INTERVIEW | Make Money by Building a Referral-Driven Interior Design Business with Maya Moghadam

Maya Moghadam is an interior designer and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience spanning high-end residential, hospitality, commercial, and healthcare projects. After building her first company in Iran at age 24, Maya moved to the United States to earn her second master’s degree at SCAD and later launched Maya’s Design Studio. Her approach centers on educating clients, leading with service, and building relationships that turn into long-term referrals. On this episode we talk about: How Maya’s early exposure to art, architecture, and hands-on materials shaped her interior design career Why she left an established business in Iran to pursue a second master’s degree in the United States The transition from employee to business owner—and why clients encouraged her to start her own studio How educating clients instead of pressuring them to buy creates stronger sales and repeat business Building a design firm that works across residential, hospitality, commercial, healthcare, and senior-living projects The immigrant entrepreneur mindset, overcoming assumptions, and creating professional connections from scratch Why thoughtful interior design can support functionality, well-being, and mental health Top 3 Takeaways Sell through service, not pressure. Maya’s client-first process starts with learning how someone lives and what they need—not with pushing the most expensive product. That trust creates referrals that can last for years. Your broad experience can become your differentiator. Rather than limiting her firm to one design niche, Maya combines experience across hospitality, healthcare, commercial, and residential work to offer a more versatile perspective. Relationships outlast transactions. Clients may forget a name or a particular purchase, but they remember how you made them feel. Being transparent, accountable, and genuinely helpful creates durable business relationships. Notable Quotes “I don’t want to sell the item. I want to completely [make sure] they understand what they pick and what’s the reason.” “I’m going to spend exactly the same amount of time for someone who wants to purchase a whole home or just one small piece of five hundred dollars.” “People remember when they feel trust and [you] be genuine and transparent.” “We live ninety percent of our time indoors. It matters how is our environment.” Connect with Maya Moghadam: Website: https://mayasdesignstudio.com/ — book a complimentary consultation Other: Follow Maya’s Design Studio for interior-design education, project insights, and design services A Word from Our Sponsors: - Go to Leesa.com for 25% OFF select mattresses (through August 23, 2026) PLUS get an extra $50 off with promo code TMM, exclusive for my listeners  - The most successful business owners don't do it all themselves — they delegate. Upwork lets you build a team of highly skilled specialists for every function your business needs, so you can focus on what you do best and let experts handle the rest. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices