We were lucky to catch up with Stephanie Thornton Plymale recently and have shared our conversation below.

Stephanie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I first learned about Heritage School of Interior Design (HSID) in 2013. During a period of dissatisfaction with my design job, a colleague mentioned that HSID was available for purchase, which immediately sparked my interest.

What drew me to HSID was my deep-seated belief in making education accessible to everyone. This belief was rooted in my personal struggle to find affordable educational opportunities, given the prohibitive costs of traditional four-year degrees. I was in search of an educational environment that was community-oriented and inclusive, and I aspired to bring this vision to life for others. Through unwavering persistence and resilience, I officially assumed the role of Owner and CEO of Heritage School of Interior Design in 2014.

My journey began as I left my last meeting with the previous school owner, carrying a box filled with outdated curriculum in my trunk. Without delay, I set to work, relocating the school to an inspiring location and revamping the obsolete curriculum to align with industry standards. Embracing the principles of trial and error, I eventually guided HSID to become an award-winning institution. Over the years, our foundational values, established from day one, have remained steadfast:

Empower others to achieve success.
Pursue continuous growth and learning.
Cultivate creativity and open-mindedness.
Embrace passion and determination.
Courageously adapt to change.
Foster humility and collaboration.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Stephanie Thornton Plymale—I am the owner and CEO of Heritage School of Interior Design. Our headquarters is in Portland, OR, and we also have operations in Denver, Seattle, and Dallas. We additionally offer a fully virtual program. Heritage School of Interior Design is designed to equip students for interior design careers through a blend of hands-on education and technical courses.

Before taking over Heritage School of Interior Design, I owned an independent design firm for eighteen years, serving numerous residential and commercial clients. I am also a mother of three and have been married to my high school sweetheart for thirty years. Apart from my role at Heritage, I am the author of “American Daughter,” my memoir, which has been featured in The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Today Show, and Washington Post. Additionally, I’ve recently founded the Heritage Home Foundation, which supports foster youth and the homeless community.

My greatest satisfaction in owning and running Heritage comes from nurturing and promoting the success of our students. Each year, Heritage graduates over 100 students, many of whom have won prestigious awards and launched highly successful businesses and careers. A significant factor contributing to our success is the tremendous support we’ve received from the broader community for both Heritage and its students.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

During the COVID lockdown, I fully immersed myself in the world of social media, particularly Instagram. It was during this time that I discovered my passion for the platform’s endless creative opportunities. My journey took me deeper into Instagram, and it ended up sparking a significant transformation in my life.

I decided to embark on a mission to revamp my home, carefully curating stunning tablescapes and documenting the entire process using Instagram’s Timelapse feature. As I began to share my creative projects, I noticed more and more followers joining my online community. Connecting with this diverse group of people brought me immense joy, and I cherished the chance to build meaningful relationships.

Through this process, I honed valuable skills in videography, photography, and marketing. My hard work paid off when two of my videos unexpectedly went viral, accumulating over 1 million views. This viral success thrust me into the Instagram spotlight.

My unique style, characterized by a romantic, chateau-inspired, and lake home aesthetic, truly sets me apart. I’ve always placed a strong emphasis on the art of styling vintage and pre-existing pieces, a philosophy deeply rooted in sustainability. What my followers appreciate most is not just my design talents but also the genuine and heartfelt engagement I offer.

In my role as a brand ambassador, I’m extremely selective when it comes to the companies I choose to partner with. Authenticity is paramount to me, and I align myself only with brands that share my values and vision. My advice for those starting is to stay true to yourself and allow your uniqueness to shine— others with the same values and vision will soon follow!

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

Suppose you’re managing millennials (which most companies do nowadays). I’ve learned through our partnership that It’s essential to recognize their talent and strong work ethic when applicable and guide and mentor them when presenting constructive feedback. My primary advice for harnessing their potential is to grant them a schedule that aligns with their preferences. Millennials typically prioritize a healthy work-life balance, and embracing this aspect is crucial. By doing so, you can work towards establishing a mutually beneficial arrangement for both associates and the leadership team.

Effective communication is a cornerstone of a successful team, and it’s imperative to emphasize this within your management approach. Moreover, finding the perfect fit for each team member is paramount. As a company, we have implemented a personality test to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. This process ensures that every person is placed in a role that suits them best.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.heritageschoolofinteriordesign.com/
• Instagram: @stephaniethorntonplymale and @heritageschoolofinteriordesign
• Other: Lemon8: @stephscottage