Welcome back to the podcast! I’m so excited for today’s episode because I get to introduce you to someone I’ve known for a few years now—and I think I can officially call her a friend. Meet Gaia Filippi! she’s an Italian-born, California-raised, now-Dallas-based interior designer with a serious talent for creating unique, personality-filled spaces.

Gaia has a background in high-end fashion, and let me tell you, she brings that sharp eye for design into her interior work. She believes in blending creativity with problem-solving precision—right brain meets left brain. She’s also known for her unfiltered, straight-shooting opinions, which, if you know me, you know I absolutely love. In this episode, we dive into Gaia’s journey from the world of PR and celebrity relations in luxury fashion to her thriving interior design career.

We talk about:

- How her background in high-end fashion influences her design approach.

- Working with clients who have different budgets and expectations (and why you shouldn’t assign your own wallet to your clients!).

- The importance of craftsmanship and quality materials—plus, what she learned from visiting European factories where perfection is the standard.

- Why your past career—whether in marketing, finance, teaching, or even being a stay-at-home parent—can bring valuable skills to your business.

- The biggest mistake she made early in her business (spoiler: it was ignoring marketing!) and how she’s fixing it now.

- The importance of consistent lead generation, even when you're busy, and how she’s using blogging, networking, and PR to stay visible.

We also chat about what she’d be doing if she weren’t designing (hint: it involves food!), and she shares a major lesson learned about keeping her marketing pipeline full—because even when you’re booked out, you need to be thinking about the next wave of clients. Gaia’s insights are a must-hear for any creative entrepreneur, especially if you’ve ever struggled with balancing the business side of things. So grab a cup of coffee (or a glass of wine—no judgment here!), and join us for this fun and insightful conversation. If you loved this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review! 

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