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Today With NeKeia McSwain: In today’s episode of A Well Designed Business, I sit down with the inspiring NeKeia McSwain, a trailblazer in the interior design industry. NeKeia shares her journey of embracing authenticity and the importance of showing up as your true self in both personal and professional settings. We dive deep into her experiences, discussing the challenges and triumphs she’s faced in an industry that can sometimes prioritize facade over genuine connection. NeKeia emphasizes the value of building supportive circles and the need for emotional intelligence in our interactions, whether with clients, industry peers, or brand partners. Join us as we explore how to navigate the complexities of the design world while remaining true to ourselves. NeKeia's insights remind us that authenticity is not just a personal mantra but a vital element in creating meaningful relationships and successful collaborations. Tune in to discover how you can apply these lessons in your own journey and foster a community

Today With Jennifer Tokatyan: Today on A Well-Designed Business, I speak with Jennifer Tokatyan, leadership consultant and partner with Eileen B Hahn. With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer shares her proven 7-step framework for building strong company culture that drives team performance and business growth. Don't miss information about her upcoming LuAnn University course, "Build an Exceptional Team that Gets Results," starting January 2025. LuAnn Nigara and Jennifer Tokatyan's Ah-Ha Moments “Culture matters the moment you have another human being you are interacting with because you are now interdependent on them to execute on the very things you are trying to deliver,” - Jennifer Tokatyan “Once you clarify yourself as the leader and you exemplify that and are consistent, the whole team will follow. And the ones who don't, you can show them the door,” - LuAnn Nigara More About Jennifer Tokatyan Jennifer Tokatyan is a leadership consultant and a consulting partner with Eileen B Hahn. Jennifer has over 2

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Have you ever faced a business opportunity that made you stop in your tracks? It’s equal parts exciting and terrifying, isn’t it? On this episode, I share a behind-the-scenes look at how I navigated one of those moments. With insights from trusted advisors like Kate O’Hara, I learned valuable lessons that can help YOU handle those big decisions in your business: How to slow down, gather information, and make a thoughtful choice. Why having a network of advisors is a game-changer. How to balance confidence with strategy in decision-making. Listen now for real-world strategies and actionable takeaways. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour 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. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! Purchase LuAnn’s Books Here: Book 1: The Making of A Well

Today With LuAnn Nigara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! Recently, I listened to Steve Jobs’ biography, and it sparked some big ideas. Steve was more than a tech innovator—he was a master of customer experience, a ruthless prioritizer, and a perfectionist when it came to excellence. In this episode, I’ll reflect on his genius and how we can apply it to our interior design firms. From branding and systems to productivity and storytelling, we’ll cover practical strategies inspired by Jobs and blended with advice from my Power Talk Friday Experts books. By the end, you’ll have a roadmap to simplify, streamline, and succeed in your business. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: Why your customer experience is your brand’s story—and how to control it. How to create systems that simplify your life and delight your clients. Why saying “no” is the key to productivity and growth. The art of storytelling to create emotional connections with your audience. Why excellence is a daily choice that leads to a las

Today With Kristin Bartone: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. What would happen to your business today if something happened with you or a family member that uprooted everything in your life? Would you be able to continue your work. The truth is that even a well-designed business can struggle in life circumstances. My guest today, Kristin Bartone, knows all about that. She’s here to share a story of handling the unexpected—and how she kept her business afloat even when her personal life demanded her entire focus. LuAnn Nigara and Kristin Bartone's Ah-Ha Moments “Trying to focus on the family and being together and repairing the family unit, you know, is really important to all of us. So we’re just focusing on that and then just trying to keep things chugging along.” -Kristin “You've had to get more efficient to do it from a distance. And that's never gonna be a bad thing. The business is never gonna be like, dang it, you made me more efficient!” -LuAnn More About Kristin Bartone Kristin has been around des

Today With Kate O’Hara: In this episode of A Well-Designed Business, we sit down with Kate O’Hara, CEO of O’Hara Interiors, to discuss effective end-of-year business strategies for designers. As the holiday season approaches and client activity slows, Kate shares actionable tips on optimizing workflow, reconnecting with past clients, creating engaging holiday content, and thoughtful gifting strategies. Whether you’re a solo designer or leading a team, this conversation is packed with insights to help you set your business up for a successful new year. 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 Pinter

Today With Megan Atkinson: Today with Megan Rose Atkinson of MEGANROSE Interiors, we're discussing one of the most critical aspects of running a successful design business — vendor relationships. Megan shares her journey from wearing a tool belt with leather pants to building a thriving design firm with locations in Michigan and Arizona. With a "cheetah mindset" and philosophy of "whatever you are, be a good one," she breaks down exactly how she approaches these crucial industry partnerships. Megan shares specific strategies for building vendor networks in new territories, managing tough budget conversations, and maintaining strong relationships while staying in your lane. Whether you're just starting out or looking to strengthen your existing vendor partnerships, Megan's practical approach to collaboration offers valuable insights for every stage of business growth. LuAnn Nigara and Megan Atkinson's Ah-Ha Moments “I'd rather have one hard conversation than 10 million terrible conversations along the way.” -

Today With Eileen Hahn: Today on Power Talk Friday, I am joined by my cousin and hiring expert Eileen Hahn, who brings her 30 years of expertise in helping businesses find and retain exceptional talent. After seeing countless design firms struggle with hiring (and making some expensive mistakes myself), I knew we needed Eileen's proven 5-step formula for making outstanding hires. Whether you're building your team or planning your next hire, these simple, actionable steps will transform your hiring process and help you build the dream team your design business deserves. LuAnn Nigara and Eileen Hahn's Ah-Ha Moments “If you do nothing else from this whole process, do an assessment at whatever level that is. Have them do a task you’re going to have them do a week later,” - Eileen Hahn “Ask behavior-based interview questions because the best predictor of future performance is past behavior,” - Eillen Hahn More About Eileen Hahn Best-selling author of The Job You Were Born For: Seven Steps to Align Your Work With Y

Today With Melanie Zaelich: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. Many new designers try out consult-based design only to find themselves struggling with scope creep and feeling undervalued.  But my guest today, Melanie Zaelich, runs a thriving consult-only business. She’s a former full-service designer who deliberately chose to transition to this model—and she did so with intention, systems, and processes. Today, she shares how to avoid scope creep, provide clarity, and set boundaries for a successful consult-only design business. LuAnn Nigara and Melanie Zaelich's Ah-Ha Moments “You’ve thought a lot about what you want to do. And that’s what we have to think about. You don't have the itch for the whole, you know, kit and caboodle of projects that last six months or two years till we get this thing done. Others are just so passionately driven to do it—but it’s not where your passion lies. And the thing is, every industry has all of its lanes, and they all need to be filled by people who are talented and passi

Today With LuAnn Nigara: In this week’s episode of A Well-Designed Business, I’m sharing the no-fluff, practical strategies you need to set 2025 up for success. From defining what success truly means for you, to aligning your goals with your current season of life, to building the systems that keep you moving forward—this episode is your blueprint. Whether you’re scaling back or ready to seize new opportunities, it’s time to get intentional. What’s new with LuAnn Nigara The Power Talk Friday Tour 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. To Get on LuAnn’s Email List, text the word designbiz to 444999! 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 –

Today With Kelley Gable: Today, with Kelley Gable of Gable Interior Designers, we dive deep into the world of niche marketing and luxury coastal design. Kelley shares her journey of redefining coastal aesthetics, moving beyond cliché beach motifs to create sophisticated, contemporary interiors. We explore her unique business model of serving clients with homes in both urban areas and coastal Delaware, and how she's structured her team to support this dual-location approach. Kelley offers valuable insights on educating clients about modern coastal design, building strategic partnerships with builders, and creating targeted marketing strategies. We also discuss her hiring process for different roles across her two offices, providing practical advice for growing a design team. Whether you're looking to carve out your own niche or expand your business across multiple locations, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge on positioning your design business for success. LuAnn Nigara and Kelley Gable's Ah-Ha Moments

Today With Karen Post: Today with Karen Post, we dive deep into her journey of transforming Home Frosting from a staging company into a thriving interior design firm. Karen shares her experience of making a major business pivot while managing complex personal and financial challenges, including significant business loans and partnerships. As a former member of my Chairman of the Board program, Karen offers candid insights about finding the courage to change direction when your current path isn't bringing you joy, even if you've invested heavily in it. She discusses practical considerations like negotiating flexible lease terms and managing inventory, while also sharing how this business transformation ultimately strengthened both her professional success and personal relationships. This episode is a masterclass in strategic pivoting and the importance of aligning your business with your true passions. LuAnn Nigara and Karen Post's Ah-Ha Moments “You can’t change anybody else, you can just change your reaction

Today With Lindsay Hunter: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. If you’ve been listening to the show for any amount of time, you’ve heard me tell you to niche at least a dozen times. So…if you haven’t niched…what’s holding you back? My guest today, Lindsay Hunter, probably had all of those same fears. But she also had a passion—and she turned that passion into a profitable, thriving niche as the equestrian interior designer. Today, she’s sharing her story—and how niching opened up doors for her that never would have opened up otherwise. LuAnn Nigara and Lindsay Hunter's Ah-Ha Moments “Thank you for inspiring me to niche my business and to put my horse back on my website and be authentic and myself and feel like I can show up to client meetings in my barn boots.” -Lindsay “What’s meaningful and being passionately attached to something are two very different things. When you're really super niched like equestrian design, you can't fake that. You can’t say you’re an equestrian designer when you haven’t even been

Today With Donna Hoffman: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Many designers struggle with harnessing their sensitivity in business, often seeing it as a weakness rather than a strength. My guest today is interior designer and business coach Donna Hoffman, sharing her journey from launching a luxury design firm during the 2008 recession to building a 7-figure, award-winning business. Donna, the founder of Impeccably Designed Homes and creator of the Successful Design Biz Academy, has developed a unique approach she calls "Success Momentum." Donna emphasizes the importance of leaning into your Creative Nature and reveals how embracing sensitivity can elevate your design business and attract high-quality clients. She shares insights into how our design superpowers can sometimes be our business Achilles' heel, along with strategies for turning these potential weaknesses into strengths. LuAnn Nigara and Donna Hoffman's Ah-Ha Moments “For creative brains, that thing that makes us great at what we do is almost alw

Today With Ann Kottler: Today with Ann Kottler, we're learning all about designing for elite home builders and managing luxury residential projects. Ann is the founder and principal designer of her namesake firm based in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, where she's established herself as the go-to expert for 7-8 figure new home construction and remodeling projects. In this episode, Ann shares her strategies for building strong relationships with custom home builders, mastering material selection, and creating comprehensive spec books. She reveals how her sales background has been crucial in positioning herself as an invaluable asset to both builders and clients. Ann also offers insights on embracing trades, establishing trust on job sites, and effectively translating complex building information to clients. LuAnn Nigara and Ann Kottler's Ah-Ha Moments “You really need to know your way around a job site. You really need to know how to read a blueprint. You need to understand an electrical plan. You need to understand t

Today With Shayna Pellino: Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. If you're feeling stuck in your business, wondering how to make that crucial transition from being self-employed to running a true business, this episode is for you. My guest today, Shayna Pellino of 4DBiz, has identified clear growth markers in the journey of interior design business owners. Through her work with designers - about 20 new conversations every month - she's noticed a common thread: many are stuck in Growth Marker 1, doing everything themselves. Today, she's breaking down what it takes to move beyond that stage, sharing her hybrid pricing approach, and most importantly, helping you understand if you're ready for that transition. But here's the thing - before she tells you how to fix it, Shayna emphasizes that you have to be ready for it and actually want it. It's about more than just implementing new systems; it's about fundamentally changing how you operate your business. LuAnn Nigara and Shayna Pellino's Ah-Ha Moments “It really j

Today With Dan Mazzarini: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. When you think about the future of your firm, what do you envision? Are you going to stay small? Or do you hope to grow your team?  There’s no right or wrong answer. Different business owners have different goals. But if you do want to build a team, you have to learn how to lead efficiently, create strong processes, and cultivate the right team culture.  My guest today, Dan Mazzarini, principal and creative director of BHDM desig, knows what it takes to manage a large team.  On their website, BHDM design describes itself as a creative collective of designers, architects, artists, and illustrators—and they truly do approach their projects from this collective, collaborative perspective. Dan has worked hard to establish that collective—and today, he’s here to share how. LuAnn Nigara and Dan Mazzarini's Ah-Ha Moments “With clarity comes confidence.” -Dan “Having good partners in leadership, having trusted voices in the room, has helped me make decisi

Today With Kate O’Hara: Hi, welcome to A Well-Designed Business! In this episode, I sit down with the incredible Kate O'Hara to dive into the fascinating distinctions between growth-focused and scale-focused entrepreneurs. With her unique perspective as both a founder and a second-generation business owner, Kate shares invaluable insights on how mindset shifts are crucial as businesses evolve. We discuss the importance of balancing sales drive with effective processes, the challenges of scaling, and the need for strong management structures. Whether you're a solo entrepreneur or leading a growing team, this conversation is packed with actionable advice to help you navigate your business journey. Tune in to discover how to shift your mindset and strategies for sustainable success! 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 tr

Today With Kelly O’Neil: Welcome to a Well-Designed Business. I have heard from so many of you interested in design-build—and most importantly, how to start building those relationships that bring you into the industry and position you as a go-to trusted designer.  My guest today, Kelly O’Neil, has a lot of insight to share on that topic. She has cultivated strong relationships with builders, found ways to prove her value, and used processes not just in her design, but even in the way she networks and builds relationships. Today, she’s here to share how she did it and what she learned along the way. LuAnn Nigara and Kelly O’Neil's Ah-Ha Moments “You have to handle both sides, the client and the builder, and keep both sides happy. But sometimes their lack of communication with each other puts you in the middle. So you find a way to smooth everybody out and make everybody happy.” -Kelly “I love that you know that it's the value of always keeping the pipeline going. You can't just rely on what happened last week

Today With Kristi Hopper: Hi, welcome to A Well Designed Business! Today, Kristi Hopper shares a deeply personal and challenging experience as we talk about a situation that, sadly, has happened to others before: to discover that a long-trusted employee had been embezzling funds. Kristi bravely opens up about the emotional toll this betrayal took on her, the lessons learned, and the importance of implementing checks and balances in our businesses. Join us as we explore the realities of trust, the hard truths of small business ownership, and how we can protect ourselves from similar situations in the future. LuAnn Nigara and Kristi Hopper's Ah-Ha Moments "As small business owners, we wear many hats, but we must ensure that we have checks and balances in place." - Kristi Hopper "When it comes to finances, a two-person check system can save you from devastating losses." - LuAnn Nigara "Investing in oversight and proper systems ultimately saves you money and heartache." - Kristi Hopper "Talking openly about these