Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Meg Leonard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Meg, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I grew up with a consistent, strong interest in visuals and storytelling. When asked to pick a future career in the 9th grade, I immediately had an interest in both graphic design and interior design. Ultimately, I leaned into graphic design and began taking courses, landing an internship at a local sign shop.

I stuck with this passion all through college with internships within the school’s marketing department as well as The Maryland Zoo and upon graduation, started my design career working for internal brand teams at Under Armour and T. Rowe Price – getting great exposure to processes and business acumen. Fast forward and I’ve been in the digital agency space for 7 years, now a Design Director to a team of 5 brand & web designers at a nationwide firm, and, running my own business providing design services.

What about my passion for interiors, you wonder? I grew up rearranging my room, giving my parents unsolicited decor advice, and going all out on all of my college bedrooms. When I purchased my Baltimore rowhome in 2016, my interests really took off. Instagram was heating up and one day, I mentioned to my now husband that it could be fun to share my decorating journey on that platform. As he always has, he immediately supported me, and “Our City Nest” was born. What started out as a fun place to post some snapshots of my spaces, has now turned into a business where I offer remote interior styling, brand + web design, and content creation services.

I rebranded to Meg Leonard Co. in 2018 to reflect this growth and now work with creative entrepreneurs, businesses & homeowners globally. From working with fellow creators to kickstart their brand and blog to styling a follower’s living room, to shooting product photography for a brand partnership, it’s been an absolute dream to meld all of my interests and experience over the last few years. Today, I’m seeing it all come together as I renovate my new home, push my offerings further and branch into this next chapter of my life as a new mom.

Meg, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I provide strategic visual communication of new and existing brands through thoughtful service, to anyone in any industry! My 10 years of experience have exposed me to nearly all industries and business models within service-based to eCommerce, software and more. What sets me apart is that I am able to think about the brand holistically, curating a memorable experience for lasting credibility both in print and digital formats. I’m able to take the big-picture ideas, and turn them into an attainable plan based on budget and timeline, all while allowing for business owners to focus on their day-to-day craft. In the discovery process, we share our core values to determine working styles and create a lasting relationship for lasting results. From creating visual identity, to crafting the customer experience, building materials for print and digital (including a website) I consider myself an extension of the team.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

You’ll find other business owners more often than not giving this same answer, word of mouth / reputation. Consistently delivering an excellent experience and proven results, as well as being top of mind is what brings new clients your way. People love familiarity, so if their friend, family member, former colleague – you name it, had a great experience, you’re already one step ahead. While it may not be the right timing now, you’d be surprised by who comes back around one, two, five years later because you have been established in their mind and stay top of mind via your social media presence. Consistently showing up by posting about your services, sharing the latest projects, your methodology, etc. allows for prospects, new and old, to learn more about you and your difference. I share on my blog, Instagram accounts and TikTok accounts to accomplish this.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The entire process is rewarding because you get to lead, but also watch a brand form or evolve to desired growth and in turn, fuel someone’s dreams. That’s what we’re all working towards, right? So, why not work together towards that same goal. It probably sounds cheesy, but as I have become a mother recently, I have been asking myself about how I spend my time and it’s pretty damn rewarding to work alongside other mother’s, business owners with a unique idea, friends, or strangers that become friends that share the same mindset.

Contact Info:

• Website: megleonardcodesign.com
• Instagram: megleonardco (blog/social presence) megleonardcodesign (design services)
• Facebook: facebook.com/megleonardco
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganquiggleonard/
• Other: tiktok: @megleonardco @megleonardcodesign blog: megleonard.co (for home and lifestyle tips, finds and renovation progress)