\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n If you could start your career over again, what would you do differently?<\/strong><\/p>\n -Kathryn O’Donnell<\/p><\/div>\n Two things: I would have converted our retail stores to \u201cplant marts\u201d, which would have used a warehouse model. We would stock the warehouse with plants from our local greenhouses or ship our plants up from our greenhouses in Bonita Springs, Florida. And I would have continued to explore franchising Botanicus. We have built wonderful systems for achieving operational excellence, and I would have liked to have shared this with other, like-minded entrepreneurs.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n What have you learned from being in a room full of architects and talking to them about plant benefits?<\/strong><\/p>\n I found out that we need to regularly inspire architects with the visual art of nature indoors. Our industry has grown and nurtured a wonderful collection of inspiring spaces, and the use of plants has evolved. Architects have so many responsibilities in their profession. We need to refresh their enthusiasm for plant-based designs with our own enthusiasm, presentations, knowledge, experience, and commitment!<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n What are you passionate about?<\/strong><\/p>\n I love people, and I love data. I love technology. And I am passionate about operational excellence. Being an entrepreneur has allowed me to work with all the things I love and express my passions.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n What\u2019s the most fun you\u2019ve had with plants lately?<\/strong><\/p>\n -Patrick Blanc Living Wall at I Guzzini, Paris<\/p><\/div>\n Watching the R+D happening on living green walls and working with a variety of living green wall systems. Going on the road and touring impressive installations like the Nedlaw walls in Canada and Patrick Blanc\u2019s walls in France. People are excited about the beauty these walls are bringing into their lives, and it is fun to be a part of that. I feel these walls are part of a horticultural renaissance that will last. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Do you feel the same way about green roofs?<\/strong><\/p>\n No, the opportunities for people to get excited about green roofs are limited by the variety of site-specific roofing issues that exist. Installing a green roof is complicated by so many issues related to roof construction.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Most valued book on the bookshelf?<\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m constantly reading. Perhaps my all-time favorite is \u201c7 Habits of Highly Effective People\u201d by Stephen Covey, because it is applicable to my business and my personal life. Its premise is that being effective in attaining goals means living a life based on specific principles, such as trustworthiness and kindness, as well as the more obvious principles, such as good time management.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Currently, what is your favorite software program or app, and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n I love what we are able to do with our smartphones. From GPS, route mapping, and traffic alerts, to sharing onsite photos<\/a>, the technology tools just get better and better. Just recently, we developed a process to deliver and submit route sheets that uses our smartphones. Now it’s 4 weeks later, and we\u2019ve eliminated 90% of the paper associated with our former route sheet process.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n We\u2019ve all heard the saying \u201cyou can\u2019t manage what you don\u2019t measure,\u201d the principle being that management success depends a great deal on what you are measuring. What do you measure that you feel contributes to your company\u2019s success?<\/strong><\/p>\n We have SKU numbers on each plant that allow us to inventory plant age, vendor, size, price code, etc. This is great info which we use in making a number of decisions. I run every department as a separate division with its separate P+L. When hiring new staff, I use the data from an assessment program to help ensure I put the right person in the right position.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n How do you involve your staff when an important company strategy decision needs to be made?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Well, you know I love data. Strategic decisions are made based on data we\u2019ve collected, and I share that data with my team. I get them involved. Frequently, they\u2019ve been involved with the data collection.<\/em><\/p>\n I also try to see things from their perspective, and I ask them, \u201cWhat can I do to help you?” I deeply believe in the philosophy of \u201cservant leadership\u201d.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n I know volunteerism is important to you. Tell us a little about this.<\/strong><\/p>\n My life is enriched by my volunteer activities. I have learned as much from my volunteer activities as I have from participating in the terrific business groups I belong to. I worked to develop a private\/public partnership for the Buffalo Botanical Gardens that secured the long-term viability of the gardens and learned about non-profit management and the public\/private governance model. During the recession, this model has been used to preserve public resources in many communities.<\/em><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been a lifelong figure skater. I love spending time on the ice, and I\u2019ve taught blind and handicapped children to figure skate. Watching them employ their skill sets to become confident on the ice has been a transforming experience. <\/em><\/p>\n In my company, we expand the concept of volunteerism, which aligns with the concept of servant leadership. At Botanicus, we are all volunteers. I know that my team members, although they are being paid, are also choosing to invest their time and talent with Botanicus, in essence, volunteering to be on our team. They could work elsewhere. As far as our relationship with our customers, our customers are choosing us\/ volunteering to invest their resources with us. For our part, we are choosing to work with that customer\/volunteering to invest in their project. If we discover that a customer does not honor the business relationship with truthfulness and respect, it may be time for us to leave that relationship and invest our time and talent elsewhere.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n You mentioned belonging to some business groups. Could you tell us more about this?<\/strong><\/p>\n Locally, I belong to an entrepreneur CEO group. I also belong to the National Interiorscape Network, which provides me with the opportunity to share best practices and benchmarks among leading companies in my industry. Participating in these groups has given me the fortitude and courage to move my company forward. If I am working with a specific issue, for example, migrating from a 1-week schedule to a 2-week schedule, my colleagues in these groups are great resources. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n You recently returned from a trip to Italy. Did you see them doing anything interesting with plants?<\/strong><\/p>\n Although the historic buildings were breathtaking, I was amazed by the fact that I saw little floral color being used. I compare this to the floral color I saw in Alaska, which was gorgeous and bountiful. Perhaps this is because Alaska\u2019s outdoor season is so short and creates a pent-up demand for the containerized color-riot. The plants are grown indoors until the weather is right, and then the hanging planters<\/a> and container arrangements come out in all their glory. <\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n What’s your super-vitamin?<\/strong><\/p>\n Good genes and Hot yoga. I\u2019ve practiced Bikram yoga for the past 15 years. In a room heated to 105 degrees, I stretch and meditate. This practice makes me stronger physically and spiritually, and preserves my energy.<\/em><\/p>\n Featured image via Botanicus<\/a> In 1971, Kathryn O\u2019Donnell was recruited by her former husband to help convert a florist shop into a retail plant shop. The company grew, acquiring greenhouses in New York and Florida, developing an interiorscape division, and teaching horticultural seminars. Today, in addition to providing leadership for a thriving Botanicus, Kathryn is a GPGB Registered Trainer, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":7654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"twitterCardType":"","cardImageID":0,"cardImage":"","cardTitle":"","cardDesc":"","cardImageAlt":"","cardPlayer":"","cardPlayerWidth":0,"cardPlayerHeight":0,"cardPlayerStream":"","cardPlayerCodec":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[82],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7650","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-operations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"Kathryn](\"https:\/\/www.newprocontainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Kathryn-ODonnell-150x150.jpg\")
![\"Patirck](\"https:\/\/www.newprocontainers.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/i-guzzini-paris-300x208.jpg\")
\nPatrick Blanc Living Wall photo via Vertical Garden Patrick Blanc<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"