Empower the Designer
The business retreat for Interior Designers
Join our retreat
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2026
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Join our retreat 〰️ 2026 〰️
Who We AreEmpower 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.
Exciting news
What to Expect at Our 2026 Retreat
In 2026, Empower the Designer will focus on the work that actually moves your business forward. Over three days, you’ll streamline your operations, strengthen your financial systems, and build a realistic growth plan you can implement immediately. You’ll be guided by experts who understand design businesses and supported by a small group of designers who share the same goals.
Testimonials
“I realized my studio was losing money from constant project changes and messy timelines. I left with a clear plan to tighten contracts and run projects smoother.”
— Event Participant: 2025
Take a look at how we do it
Taking control of your business future starts in 2026
Over three days, we tackled real studio problems like project timelines, pricing, vendor coordination, and profit visibility. The format was hands-on, with small-group sessions and direct feedback from experts who understand how design businesses operate. The result: attendees left with specific fixes, clearer systems, and a plan to make 2026 feel more manageable and more profitable.
01
Clear pricing & contracts
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Streamlined project systems
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A real growth plan
Taking control of your business future starts in Charleston S.C., November 4-6, 2025
The best speakers in the industry
Jake Arnold
AD100 designer and co-founder of The Expert
Mike Moser
Founder of Mike Moser Studio
Brigette Romanek
An award-winning interior designer and the founder of Romanek Design Studio.
Brooke Stoll
A business coach and strategist who helps interior designers
Keith Granet
A consultant to celebrity interior designers and author of The Business of Design
More amazing speakers coming in 2026!
Empower the Designer
The business retreat for Interior Designers.
More strategy. More systems. More success. Your 2026 retreat starts here.
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
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.