We were lucky to catch up with Teonah Knighton-Brown recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Teonah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Is your team able to work remotely? If so, how have you made it work? What, if any, have been the pitfalls? What have been the non-obvious benefits?

Balancing a full-time remote corporate job while growing and designing for my business, PILLOVATE, has been both a challenge and a privilege. Working from home has offered me the unique opportunity to manage my time effectively, allowing me to devote energy to both my career and my entrepreneurial passion. This work-life balance has been a key factor in my ability to succeed in both areas.

While working remotely sometimes means I’m less connected to the social energy of a traditional office environment, it has gifted me something equally valuable: uninterrupted time to focus. Without the distractions of a commute or constant office noise, I’ve been able to fully immerse myself in planning, designing, and executing my ideas—turning creative concepts into tangible, beautifully designed pillows for PILLOVATE.

The flexibility of remote work has been a game-changer, enabling me to carve out dedicated time for my business. I can seamlessly transition between professional responsibilities and my creative pursuits, ensuring that neither one compromises the other. By being home, I’ve gained a deep appreciation for the discipline required to balance it all, but more importantly, I’ve been able to stay aligned with my passions.

Ultimately, working remotely has not only allowed me to grow my corporate career but has also served as a launchpad for building a brand that I’m deeply passionate about. It’s the perfect example of how a thoughtful approach to work-life balance can empower you to pursue and achieve your dreams.

Teonah, 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?

From high fashion to home interiors, Teonah is a creative trailblazer. born and raised in New Jersey. Graduated with two degrees in fashion and accessory design, which led her to be the creative director for vbtk. Teonah moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where she’s currently bringing her keen eye for style into the world of home decor. With an innate talent for spotting the next big trend, she is reinventing interior spaces with her signature bold, contemporary aesthetic. Teonah’s creativity knows no bounds, and her work continues to push boundaries of innovative design.

Teonah is a visionary whose creativity sets her apart through her meticulous and thoughtful execution. Her design process begins with inspiration drawn from the seemingly ordinary—daily places, objects, and the people around her. What makes her approach unique is her dedication to ensuring originality; she delves into research to determine if her concept has been explored before. Once she’s confident in her idea, Teonah digitally sketches her concepts, refining her vision with precision. She then creates a physical sample, a pivotal step in her process, where she experiments with color schemes, fabrications, and textures. From this foundation, she assembles a cohesive final product that is as thoughtful as it is striking.

Teonah takes immense pride in the body of work she has built so far, a testament to her passion and determination. However, she acknowledges the challenge of gaining broader recognition. She wishes her designs had reached a larger audience by now, knowing they deserve to be seen and celebrated. Teonah understands the importance of collaboration and is determined to invest more time in connecting with others—creatives, influencers, and industry leaders—to amplify her work and ensure her unique voice resonates on a larger scale.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Teonah’s journey began with her passion for creativity and design. She attended school to study fashion design and accessory design, dedicating herself to mastering the art of creating beautiful, functional pieces. After years of hard work, she graduated with not one but two degrees in fashion, ready to take on the industry she loved. However, despite her credentials and talent, breaking into the fashion world proved more challenging than she had imagined.

For years, Teonah worked tirelessly in jobs that paid little, barely scraping by while pursuing her dreams. The rising cost of living and growing inflation only made things harder, pushing her to rethink her career path. Realizing she needed a new strategy, she decided to pivot and pursue financial stability by taking a corporate role at a financial institution.

This move was transformative. The job provided her with the stability she had been longing for and the means to sustain her life. At the same time, the structured work schedule allowed her to explore her creative passions on the side. With determination and focus, Teonah began working on turning her crafts into a business, carving out a space where her artistic skills and entrepreneurial spirit could thrive.

Today, Teonah is living proof that balancing practicality with passion is possible. By making a bold career shift and finding the best of both worlds, she is building a future that combines financial independence with the fulfillment of her creative dreams.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Teonah has built a thriving business largely through the power of personal connections. Her most effective strategy for growing her clientele has been word-of-mouth referrals from her close-knit circle of family and friends. By leveraging these trusted relationships, Teonah has not only gained valuable business opportunities but also established a solid reputation within her community. Her friends and family frequently recommend her to their own networks, leading to a steady stream of new clients. Some of her connections, working in various industries, have even brought her opportunities when a door opened or a project arose, further expanding her reach.

While this organic approach has been instrumental in her success, Teonah is now looking to broaden her horizons. She is actively leaning into social media and diversifying her sales platforms to increase her visibility and attract a wider audience. By combining her traditional word-of-mouth strategy with a modern digital presence, Teonah is positioning herself for even greater growth and success in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @pillovate

Image Credits

Instagram tags

@mutedawolf

@picturesbykeith

@raefaithphotography

@nvmebran