635: Beth Diana Smith: Refining Process in Your Interior Design Business

Today with Beth Diana Smith

Welcome to A Well-Designed Business. Today, we welcome Beth Diana Smith back to the show! Beth was last on the show over a year ago, and since then she’s made some major changes to her processes and her business. She’s going to take us through those changes, the way she revamped her processes, and what she’s looking to do in the future. We’re also diving into diversity and inclusivity in the industry, and what all of us can do to contribute and be better allies.

Pick it apart

• [5:12] Beth walks us through the actual steps she took to improve the processes in her business. 
• [12:10] Beth shares the way she checks in weekly to review her client work and projects to find areas of improvement. 
• [14:11] Beth discusses two big projects she has completed since her last appearance and what they’ve meant for her business. 
• [24:11] Beth and LuAnn discuss inclusivity and diversity in the industry and the importance of not staying silent. 
• [37:57] LuAnn and Beth talk about the need to highlight Black artists and be intentional about diversity.

LuAnn and Beth Diana Smith's “Ah-Ha” Moments

“I’m always saying to all the designers I work with and coach, and my own team, ‘Ok, so this stinks, this went wrong, but where can you personally wind this back where you could have changed the outcome.’ And there’s always a place, even if 15 other people along the way also made a mistake or dropped the ball.” -LuAnn Nigara

“I always want to make sure that my client feels excited because that’s how I want them to feel throughout the process.” -Beth Diana Smith

“That moment where I was able to transform something so drastically and people were able to see it throughout the entire house—it was great content.” -Beth Diana Smith

“I want people to realize that your silence is just as bad as the person that is the racist, because you are enabling their behavior.” -Beth Diana Smith

More About Beth Diana Smith

After more than a decade in accounting and finance at companies like Viacom and Johnson & Johnson, Beth Diana Smith left the corporate world to launch her own interior design firm. Her eye for aesthetics paired with her project management experience culminates in a truly unique approach to design. Her signature style is modern and eclectic with luxurious finishes and custom furnishings. Each vignette is a functioning art installation in its own right. Above all, her work is client-centric as she helps each homeowner hone in on their own style and create a space that inspires them and enhances their lifestyle. Beth’s goal for each project is to elevate the lives of her clients by first elevating their daily environment. 

Beth holds a MBA and a degree from the New York School of Interior Design. She is a member of the Black Artists + Designers Guild, the House Beautiful Advisory Council, and the New York School of Interior Design Task Force on Diversity. And Beth’s work has been on NBC and HGTV, and featured in various outlets including House Beautiful, Elle Decor, Real Simple, Lonny Magazine, and the Business of Home.

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A Big THANK YOU to Today’s Podcast Sponsor

Mydoma Studio is the complete designer toolkit—a place for you to manage all of your projects, from time tracking to communication to product approvals. Mydoma can help you free your time up to focus on your business and serve your clients. You can get 20% off your first three months at mydomastudio.com/awelldesignedbusiness.

 

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