Episode 25: Corey Damen Jenkins on Persistence, Design Democracy, and Opening Doors for Others

Amanda sits down with Corey Damen Jenkins, Principal and CEO of Corey Damen Jenkins & Associates, for a conversation on resilience, creativity, and building one of the world's most celebrated design firms. After losing his corporate job during the Great Recession, Corey returned to his lifelong passion for interior design—knocking on doors across Michigan until opportunity finally arrived at door number 779.Together, they explore the perseverance behind overnight success, Corey's philosophy of "design democracy," and why great design should reflect the people who live in a space rather than the designer creating it. The conversation also touches on entrepreneurship, mentorship, overcoming adversity, and Corey's mission to make the design industry more accessible by opening doors for the next generation of creatives.