Hema Persad, CEO + Principal Designer at Sagrada Studio

Completely self-taught, Hema's interior design career began in 2021 when one of her styling clients asked for help decorating their home. Because of her eye for design and ability to execute her creative vision, that first project snowballed into several more. Hema now designs residential and commercial spaces around the country.

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Fernando Duque, Co-Founder of Duke Renders

In March 2020, in the midst of COVID-19, Fernando and his brother opened Duke Renders. The mission of the business was to help support real estate developers and interior designers to execute their visions to completion through virtual reality services. The business has skyrocketed since then and has grown to more than 100 team members worldwide and without outside investment. 

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Hadiya Williams, Decorative Artist & Surface Designer

Hadiya Williams is a decorative artist and surface designer based in Washington, DC. She is the founder and creative director of Black Pepper Paperie Co.® a studio built out of a passion for creating and sharing with others. What started as a hobby-based clay business in 2017 has now evolved into a full-time decorative art and design studio, specializing in hand-made ceramics, surface pattern design, and wall art.

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Jaime Derringer, Founder of Design Milk and Clever Podcast

Jaime Derringer has over 20+ years of experience in media, creative direction, marketing, content development, advertising, social strategy, project management, and e-commerce. She has focused on web3, blockchain, Metaverse, AI, and NFTs & how they will continue to shape art, design, architecture/interiors, society, and work in the future.

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Anitra Terrell, Founder of Reflektion Design

Anitra Terrell is the owner of Reflektion Design. Anitra designs and sources African decor for culturally inspired people who love unique, colorful pieces that are reflektive of who they are. Anitra also has a collection of pieces she designed for Society6, and a Blog series called, How We Live which showcases the homes of people of color.

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Nasozi Kakembo, Founder of xN Studio

Nasozi Kakembo is the founder and creative force behind xN Studio. Her company name derives from her very own, which is a Ugandan name meaning something to look up to in praise of. It is this Ugandan heritage that inspired her to establish a brand that allows her to bring the beauties of her cultural heritage into homes around the world.

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Joy Williams, Joyful Designs Studio

Joy Williams is the Principal Designer and Creative Talent behind Joyful Designs®️Studio, a nationally recognized full-service residential interior design firm with offices in Chicago and Augusta, GA. The firm specializes in creating cultured, curated and colorful interiors.

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Professor Carmichael, Program Coordinator for Interior Design at Howard University

Jacqueline Carmichael, ASID, CKD, NCIDQ, an Assistant Professor and Program Coordinator of Interior Design at Howard University. She inspires students to be social change agents designing equity, restoring marginalized communities impacted by systemic racism while exploring traditional canons of architecture and design.

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