Resilient by Design with Rebecca Hay

Hosted by Rebecca Hay

Business Education

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Episodes

385

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Jul 2026

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About the show

I'm Rebecca Hay and I have built a successful interior design business by trial and error, podcasts, online courses and books. Over the last decade I have grown from an insecure student to having career false starts and now I've finally landed where I want to be. Throughout my journey I've become deeply passionate about business and helping other entrepreneurs and career minded women. Each week I'll share tangible takeaways from my own experience and the experiences of other badass women to help you build your confidence and change your business.

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60 recent

August 18, 2026Episode 33522 min

335. I Changed My Business Model. Here's What I Got Wrong.

Welcome back to the Resilient by Design Podcast. We are back and kicking off a spectacular Season 8! -- Have you ever looked at your interior design business and thought, How did something I love become this exhausting? Between client requests, invoicing, hiring, managing a team, keeping projects moving, and constantly being the person everything comes back to, it's easy to become so focused on running the business that you lose touch with why you started designing in the first place. I've experienced my own version of that this year. In the first episode of Season 8, I'm taking you behind the scenes of some major changes I made in my business, including stepping away from design projects, changing my business model, and retiring an offer I was known for. And I'm sharing what I got wrong. We're talking about burnout, scaling, systems, becoming the bottleneck, changing your mind, and why trying something that doesn't work is not the same thing as failing. Most importantly, I want you to ask yourself: "Am I actually building an interior design business that I want to run?" Because the goal isn't just more clients, a bigger team, or more revenue, it's building a profitable, sustainable business that gives you the freedom to spend more time doing the work you're actually great at. I'm also sharing what I'm changing next, why Power of Process is returning, and what you can expect from this new season of Resilient by Design. Resources: Join the Power of Process Waitlist for its 2026 Fall Return as you've never experienced before: https://rebeccahay.com/pop-waitlist/ -- This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

July 7, 202652 min

Stop Ignoring your Finances - Here's why its costing you with Danielle Hendon [Rebroadcast]

Are you avoiding the numbers in your interior design business? In this rebroadcast episode, I revisit my conversation with Danielle Hendon of Four Corners CFO about profit, cash flow, financial planning, and why your bank account balance is not the full story. If you've ever wondered why you're making more money but still feeling stressed, or why your business feels busy but not necessarily profitable, this episode will help you start looking at your numbers differently. Danielle explains why revenue and profit are not the same thing, why designers need to understand their project profitability, and how your finances can become a tool for better decision-making instead of something you avoid. We also talk about bookkeeping, tracking time, understanding expenses, preparing for feast-or-famine cash flow, and using your numbers to build a stronger, more sustainable business. This is the final rebroadcast before the podcast takes a short summer break. New episodes will be back soon. Episode Highlights: Why designers tend to avoid their numbers Why your bank account balance is not enough information The difference between revenue, profit, and cash flow How to think about revenue-generating costs versus operating expenses Why tracking your time matters for pricing How to review your year and plan ahead with more confidence Why understanding your numbers helps you lead like a CEO Episode Resources: Learn more about Pricing with Confidence : For the designer who's done guessing, undercharging, or dreading "the money talk" and wants to start pricing profitably in just a few hours. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

June 30, 20268 min

Picking your Profitable Pricing Model [Rebroadcast]

Are you busy… or are you actually profitable? In this rebroadcast episode, I'm revisiting an important conversation for interior designers who want to build a more sustainable business: how to choose a pricing model based on real numbers, not guesses. I share why revenue and profit are not the same thing, how to look at the different ways money comes into your business, and why your most profitable revenue stream may not be the one you expect. If you've ever wondered whether your design fees, implementation, consultations, or product resale are actually supporting your business, this episode will help you start looking at your numbers with more clarity. Episode Highlights: Why you need to look at profit, not just revenue How to identify your revenue streams Why tracking your time matters when choosing a pricing model How product resale and implementation can impact profitability A simple exercise to help you understand where your business makes the most money Episode Resources: Pricing With Confidence -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

June 23, 202614 min

Pricing Pushback: Managing Client Sticker Shock [Rebroadcast]

Have you ever sent a proposal to a potential client and then heard nothing back? In this rebroadcast episode, I'm revisiting an important conversation about pricing pushback, client objections, and the confidence it takes to talk about money in your interior design business. I share a personal lesson from my early days of testing a fixed-fee pricing model and what it taught me about communication, pre-qualifying, and setting expectations before the proposal ever lands in a client's inbox. This episode is for you if you've ever second-guessed your fee, felt awkward talking about money, or wondered what to do when a potential client says, "That's more than we expected." In this episode, I share: Why pricing objections are normal, even as your business grows How to communicate your value before the proposal stage Why pre-qualifying clients helps reduce pricing pushback The importance of talking about money early in the process How to respond when a client questions your fee Why reducing the scope is not the same as discounting your value If you've ever felt that stomach-drop moment after sending a proposal, this episode will help you approach pricing conversations with more clarity, confidence, and leadership. This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

June 16, 2026Episode 33424 min

334. Stop Punishing yourself for taking time off

Taking time off from your business should not mean cramming your calendar before you leave, checking emails from the dock, and coming back to complete chaos. In this episode, I dive into what it actually means to take time off from your interior design business without mentally carrying it with you the entire time. This is a conversation about boundaries, leadership, communication, and building a business that can function without constant access to you. I share the three ways designers often punish themselves around vacation: overloading the days before they leave, staying half available while they're away, and coming back to a packed reentry that erases the rest they just had. If you've ever felt guilty for taking time off, worried that clients will think you don't care, or found yourself answering emails even after setting an out-of-office reply, this episode will help you rethink what sustainable business ownership can look like. You'll walk away with practical questions to ask before your next vacation, permission to create clearer boundaries, and a reminder that a calm business creates a better client experience. This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

June 9, 2026Episode 33315 min

333. How to Build a Six-Month Runway for Your Design Business

Are you making business decisions based on facts, or are you guessing and hoping things will work out? In this episode, I'm talking about how to build a six-month runway for your interior design business. This is one of the simplest ways to understand what it really costs to keep your business running and whether you have the financial stability to make decisions with confidence. I walk through the four cost buckets every designer should know: fixed costs, variable costs, invisible costs, and future costs. I also share how to calculate your monthly run rate, why paying yourself needs to be included, and how to compare your six-month runway number to what you actually have in the bank and in secured revenue. I share how to look at your business finances in a practical, non-intimidating way so you can plan ahead, prepare for slower seasons, and make better decisions about hiring, spending, scaling, and saying yes or no to projects. Episode Resources: Know your Numbers | Part 1 Understanding your Project Profitability with Merilee Wright Know your Numbers | Part 2 What it costs to run your business with Merilee Wright This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

June 2, 2026Episode 33222 min

332. Who's Steering Your Business When You're Not There?

What would happen if you took a week off from your business? Would projects continue moving forward, or would everything pause until you returned? In this episode, I explores one of the most common growth challenges for interior design business owners: becoming the bottleneck. From decision-making and client communication to process documentation and team leadership, I share three powerful shifts that can help you build a business that doesn't depend on you being involved in every detail. If you've ever struggled to unplug, felt overwhelmed by constant questions from your team, or wondered why your business can't seem to function without you, this episode is for you. Episode Highlights: How to identify if you're the bottleneck in your business Why delegation is about ownership, not just tasks The importance of documenting your process How to create more freedom without sacrificing quality Why letting go of control is essential for growth This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more.

May 26, 2026Episode 33136 min

331. How Wholesale Furniture Collections Are Built for Designers

In this episode, Rebecca sits down with Jennifer Dewhirst, Director of Brand and Merchandising at Dovetail Furniture, for a behind-the-scenes look at how wholesale furniture collections are built for designers. Jennifer shares how Dovetail develops new collections twice a year, what goes into preparing for High Point Market, and how the team balances trendy pieces with timeless, well-made furniture that designers can rely on for years. They also talk about the current shift toward warmer wood tones, traditional silhouettes, richer colors, and more collected interiors, as well as the difference between European and North American furniture preferences. If you've ever wondered what happens before a furniture piece lands in a showroom, this episode gives you a rare look at the design, sourcing, merchandising, and decision-making behind the scenes. Rebecca and Jennifer discuss: How wholesale furniture collections are created What makes a piece timeless versus trendy Why quality and craftsmanship matter when sourcing How Dovetail responds to designer feedback Why High Point Market is so valuable for designers How to think about trends without creating dated interiors This conversation will help you source with more confidence, understand what goes into the products you specify, and think more strategically about the furniture you bring into your client projects. Episode Resources: Episode 312: How Wholesale Vendor Partnerships Boost Profit in Your Design Business with John Genova of Dovetail Furniture Check out Dovetail Furniture This episode is sponsored by Dovetail Furniture. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

May 19, 202620 min

Why Trade Day Is the Secret to a Smooth Design Project [Rebroadcast]

The effect Trade Day had on my business, the way this initial onboarding event sets the expectations and tone for the whole project cannot be overstated. But, take it from me, there are certain dos and don'ts that you need to take into account for it to be a real success. When done right, Trade Day can be your secret weapon but when done wrong, it can have far reaching consequences. I share a lesson I learned the hard way about a time where my lack of organization on Trade Day led to a result that negatively influenced the rest of the project. Learn from my mistakes and listen to this list of Best Practices that will show you how to set up a successful Trade Day, how that will instill confidence in you, your clients and your trades and why it is a way to showcase your entire process. You are the leader of this team and so take the opportunity of Trade Day to set your project up for success to reassure everyone that they are safe in your capable, professional hands. Episode Resources: Episode 326 Why Your Project Budgets Still Feel Off (And How to Fix Them) Save your spot in the next Free Workshop: The Predictability Framework -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8

May 12, 2026Episode 33022 min

330. Stop Overthinking Your Marketing (Your Pipeline Depends On It)

If your pipeline feels inconsistent, your inquiries have slowed down, or you keep putting marketing on the back burner while you focus on client work… this episode is for you. In today's solo episode, I'm breaking down why overthinking your marketing may actually be hurting your business more than helping it. I'm sharing: Why your business operates on a lag The real reason feast-or-famine cycles happen Why visibility matters more than perfection The mistake I made when I stopped marketing during a busy season 3 simple content categories every designer can talk about How to create marketing that actually connects with potential clients Because the designers who build predictable businesses aren't necessarily the most original… they're the most consistent. Episode Resources: Save your spot in the next Predictability Framework Workshop This episode is sponsored by Programa . Programa is project management software built specifically for interior designers. It's designed to save you hours every week and reduce the errors that come from managing projects across scattered documents and systems. Use code RBD25 for 25% off annual Programa plans. Click to learn more. -- Help shape Season 8! Take our quick 2-minute listener survey and tell us what you want to hear more of on Resilient by Design: https://forms.gle/gy2d6Kbay4n2FWEL8