EMPOWER THE DESIGNER - SEPTEMBER 28–30, 2026 · NASHVILLE
Save 50% with code FRIEND
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Save 50% with code FRIEND •
Three days. One room. The conversations your business needs.
Build the Interior Design Firm
You Actually Want to Run.
Step away from the day-to-day and spend three focused days building a more profitable, structured, and sustainable design firm.
September 28–30, 2026 · Hotel Noelle · Nashville, TN
What is
EMPOWER THE DESIGNER
A business retreat built specifically for interior design firms.
Empower the Designer is a three-day business retreat created for interior design firm owners and leaders who want to build stronger, more profitable, and more sustainable businesses.
Instead of focusing on design inspiration, Empower brings together experts and experienced firm leaders to tackle the business side of running a growing studio—from profitability, hiring, and leadership to operations, legal protection, AI, and scaling beyond the founder.
Your firm is growing. Are your systems keeping up?
More revenue. Not enough profit.
Gain greater visibility into the numbers behind your firm and make stronger financial decisions.
Profitability
Your team is growing — but everything still comes back to you.
Build clearer roles, stronger leadership, and a team that can operate with greater independence.
Team
What worked before is starting to create friction.
Strengthen the systems, processes, and structure behind your growing firm.
Operations
Everyone is talking about AI. Few firms know how to use it well.
Explore practical ways to use AI without adding another layer of complexity.
AI & Growth
Practical solutions for real progress
Empower is designed around the business challenges established interior design firms face every day—not generic inspiration.
Understand the financial levers that drive healthier, more sustainable growth.
More profitable decisions
Hire better, delegate more effectively, and build a team that can grow with the firm.
Stronger team systems
Create systems and processes that reduce friction and founder dependency.
Clearer operations
Discover realistic ways to use AI to save time and improve how your firm operates.
Practical AI workflows
A stronger peer network
Connect with firm leaders navigating the same decisions, challenges, and opportunities.
Stronger legal protection
Improve contracts, manage risk, and protect the business you’ve worked hard to build.
IS EMPOWER RIGHT FOR YOU?
Built for established design firms ready for the next level.
Empower is for interior design leaders who have already built something meaningful—and now need stronger systems, clearer strategy, and better support behind their growth.
You’ll feel at home in the room if…
⚡️ You're a Firm Owner or Principal whose business has grown beyond what you can personally manage.
⚡️ You're a COO or Operations Leader responsible for turning creative vision into a business that actually runs.
⚡️ You're a Lead Designer or #2 taking on more leadership and helping shape where the firm goes next.
⚡️ You have a team and you're thinking seriously about structure, accountability, hiring, and profitability.
⚡️ Business is good—but harder than it should be. Revenue isn't necessarily the problem. Complexity is.
⚡️ You're ready for candid conversations with other firm leaders, not another event centered on design trends and product.
Empower may not be for you if…
❌ You're a Firm Owner or Principal whose business has grown beyond what you can personally manage.
❌ You're a COO or Operations Leader responsible for turning creative vision into a business that actually runs.
❌ You're a Lead Designer or #2 taking on more leadership and helping shape where the firm goes next.
❌ You have a team and you're thinking seriously about structure, accountability, hiring, and profitability.
❌ Business is good—but harder than it should be. Revenue isn't necessarily the problem. Complexity is.
❌ You're ready for candid conversations with other firm leaders, not another event centered on design trends and product.
Featured Speakers
The Business of Design
Wendy Estella
Contracts, Disputes & Risk Management
Protect your business with stronger agreements, smarter risk management, and clearer legal infrastructure.
Founder, Estela Law + Designed Counsel
Jonathan Gulley
Scaling Beyond the Founder
Build leadership, structure, and strategy that allow the business to grow without every decision depending on you.
Head of Operations
CEO, Bria Hammel Interiors + Brooke & LouBria Hammel
Team, Processes & Leadership
Learn how to build stronger teams and operational structure behind a growing creative business.
AI Strategists & EducatorsThe Zachs
AI for Interior Design
Explore practical ways to integrate AI into your firm without creating more chaos.
Meet the Founder
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.
Julia Nikishina
CHOOSE HOW YOU WANT TO ATTEND
Secure your spot
Choose the option that best fits how you lead your firm.
INDIVIDUAL TICKET
Save 50% with cupon FRIEND!
$3,495
$1747
For firm owners and leaders attending independently.
1 full-access ticket
Three days of sessions and programming
Access to all speakers and workshops
Curated net working with industry peers
Event materials and resources
Access to the Hotel Noelle group rate
Best Deal
DUO TICKET
Save 50% with cupon FRIEND!
$5,999
$2,999
Bring the person helping you build the next version of your firm.
2 full-access tickets
Three days of sessions and programming
Access to all speakers and workshops
Curated networking with industry peers
Event materials and resources
Access to the Hotel Noelle group rate
Preferred rate for two attendees
LIMITED OFFER - Use code FRIEND at checkout to save 50%.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The programming addressed the real business drivers of our industry and gave me practical ideas I could bring back to my firm.”
Katie Guzinski
Executive Director, Principal · Marguerite Rodgers Interior DesignTrusted by Firm Leaders
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Empower goes beyond design and focuses on the systems required to successfully grow and sustain a high-performing firm.”
Daniel Paul
Chief Operating Officer · Tom Stringer Design Partners
THE VENUE
HOTEL NOELLE
Nashville, Tennesse
September 28–30, 2026
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Empower is designed for established interior design firm owners, principals, COOs, lead designers, business partners, and leadership teams focused on building stronger, more profitable businesses.
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Your ticket includes full access to the three-day retreat, all speaker sessions and programming, curated networking opportunities, and event resources.
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No. Hotel accommodations are separate from the ticket price. After purchasing, you’ll receive access to Empower’s preferred group rate at Hotel Noelle.
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Absolutely. The Duo Ticket is specifically designed for leaders who want to attend with another key decision-maker from their firm.
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Empower the Designer takes place at Hotel Noelle in Nashville, Tennessee, from September 28–30, 2026.
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You’ll receive confirmation and additional information about the event, hotel booking, and what to expect as the retreat approaches.
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Enter FRIEND during checkout in the promotional code field. The discount will be applied before you complete your purchase.