In many horticulture businesses, especially small to mid-sized ones, young and emerging professionals step into leadership roles overseeing departments they haven’t worked in themselves. A grower might suddenly find themselves managing a marketing team, or a sales manager may be asked to supervise operations.

The challenge? Success doesn’t come from being the technical expert. It comes from building trust, communicating effectively, and fostering collaboration across functions.

In this peer-led session, a panel of Generation Next Community Connectors will share their real experiences managing across functions—what worked, what didn’t, and the lessons they learned along the way. We’ll also hear the other side of the story, with team members sharing what it feels like to be managed by someone outside their area of expertise.

To make the session even more engaging, attendees will participate in breakout room discussions to share their own experiences and best practices. These conversations will give everyone a chance to reflect, connect, and learn practical strategies from peers who face the same challenges.

Expect to walk away with fresh perspectives, actionable approaches, and the reassurance that you don’t need to know it all—you just need to lead with trust, clarity, and openness.

Panelists from the Generation Next Community Connectors

Marcus Jansen, Product Development Manager
PanAmerican Seed

Andy Fields, Head Grower & IPM Manager
Goodmark Nurseries

Lyndsey Zinni, Growing Operations & Nursery Supervisor
Millcreek Gardens