Today we welcome Rhobin DelaCruz, owner of Rhobin DelaCruz Designs based in New York. In this episode, we discuss Rhobin's discovery of his creative talents and how, at the urging of a professional colleague and a dear friend, he realized that interior design was his calling. We discuss his experience breaking into a new industry, the lack of peer-to-peer support at the time, and how he blazed his own trail to discover community. Rhobin also shares how a rebrand after sixteen years in business ignited an exciting new journey of visibility and service.

SHOW HIGHLIGHTS

• Rhobin shares how his early career in advertising and marketing at Columbia Pictures and MTV helped reveal his creative instincts.
• A pivotal conversation with his boss, Rick Bispel, helped him realize he belonged in a creative field rather than ad sales.
• With encouragement from a close friend, Rhobin began to see interior design as a true career path.
• He opens up about entering the design industry 18 years ago without formal design education and facing gatekeeping along the way.
• Rhobin discusses how Homepolish introduced him to peer support, collaboration, and a sense of community that helped shape his business.
• After 16 years in business, he made the decision to step back, invest in coaching, and learn the operational side of running a stronger firm.
• He talks about how his rebrand led to greater visibility, deeper purpose, and exciting new opportunities in the industry.
• Rhobin reflects on the power of surrounding yourself with inspiring people and why community has been central to his success.

NOTABLE QUOTES

• "Failure wasn't an option."
• "It's never too late for growth."
• "When you have a voice, you have a responsibility."
• "Understand process and put them in order."

SUPPORTING RESOURCES

• Rhobin DelaCruz Designs: https://rhobindelacruz.com/
• Rhobin DelaCruz Designs on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhobindelacruzdesigns/

SPONSOR LINKS

• Design Manager / Design Spec: https://designspec.com/survivalguide
• Design Biz Retreat and the Business of Interiors UK Summit: https://designbizsurvivalguide.com/retreats-for-interior-designers/