In this episode of Why My Business Works, Megan sits down with designer and longtime friend Susan Yeley to talk about the power of proximity, authentic connection, and leading a company that genuinely takes care of its people.

Susan built her firm the same way she builds homes: with curiosity, presence, and a deep respect for the humans involved. She shares how her business grew alongside her young family, why she hires by “letting the universe reveal the right people,” and how supporting her team through real-life challenges became one of the most meaningful parts of entrepreneurship.

They talk about joy as a business tool, design as a form of storytelling, and how integrating work and life can make you a better leader and a more grounded creator. If you’ve ever wondered what it looks like to run a business that is both beautiful and deeply human, this episode will feel like a warm, steadying breath.

• Why proximity shapes everything from creativity to capacity

• How Susan built her team through trust, intuition, and genuine affection

• The moment she decided to put employees on payroll and what that commitment really meant

• Her design philosophy and why “we do not discard our histories in our homes”

• How joy, rest, and presence fuel better creative output

• The privilege of design work and her dream to bring good homes to underserved communities

• What it looks like to prioritize people in the real moments — illness, babies, transitions, life

• Why everything really is a metaphor, and how it shapes the way she leads

Susan Yeley Homes

Prospect Refuge

Heather Peterson

Robins Architecture

Reath Design

Jessica Helgeran

1% Project

Zoey Feldman (scroll down for her Giving Back section)

Susan is the founder of Susan Yeley Homes, a Bloomington-based design firm known for thoughtful, layered, deeply personal spaces. Her work blends art, heart, and structure, and her leadership centers on care, generosity, and building a team that thrives together. Explore her work at susanyeleyhomes.com.

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Music licensed by Audiio