Meet the 2026 Speakers
World-class designers, business strategists, and industry leaders who have built the studios you admire are here to share what actually works.
Wendy Estela
Founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™
Wendy Estela is the founder of Estela Law and Designed Counsel™, a contract template and subscription service created exclusively for interior designers. With 25 years of business law experience, she has represented hundreds of designers—from AD100 and Elle Decor A-List firms to growing studios across the country.
Wendy specializes in the legal issues design firms face every day, including contracts, business transactions, client disputes, and risk management. Known for her practical, business-minded approach, she helps firm owners protect what they've built while making smarter decisions as they grow.
At Empower: Wendy will take you inside the contract and legal issues that can cost design firms time, money, and client relationships—and show you how to better protect your firm before problems arise.
Bria Hammel
Bria Hammel is the CEO and Creative Director behind Bria Hammel Interiors and Brooke & Lou, leading a growing, all-women team across multiple markets. She has built her businesses around strong processes, intentional leadership, and a clear vision for growth while maintaining the creative identity behind the brands.
Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and Traditional Home, and she was named to Luxe Magazine’s 2025 Gold List.
At Empower: Bria will share the lessons behind building and leading a growing design business—from creating the right team and processes to making the decisions that allow a firm to scale without losing what made it successful in the first place.
CEO & Creative Director
Jonathan Gulley
Executive Advisor and Strategy Consultant
Jonathan Gulley is a former senior leader at Magnolia, where he served as Head of Operations and Chief Strategy Officer during a period of significant growth. He helped build the organizational structure, leadership systems, and operational foundation needed to support a rapidly scaling company.
Today, through Founder’s Table, Jonathan advises business owners and leadership teams on strategy, organizational structure, and scaling operations.
At Empower: Jonathan will share how growing firms can build the leadership, structure, and systems needed to scale—without everything continuing to depend on the founder.
The Zach’s
Zach Keenan and Zach Perez are the Co-Founders of Aupra, an AI company built specifically for the design + build industry. Since launching in September 2025, the Zachs have focused on helping interior designers move beyond simply experimenting with AI and begin using it meaningfully within their day-to-day operations.
Working with studios ranging from solo designers to AD100 firms, Aupra takes a practical, holistic approach to AI implementation—identifying opportunities to automate the repetitive administrative and manual work that consumes valuable time throughout a project's lifecycle.
At Empower: The Zach’s will show you where AI can actually save time inside your firm, what you should—and shouldn't—automate, and how to start building AI into the way your team works.
Founders, Aupra AI
"Attending Empower The Designer in 2025 was a worthwhile investment in my professional growth. The programming was exceptionally thorough, with sessions that addressed 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