, or moving data from one platform to another? 

My guests today, Zach Perez and Zach Keenan, co-founders of Aupra, join the show to talk about the power of agentic AI. They specialize in building custom automation solutions that go well beyond basic chatbots to create internal systems that act on your behalf.

More About Zach Keenan and Zach Perez:

Zach Keenan and Zach Perez are childhood best friends turned co-founders. After two distinct personal journeys, they reconnected over a shared interest in business in 2025. Recognizing the growing opportunity within AI, they went on to launch Aupra in August of that year. 

Aupra is an AI Automation company that specifically focuses on the design + build industry. They use AI to automate the most-time consuming work design studios have to deal with. 

AI is so much more than just ChatGPT. Creating internal systems is truly where the magic can happen for businesses. 

As young entrepreneurs they are excited to reveal the opportunity AI automation presents to the design industry.

Ah Ha Moments with Zach Keenan and Zach Perez:

“When it goes from AI to agentic in an agentic system, you give AI the capability to take action by giving it tools and giving AI the ability to use tools… allowing AI to now act on your behalf, but not only act by using those tools, but also remember what it did and then do it again and again and again.” -Zach Perez

“Ideally, if we can, you know, reduce the amount of time spent doing tedious tasks, you can focus on the things you actually enjoy doing or that make the business more money.” -Zach Keenan

“If I am out there and I’m using multiple things and they’re all working for me, but I am still the managing the human person, moving things from place to place, you might be able to replace that activity for me. I think that’s really the bottom line on this, isn’t it?” -LuAnn

Connect with Zach Keenan and Zach Perez:

Website

Youtube

What’s new with LuAnn Nigara:

Watch the Docuseries!

http://www.luannnigara.com/cob

Get The Goodies!
For checklists, resources, and extra goodies from A Well-Designed Business sign up for free here.

Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here:

Book 1: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Audiobook: The Making of A Well – Designed Business: Turn Inspiration into Action

Book 2: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts

Book 3: A Well-Designed Business – The Power Talk Friday Experts Volume 2

Connect with LuAnn Nigara:

LuAnn’s Website

LuAnn’s Blog

Power Talk Friday

Like Us: Facebook | Tweet Us: Twitter | Follow Us: Instagram | Listen Here: Podcast

Other Shows Mentioned:

AWDB #1171 Jenna Gaidusek: AI Ethics for Interior Designers: Protecting Your Clients and Brand