017: How I Got Here: A Real Talk Design Career Deep Dive Student Edition w/ Lynn SalbatoS

In this special episode, we’re flipping the mic! Interior design student Lynn Salbato from Mesa College joins me for a candid Q&A that started as a school assignment—and turned into one of my favorite conversations about business, balance, and building a career in design.

We cover everything from how I landed my first client (hi, Thumbtack!) to what I really wish someone told me before starting my own firm. Lynn brings the smart questions—and I’m sharing it all: the messy parts, the wins, and why community and mentorship (hello, ASID!) have mattered most along the way.

Whether you’re a student, emerging designer, or just curious what happens behind the scenes of a boutique design studio, this episode is full of real talk and real tools.

👂 What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. How I made the leap from showrooms to solo designer
2. My philosophy on pricing, flat fees, and charging what you’re worth
3. A business mistake I made recently—and what it taught me
4. Why having a mentor (or becoming one) changes everything
5. The role ASID San Diego has played in my career—and how to get involved now

✨ “If you’re not being invited to the table—make your own table.”

About Lynn Salbato:

Lynn Salbato is currently completing her Certificate in Interior Design at San Diego Mesa College, a path inspired by a lifelong love for the visual world and a desire to create evocative atmospheres. Working alongside her husband, she focuses on Interior Design for Masterworks Construction Co. and serves as a Realtor with Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty, helping homeowners recognize the potential in a property and translate that vision into reality.

When she isn’t focusing on her design work, Lynn is a volunteer for the San Diego Architectural Foundation’s annual Open House (OH!) event and an active member of Toastmasters International. She leverages this multi-faceted expertise to help her clients navigate the entire process of purchasing, designing, and bringing their projects to life.

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