The business retreat for Interior Designers
Empower the Designer
Join our retreat
〰️
Nashville, TN Sept 28-30, 2026
〰️
Join our retreat 〰️ Nashville, TN Sept 28-30, 2026 〰️
What to Expect at Our 2026 Retreat
You're designing beautiful spaces—but is your business keeping up?
If you're overwhelmed by operations, unsure where your profits are going, struggling to hire the right team, or spending more time managing your business than growing it, you're not alone.
Empower the Designer 2026 is built for design firm owners who want to work on their business, not just in it. Over three days, you'll streamline your operations, strengthen your financial systems, develop a practical growth strategy, and learn from experts in AI, leadership, legal, and business management. You'll also connect with a select group of ambitious designers facing the same challenges and leave with actionable solutions you can implement immediately.
Imagine Leaving With….
Leave with 10+ hours back each week using AI.
Learn how firms are hiring without increasing payroll.
Know exactly where every dollar is going—and how to increase profitability.
Build systems that allow your business to grow without depending on you every day.
Review and focus on stronger contracts and proven strategies to reduce costly client disputes.
Learn how to protect your business from scope creep, unpaid invoices, and contract disputes before they become costly problems.
September 28 – September 30, 2026
Hotel Noelle, Nashville
Hosted at the historic Hotel Noelle in the heart of Nashville, Empower the Designer is an intensive business summit curated for established principals ready to move beyond inspiration and into the mechanics of high-level scaling. Over three days, we move past the "invisible friction" of daily operations and into the pivotal decisions that shape a world-class studio.
From predictive hiring data and creative compensation to legal infrastructure and the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), every session is designed to help you step out of the day-to-day and master the systems that move your firm forward.
Empower the Designer is built for firm owners ready to lead at a higher level. This expanded experience goes beyond inspiration into the operational, financial, and leadership systems required to scale a profitable, sustainable design business.
Hotel rooms are not included in the ticket price, but after purchase, you will receive an exclusive link to book a room at Hotel Noelle at our discounted group rate.
Bring your right hand, whether that is a business partner, COO, or lead designer. The Duo Bundle includes two full-access tickets at a preferred rate, allowing you to build your studio's internal strategy together. Strengthen your alignment while building your external network.
Hotel rooms are not included in the ticket price, but after purchase, you will receive an exclusive link to book a room at Hotel Noelle at our discounted group rate.
Empower the Designer is built for interior designers at the point where the work is coming in, the business is established, but the systems behind it haven’t caught up yet.
You’re juggling clients, managing a team or collaborators, tracking finances, and making daily decisions that all seem to land on your desk, no matter how experienced you are.
This retreat exists to help you step out of that cycle. It’s a focused, three-day environment designed to give you the clarity and structure most design businesses never slow down long enough to build.
Testimonials
“Attending Empower The Designer in 2025 was a worthwhile investment in my professional growth. The programming was exceptionally thorough, with sessions that address the real business drivers of our industry—finance, project and client management, operational efficiency, and strategic growth. The speakers delivered engaging presentations that balanced creativity with practical, actionable guidance. The event maintained an enjoyable and energizing atmosphere, making it both productive and genuinely fun. I left with valuable knowledge, new connections, and new ideas to put forth in my work.”
- Katie Guzinski
Executive Director, Principal
Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design
“"As the COO of Tom Stringer Design Partners, I found Empower the Designer to be an incredibly valuable experience from both an operational and strategic standpoint. Unlike many industry events that focus primarily on design, Empower addresses the business systems required to successfully grow and sustain a high-performing firm.
The sessions on operations, financial visibility, project management, leadership, and team structure provided practical strategies we could implement immediately. Just as valuable were the conversations with other firm leaders who openly shared their challenges and best practices around profitability, client experience, and scaling their businesses.
I left with actionable ideas, a stronger perspective on operational leadership, and strategies that will positively influence how our firm continues to grow. I highly recommend Empower the Designer to any leadership team looking to strengthen the business side of their design firm."
- Daniel Paul
Chief Operating Officer
Tom Stringer Design Partner
Over three days, we tackle real studio problems like project timelines, pricing, vendor coordination, and profit visibility. The format is hands-on, with small-group sessions and direct feedback from experts who understand how design businesses operate. The result: attendees leave with specific fixes, clearer systems, and a plan to make 2026 feel more manageable and more profitable.
01
Clear pricing & contracts
02
Legal Protection
04
AI Implementation
03
A real growth plan
Taking control of your business future starts in Nashville, TN, September 28 - 30, 2026
The best speakers in the industry
More strategy. More systems. More success. Your 2026 retreat starts here.
Empower the Designer
The business retreat for Interior Designers.
Meet the Founder
Julia Nikishina
New Age Financial Consulting (NAFC) is an independent, woman-owned and operated, full-service accounting and financial management firm that exclusively serves the interior design industry.
NAFC offers a comprehensive suite of services, including accounting, payroll and benefits management, HR support/management, budgeting, cash flow planning, financial reporting, retirement and insurance planning, and tax advisory services and return preparation. Acting as a true virtual Chief Financial Officer and extension of design studios, NAFC builds long-lasting client relationships grounded in trust, integrity, and confidentiality.
‘Empower the Designer’ was created with the intention of making the interior design world more accessible, bringing leaders together and providing valuable business advice.
Be part of the Empower the Designer community
2024 Retreat Memory
2025 Retreat Memory
Empower the Designer is a community for interior designers who want to grow their businesses with more clarity.
It’s built on real connection, shared experience, and practical learning. When designers come together with industry experts, we create a space where studios can grow stronger, smarter, and more confidently, while staying true to the work we love.