LeAnn Ostheimer on Rewriting the Narrative
for Women in the Landscaping Industry
This past fall, Chief Operating Officer of Lifescape LeAnn Ostheimer was awarded the 2023 Woman Leader of the Year Award from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). The former farm girl, sports enthusiast, Colorado State University alumnus and mother of two recently celebrated her 17th work anniversary with Lifescape, having joined the Denver-based company as a senior landscape designer in 2006.
When we heard about her award, we asked LeAnn what advice she would give to women in this industry primarily led by men. We half expected a response mirroring what a public relations crew would typically prepare for an actress or any other public figure approached with this question. Instead, LeAnn offered women landscapers something important, yet often overlooked: a starting point.
ALCC Women In Green Board of Directors
“Some advice that I would give to a person of any gender, but for sure female, would be to put the work in, have patience and get your hands dirty,” says LeAnn, “Maybe you accept a lower level position building on soft-skills, but then you work your way up. I think people tend to look for the big title and paycheck way too early in their careers. As women, it can take longer to earn the respect of employers, peers or clients. You also have to speak up. No one is going to hand anything to you. Don’t be afraid to ask your employer, whether or not they happen to be male, for a promotion. Maybe they say no, and you try again next year. If you’ve put in the work, chances are you’ll get there.”
LeAnn sees a shift happening. Employers are no longer looking for the most experienced candidates, often male. They are looking for candidates who are motivated to grow and learn. This change bodes well for individuals facing barriers to entry for any reason. Like our panel will discuss at SYNKD Live this year, LeAnn is working to help landscaping industry leaders see that diversity and inclusion can be a strength for a business.
To overcome obstacles in any career journey, LeAnn also emphasizes the importance of networking. Perchance inspired by her memories of delivering her family’s watermelons, vegetables, sweet corn and sugar beets around her hometown, LeAnn maintains a culture of giving back through her work at Lifescape. This core value has led to the beginnings of many galvanized friendships with various members of her community.
“We take the relationships we build very seriously,” says LeAnn. “Lifescape is involved with the American Society of Interior Designers, the Home Builders Association, Denver Art Museum’s Department of Architecture and Design, and we instill it in our design and sales team. You need to get out there and meet people to call on when the phone does not ring for new business.”
For LeAnn, being part of a company that heartens her “we can do better” attitude and plays to each team member’s strengths is tremendously gratifying. She also appreciates the willingness to participate in charitable activities like canned food drives and adopting a family during the holiday season.
“One of our senior designers has a good relationship with an architect coordinating a pro bono landscape project for a young boy with severe autism,” says LeAnn. “They needed an installation crew and materials. So, he and a couple of other team members at Lifescape spearheaded the project, asked me for the green light, knowing that this concept aligns with our mission, and got all the materials donated. Then, the Lifescape team donated all the labor. Some of our team members designed sensory activities for the boy to explore in the garden.”
"Overall, I just love that everyone took
part & chipped in, from our accountants
to our project managers."
Michael & LeeAnn Working on the Garden
Aside from community involvement projects and a personal interest in promoting diversity, LeAnn recognizes the potential for more vested interest in things like climate change, automation and sustainability in the future. Still, the cause most near and dear to LeAnn’s heart seems to be empowering women in our industry, specifically mothers, to take the reins on their career journey.
“Something I would say to people starting families keeping in mind that everyone is different, is that, as a mother, if you want to continue to pursue your career, it’s important to stay involved with your work in some capacity,” says LeAnn. “Try to negotiate the best path for you, your family and your company so you can thrive in both your career and motherhood. You can have it all. The art is balancing your time and finding the harmony that works for you.”
Lifescape Colorado wins gold elite award in Design/build
As tempting as it seemed at the time, outside of her maternity leave, LeAnn is glad she never stepped away from Lifescape while raising her kids. Now that her children are a bit older, she says she has found time to pump the gas on her professional development more often. It all links back to her motto of being patient, working hard and making connections. The saying “it takes a village” applies to more than just raising a child.
"What I love about this industry is that people genuinely work hard, respect each other &
want to support each other."
“We share our successes and failures and want to make each other better. I think that’s rare for an industry. Everyone is so kind, and it’s wonderful that we have that camaraderie,” says LeAnn.
Women only make up a small fraction of the landscaping industry. With labor being so scarce, it seems natural to assume that industry leaders will need to take another look at their hiring methods soon. Maybe advertising job postings, with on-the-job training, to a new audience would be productive. Like any other issue, however, addressing diversity and inclusion in the industry starts with communication—talking with the women and members of minority groups around us to gain more perspective.
LeAnn Ostheimer, Chief Operating Officer at Lifescape Colorado
Phone: (303) 831-8310
Email: info@lifescapecolorado.com