Case Studies

Client Engagements & Outcomes

01

The Design Tent

Arlington, Virginia  ·  Stefanie Erkiletian

11-Month Engagement · Ongoing

Challenge

After more than 35 years in development, Stefanie launched The Design Tent as a new design division. While the parent business had long-standing credibility, the design arm required its own positioning, pricing strategy, and business development infrastructure.

  • Clarifying the division's value proposition
  • Establishing confident, value-aligned pricing
  • Creating a structured and consistent pipeline
  • Turning exploratory conversations into defined next steps

Approach

Our work centered on building both strategic clarity and disciplined execution.

  • Refined positioning and messaging to create stronger calls to action
  • Structured pricing aligned with value and executive confidence
  • Launched foundational credibility levers, including website and digital presence
  • Implemented a practical, repeatable business development cadence
  • Established tracking systems to manage outreach and lead progression
  • Provided steady CEO-level coaching to strengthen confidence, clarity, and accountability

Outcome

Within the first four months, The Design Tent closed its first client. Over the course of the ongoing engagement, Stefanie has:

  • Closed multiple projects and generated meaningful new revenue
  • Built a clearer, more predictable business development pipeline
  • Increased confidence in pricing and pitching
  • Strengthened messaging, resulting in more focused, productive conversations
  • Established structured systems to support continued outreach and lead conversion
  • Transitioned from early-stage uncertainty to confident CEO-level leadership

"Their thoughtful, practical approach — grounded in real-world experience — helped me clarify how to build a stronger pipeline and foundation for my company."

— Stefanie Erkiletian, The Design Tent

02

Siren Betty

Chicago, Illinois  ·  Nicole Alexandra

Ongoing Engagement

Challenge

Nicole Alexandra was navigating the growth stage of her firm — expanding opportunities, increasing visibility, and building a stronger team. However, she was deeply embedded in day-to-day operations, limiting her ability to lead strategically.

  • Scaling nationally without operational strain
  • Strengthening internal team structure and leadership
  • Implementing systems to support growth
  • Shifting from operator to visionary CEO

Approach

Our work focused on transforming both leadership posture and business infrastructure.

  • Clarified national positioning and growth strategy
  • Strengthened team structure and leadership accountability
  • Implemented operational systems to improve efficiency
  • Built scalable workflows to reduce day-to-day friction
  • Provided industry-specific business development guidance
  • Supported Nicole's transition into a sustainable leadership role

Outcome

Through our work together, Siren Betty:

  • Expanded its reach nationally
  • Built and led a stronger, more structured team
  • Implemented systems that improved operational efficiency
  • Increased clarity around business development and growth strategy
  • Transitioned leadership from reactive operations to strategic vision

"Christine has helped me transition from being stuck in day-to-day operations to stepping into a sustainable leadership role where I can focus on vision and growth."

— Nicole Alexandra, Siren Betty

03

MCLD

New York & Miami  ·  Jon-Carlo & Ryan

9-Month Engagement · Ongoing

Challenge

MCLD, a lighting design firm operating across New York and Miami, was navigating growth as a multi-partner business balancing different perspectives, priorities, and market dynamics.

  • Creating greater clarity around business development strategy
  • Aligning partner priorities to enable faster, more confident decision-making
  • Strengthening messaging and positioning in competitive markets
  • Connecting daily operations to long-term growth objectives

Approach

Our work focused on embedding business development into MCLD's broader operating system.

  • Clarified and aligned BD priorities across partners
  • Strengthened messaging and value communication
  • Connected staffing and workflow decisions to revenue strategy
  • Improved operational clarity to support scalable growth
  • Established structured decision-making frameworks
  • Reinforced the connection between leadership alignment and firm performance

Outcome

Over the course of the ongoing 9-month engagement, Jon-Carlo and Ryan have:

  • Achieved greater clarity and cohesion around business development strategy
  • Strengthened partner alignment, improving speed and confidence in decisions
  • Clarified positioning and messaging across both markets
  • Improved operational efficiency to better support growth
  • Built a more actionable link between daily execution and long-term expansion

"Business development goes hand in hand with every other part of the firm, and this work has made that connection clearer and more actionable than ever."

— Jon-Carlo & Ryan, MCLD

04

Robert Brown Interior Design

Atlanta, Georgia  ·  Lanah Jackson

6-Month Engagement

Challenge

After more than 20 years in business, Robert Brown Interior Design recognized that the business development landscape had shifted. While the firm had a strong reputation, its BD approach no longer reflected the realities of today's market.

  • Redefining what business development meant for their firm
  • Creating greater clarity around pipeline strategy
  • Streamlining how opportunities moved from initial contact to close
  • Introducing accountability into follow-up systems

Approach

Over six months, we worked closely with the leadership team to modernize and operationalize their business development process.

  • Defined a firm-specific business development strategy
  • Built a structured pipeline framework from lead to close
  • Clarified roles and ownership within the BD process
  • Implemented accountability systems for outreach and follow-up
  • Aligned growth initiatives with current market dynamics

Outcome

By the end of the six-month engagement, Robert Brown Interior Design had:

  • A clearly defined and shared understanding of business development
  • A streamlined, structured process for advancing opportunities
  • Stronger accountability around follow-up and pipeline tracking
  • Increased clarity and intentionality in growth decisions
  • A BD framework aligned with both their legacy experience and today's market

"19th & Co's business development coaching gave our leadership team the structure and clarity we needed to take a more intentional approach to growth."

— Lanah Jackson, Robert Brown Interior Design

05

Carré Designs

Boulder, Colorado  ·  Kristi Carré Freeland

5-Month Engagement · Ongoing

Challenge

After more than a decade in business, Kristi Carré Freeland found herself deeply embedded in day-to-day execution. The firm was busy, but growth felt reactive rather than intentional.

  • Operating "in the weeds" rather than at the leadership level
  • Lack of clear structure around team roles and systems
  • Reactive pricing and contract decisions
  • Unclear positioning and growth priorities

Approach

Over five months, we focused on shifting both operational structure and leadership posture.

  • Identified core pinch points affecting efficiency and growth
  • Clarified top priorities and eliminated unnecessary complexity
  • Implemented sustainable team and workflow structure
  • Refined pricing, contracts, and positioning strategy
  • Established focused, action-oriented accountability sessions
  • Reinforced a CEO-level mindset grounded in practical execution

Outcome

Over the course of the ongoing 5-month engagement, Carré Designs has:

  • Transitioned from reactive operations to intentional leadership
  • Implemented clearer team structure and workflow systems
  • Strengthened pricing, contracts, and firm positioning
  • Reduced operational friction and mental load
  • Increased clarity, focus, and decision-making confidence

"For the first time, I feel like I'm truly running my business, instead of my business running me."

— Kristi Carré Freeland, Carré Designs