Scotts Miracle Gro : From warehouse manager to VP of supply chainAdam's seen firsthand how the entrepreneurial experience can flourish in a large company – if you find the right one.

January 25, 2021

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2 minute read

Kenny Dieglio, Digital Intelligence and Communications Manager, ScottsMiracle-Gro

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Fast-paced.

Freedom and flexibility.

Growth-focused.

Demanding, yet rewarding.

If we asked 100 people whether those are the attributes of a small startup or a 150-year-old-plus, publicly traded company, 99 would likely say the startup. Adam Sharp is that one outlier. That's because he's seen firsthand how the entrepreneurial experience can flourish in a large company - if you find the right one.

Getting his start at a startup

Adam is a Vice President of Supply Chain at Hawthorne Gardening Company, but his career journey began as a warehouse manager at a small hydroponics-focused startup called Botanicare near Phoenix, Arizona. Adam literally started on the ground floor of the company when it had 15 people, and he shared with the company the entrepreneurial spirit and drive to make an impact in the industry. He connected with the leaders of the company and his career developed quickly. As Adam's leadership grew, his responsibilities expanded all the way to becoming Botanicare's CEO.

The company became a true startup success story. Like many successful companies, it was purchased by Hawthorne, the hydroponic and indoor growing subsidiary of lawn and garden leader ScottsMiracle-Gro.

So you're going corporate, huh?

With Adam a big part of the decision to join Hawthorne, there was a lot of excitement, but a bit of uncertainty too. Would that entrepreneurial, idea-focused, dynamic environment drift away by going corporate? Was this the right move?

'It was definitely a gear shift to go from this relatively small company to something bigger, but even though the company was bigger, the culture at Hawthorne was similar to Botanicare,' explained Adam. 'I quickly found more points of exposure-and broader exposure-throughout the business.'

Moving at the speed of success

'I learned that there's a lot of room for ideation and opportunities to drive things forward, the difference was, that it's backed by process.'

Process can be seen in a negative light, especially when you think of a bigger company where processes might be viewed as slowing down progress. At Hawthorne and ScottsMiracle-Gro, pace is never an issue, according to Adam.

'You get what you put in. When you put the hard work in, the opportunities come at a fast pace. There are processes we follow, but they're for a reason, because they lead to success.'

If you're looking for a career opportunity at a company that's fast-paced, growth-focused with an entrepreneurial culture, either Hawthorne or ScottsMiracle-Gro might be the place for you. Check out Hawthorne's current openings and SMG's openings.