PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

By

Leslie Schurman

All photos provided by the Women in the Green Industry Conference

By focusing on a few key areas, women can prepare themselves for new opportunities and elevate their careers.

The green industry is constantly evolving and facing new challenges. Becoming a subject matter expert in an area can help women become a trusted resource to customers, coworkers and decision-makers.

For some, that may lead them down a technical path in turf management, irrigation, pest management, plant health or equipment. Others may focus on the business side of the industry in operations, project management, sales, communications or workforce development. The goal isn’ t to know every aspect of the industry, but to find an area where deeper knowledge can solve real-world problems.

A good place to start is by listening to the questions customers and coworkers discuss most often. What problems are customers facing? What are common frustrations among team members? Is there emerging technology that will change the industry? Answering those questions can help identify areas that are worthwhile to develop deeper knowledge.

Becoming a subject matter expert won’ t happen all at once. It requires remaining a student of the industry, asking questions and applying new information to real situations.

The strongest subject matter experts also understand how their expertise can help the business. Solving a plant health or turf management issue is important. But demonstrating how that solution helps solve the industry’ s biggest challenges— labor, costs, scheduling and long-term performance— is especially useful. That’ s where subject matter expertise becomes a strategic asset.

Leadership is often associated with having a C-suite title. But the reality is leadership is possible at every stage of a career. While earning an impressive title may formally signal leadership qualities to others, the actions you take on the job every day are what establishes it.

Leaders jump in to solve problems, volunteer for projects, share ideas and support colleagues. While these actions may seem small, they demonstrate reliability and show that someone is willing to go above and beyond for their team.

Taking on new responsibilities can also expand a professional’ s capabilities. Leading a meeting or assisting with an unfamiliar project may feel uncomfortable at first; but each experience adds another tool to a professional toolbox.

Effective leaders also make it easier for others to learn. They’ re approachable, answer questions without judgment, and share what they’ ve learned from their mistakes. By being open about what has worked in their career— and what hasn’ t— it gives others the confidence to ask questions and continue learning.

As more women step into leadership roles within the green industry, they have opportunities to support others in their own career development. Doing so can strengthen the entire team while simultaneously building influence as a leader.

One of the most unique aspects of the green industry is its culture of shared knowledge. Professionals regularly come together to discuss challenges and lessons they’ ve learned throughout their careers.

Networking, however, doesn’ t come easy to everyone. It can be intimidating to enter a room full of professionals, especially if there are few women in attendance. To ease that anxiety, plan out a few questions ahead of the event to use as conversation starters. Ask someone how they entered the field, what skill has made the biggest difference in their career or what interesting projects they are working on right now. Showing interest in someone’ s career often leads to more valuable conversations than trying to deliver a rehearsed introduction.

It’ s also important to remember that successful networking does not require shaking hands with everyone in the room. One thoughtful conversation can lead to more opportunities than exchanging dozens of business cards.

Industry conferences and workshops can also provide a setting where women may feel more comfortable asking questions. Being face to face with peers and subject matter experts can be especially valuable for those that are developing confidence in a technical area or new role.

Once you’ ve made a connection at an event, the work doesn’ t stop there. Connect on LinkedIn, send a follow-up email, or set up a time to meet up after the event. Those small actions can turn an initial introduction into a professional connection that lasts a lifetime.

As women grow in their careers, it can be difficult to sustain a good work-life balance when professional responsibilities compete with responsibilities at home. Women may be parents, partners and caregivers while also striving to be business owners, reliable employees and breadwinners. Keeping track of schedules, appointments, family needs and work deadlines can become overwhelming. Even on the best days, achieving perfect work-life balance likely isn’ t realistic.

Some responsibilities will require more attention during peak work seasons, while others may need to wait when life gets busy at home. The goal is not to give everything equal time, but to use available resources and decide where attention is most needed.

That may mean asking for help, delegating team members or sharing responsibilities at home. There are also useful tools available to reduce the time spent on routine planning. Artificial intelligence( AI) tools can help organize and prioritize task lists, build schedules, draft routine messages, plan meals, create grocery or packing lists, summarize notes or break a large project into smaller steps. AI cannot create worklife balance on its own, but it can reduce some of the mental energy spent organizing everyday responsibilities.

Despite even the best efforts to achieve work-life balance, there will inevitably be times when a deadline is missed or a task isn’ t completed. When that happens, it’ s important to give yourself grace. A difficult week or one bad day does not erase longterm progress.

Professional growth doesn’ t happen at once; it’ s built over an entire career. Just as growing landscapes and fields requires ongoing maintenance, careers do too. By embracing professional development opportunities, women can grow their careers while strengthening the industry for those who follow.

Continue your professional development at the Women in the Green Industry Conference The 28th annual Women in the Green Industry Conference, hosted by SiteOne Landscape Supply and presented in partnership with Platinum Sponsor Hunter Industries, will take place Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2026, in New Orleans. The three-day conference brings together women from across the green industry for educational sessions focused on industry trends, business growth, professional development, leadership and wellness, along with opportunities to build meaningful professional relationships. Visit SiteOne. com / WIGI2026 to learn more and register.

Leslie Schurman is the events manager at SiteOne Landscape Supply, and one of the organizers of the annual Women in the Green Industry Conference. She can be reached at lschurman @ siteone. com.