In today's episode, Heather sits down with award-winning interior designer Manuella Moreira, founder of Manuella Moreira Interiors, to talk about what it really means to advocate for yourself in business, creativity, and life. From her leap of faith leaving a stable job to launching her own design studio, to building a media presence with features in Forbes, The New York Times, and Architectural Digest, Manuella shares how trusting your intuition and showing up with courage can open the doors you've been waiting for. Together, Heather and Manuella explore how self-advocacy, boundaries, and creativity intersect and how you can design a life that feels as beautiful as it looks. In this episode, you'll learn:

• How to Know When It's Time to Leap – Why "ready" is a choice, not a feeling.
• The Art of Advocacy – How to speak up for your business, your worth, and your creative vision without feeling like you're bragging.
• The Client Experience – Why the best designs aren't about your style but your client's story.
• Media & Momentum – How Manuella built lasting relationships with top publications and became a trusted design voice.
• Avoiding Burnout – What moving across the country taught her about balance, intuition, and redefining success.
• Saying Yes Before You're Ready – How the universe meets you halfway when you take bold action.

In this episode: [00:00] Heather's update on podcast consistency and introducing Manuella [03:26] Manuella's journey from firm designer to founder [06:45] The Bali trip that changed everything [10:45] Advocating for yourself as an entrepreneur [16:44] Landing her first Forbes feature and how to stand out with media [22:20] Knowing your audience and serving their needs [24:30] Collaborating with BEHR Paint for the Color of the Year reveal [25:50] Advocating for your boundaries and avoiding burnout [31:30] The power of asking and what to do when you get a "no" [33:36] Manuella's new podcast and why she believes design is for everyone Resources & Links: 🌐 Manuella Moreira Interiors: manuellamoreirainteriors.com 📸 Follow Manuella on Instagram: @manuellamoreirainteriors 🕯️ Explore Manuella's candle collection: https://manuellamoreira.com/shop/ 🎧 Listen to Manuella's podcast on design and intentional living: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/design-unscripted/id1807446750

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The Elegant Warrior Podcast and content posted by Heather Hansen is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user's own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.