# 014: A Sales Manager’s Path into the Design Industry with Ximena Harmer Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756/014-a-sales-manager-s-path-into-the-design-industry-with-ximena-harmer Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756/014-a-sales-manager-s-path-into-the-design-industry-with-ximena-harmer.md Podcast: [Interior Design San Diego - Presented by ASID San Diego](https://stenobird.com/podcast/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756) Published: 2025-12-11T14:30:00+00:00 Episode link: https://interior-design-sd.captivate.fm Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/4b538187-f382-41d7-8e93-f95963313499.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756/episodes/014-a-sales-manager-s-path-into-the-design-industry-with-ximena-harmer Duration seconds: 2196 ## Resource In this student-focused episode of the Interior Design San Diego podcast, we sit down with Ximena Harmer, a sales manager and active ASID San Diego industry partner, to talk about what it really looks like to build a career on the sales side of the design world. Ximena shares how she found her way into the industry, what designers actually look for in product reps, and how students and emerging professionals can start building relationships now that will support them for years to come. If you’ve ever wondered how industry partners fit into the design ecosystem—or how to show up confidently at your next ASID event—this conversation is for you. Meet the Guest: Ximena Harmer With over 12 years of experience in the Kitchen and Bath industry, Ximena Harmer has developed a true passion for cabinetry and carpentry. Specializing in custom designs, she’s worked on high-profile projects, including national media campaigns with major home improvement networks. Ximena has found her perfect role as a Sales Manager at the Home Depot Design Center, where she leads a team of product partners to help builders and designers bring their clients’ dream spaces to life. Whether it's finding the perfect product for the project or providing expert guidance, Ximena combines her deep industry knowledge with a personal commitment to making every renovation project a success. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: What a Sales Manager Actually Does in the Design World How Ximena supports designers, firms, and projects—and why strong relationships between designers and reps are so important. How Students Can Confidently Connect with Industry Partners Practical tips for reaching out on LinkedIn, following up after events, and starting conversations even if you feel “too new” to the industry. Making the Mos… ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756/episodes/014-a-sales-manager-s-path-into-the-design-industry-with-ximena-harmer/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/interior-design-san-diego-presented-by-asid-san-diego-7471756/014-a-sales-manager-s-path-into-the-design-industry-with-ximena-harmer.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.