We’re back from Fall High Point Market! We had a fantastic time there, but the show must go on.
Our two new articles this week ask you to take a good, long look in the mirror and evaluate your business. We’ll help you identify your biggest bottlenecks and address the flaws in your business model. It might not be easy, but it’s necessary.
We are excited to finally announce our Boardroom Award winners! Scroll down to read about how these rockstars accelerated their business growth and turned what they learned from Pearl Collective into radical success!
7 Business Bottlenecks and How to Turn Them into Breakthroughs
Is your design business growing but feeling stuck? That rising success can expose weak spots in your processes, leading to slower projects and declining profits. We’ve broken down the 7 biggest bottlenecks that plague design firms, from Client Onboarding Chaos to Financial Blind Spots.
The secret to scaling is implementing system-driven solutions. Think standardized workflows, project management tools, and centralized purchasing. Stop working harder and start working smarter to remove these roadblocks, increase your profits, and finally focus on the creative design you love! Ready to break through and systemize your business?
It’s Not You—It’s Your Business Model
Burnt out and stuck in the weeds of your design business? It’s not you—it’s your business model! Learn the common culprits, like underpricing and micromanaging, and get the fix you need to build a scalable business without starting from scratch. Stop being a bottleneck and start acting like the CEO you are!
We’re beyond excited to announce our 2025 Boardroom Award Winners! We celebrated them at our Boardroom Retreat earlier this year, and now we’re sharing their successes with you.
Boardroom Rising Star Award: Wirth Design Group
Rene Wirth had the advantage of learning from fellow Pearl Collective members before launching her own firm, which gave her a strong foundation in our core principles. Together with Kayla, she has truly earned the title of Rising Star. Since their baseline year (which is the year before starting with Pearl Collective) in 2023, they’ve achieved extraordinary results—200% revenue growth and an astounding 244% net profit growth. We couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments and their bright future.
Boardroom Foundation Award: Hudson Park Interior Design
As a Pearl Collective Second in Command alum, L.A. DeRiggi built his business on a powerful foundation—and the results speak for themselves. In just two years, he’s achieved an extraordinary 764% revenue growth and 655% net profit growth. His journey proves what’s possible when you combine strong fundamentals with the courage to scale.
Boardroom Scale Award: Maple & White Design
Scaling with purpose takes courage, clarity, and commitment—and Becky Aselson has exemplified all three. By making bold decisions and stepping fully into her role as CEO, she embraced the true meaning of leadership. Under her guidance, her firm has achieved an extraordinary 348% revenue growth and 109% net profit growth. For her vision and determination, Becky is the proud recipient of our Boardroom Scale Award.
Boardroom Mastery Award: Boland Lord Design
Mastery is born from the powerful combination of intention and action. Marty Lord and Megan Daoust have exemplified this by leading with both strategy and heart—collaborating with purpose and moving their business forward with clarity and vision. The results speak volumes: 169% revenue growth and an astounding 477% net profit growth. For their extraordinary achievements, they are the proud recipients of our Boardroom Mastery Award.
Boardroom Chair Growth Award: Stephanie Kraus Designs
Stephanie Kraus’s steady, strategic leadership is a true model for design firm CEOs everywhere. Through her consistent ability to both guide her team and build a powerful referral network, she has earned our Boardroom Chair Growth Award. With 41% revenue growth and 33% net profit growth—and as one of the select few Pearl Collective clients to surpass $1M in net profit—Stephanie is proof of what’s possible when focus meets determination. Today, we proudly celebrate her success.
Save the date for our upcoming Mastery Lesson on Financials for Creatives! More details to come.
How many of our readers made it this far down the email? If that’s you, you’re the first to know that season 14 of the Creative Genius Podcast is in the works and coming soon. In the meantime, you can still catch up on previous seasons. With over 100 great episodes, there is plenty of knowledge to absorb!