Leading The Change In The Green Industry

What does it take to lead real, lasting change, not just in your own business, but across an entire industry?

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That’s the question Danny Kerr explored in a recent Contractor Evolution episode with Mark Sedgley, CEO of LMN, Greenius, and SingleOps: three of the biggest names in landscape software, now united under one brand: Granum.

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Mark’s journey from lawn-mowing teenager to tech-driven CEO offers powerful lessons for any contractor growing from operator to true leader. Here’s a quick look at the big ideas he shared.

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Key Takeaways

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Shift from entrepreneur to leader

‍At first, you do everything. But as your business grows, your role must evolve. Mark explains the stages: entrepreneur operator → leader → executive. 

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Define your vision and repeat it relentlessly

‍Mark uses a simple framework to guide every company he leads. Your people need to know where the business is going, how you’ll get there, and what success looks like.

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Build culture through values, not personality

Whether you lead through inspiration or command-and-control, what matters is clarity and consistency. Granum’s “operational values”  set behavioral expectations that everyone can live by.

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Embrace technology or get left behind

‍Over half of the green industry still runs on pen and paper. That’s changing fast. From AI and robotics to integrated management software, Mark predicts a wave of adoption that will reshape how landscape and tree-care businesses operate.

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Manage change through story

‍When introducing new systems or processes, people resist what they don’t understand. Mark advises leaders to “make your team part of the story.” Explain the why, paint the picture of the end goal, and communicate far more than you think you need to.

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As Mark says, “At the top of every mountain is just another mountain.” Growth never stops — it just changes shape.

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