Operations lead Q&A: Bianca Marrinucci
Each month we’ll be introducing you to a different Plantclub team member in a series that will pull the curtain back on our unique process. From design to plant care experts, find out more about each moving part that gets the plants into your offices.
The Plantclub Operations Lead is a constant force at work. They tie together ideas, concepts, projects from start to finish, people, and every moving piece of this ever-growing puzzle.
To pull these feats off on a daily basis means having the organizational tools of a small army while also being an adept people-person.
With her background in large-scale fundraising and experience working at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in NYC, Bianca Marrinucci has defined the role of Operations Lead since May 2022. Embodying Plantclub’s mission for nearly two years, her coworkers have always recognized her as a steadfast, precise, and honest team player.
Bianca has never shied away from introducing herself, so now we’ll let her do the talking.
Plantclub: What is your background (education, etc.)
Bianca: I am a writer! I have a degree in Writing, Literature, & Publishing from Emerson College in Boston, where I lived before moving to NYC to pursue a career in fundraising for nonprofit organizations. My 5+ years in fundraising encompassed major event planning, campaign management, and database management – all skills I use in my current role as Ops Lead for Plantclub.
Plantclub: What inspired you to start working with plants?
Bianca: My love for plants/trees/all of the flora really blossomed while working at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. I felt firsthand how being surrounded by greenery (and flowers and birdsong) increased my sense of well-being.
A flowering Strelitzia nicolai captured by our Plant Expert Gulia.
Bianca’s favorite plant that we use at Plantclub is the Philodendron Red Beauty.
Plantclub: What do you find the most fulfilling about working with plants?
Bianca: When we find new growth on plants. Our Plant Experts will often share photos with the team of small flowers growing on happy plants, or new variegated leaves taking shape. It’s a lovely surprise and reminds us all of the beauty and regeneration that’s possible when we take care of our plant friends.
Plantclub: What is your favorite plant?
Bianca: I love the smooth-leaved, jewel-toned, elegant Red Beauty. I grew up in the Dominican Republic & she evokes the feeling of being in an enchanted jungle somewhere warm and tropical.
Plantclub: What projects have you worked on with Plantclub?
So many! I’ve planned an array of plant installations in Berlin and Hamburg, optimized our Plant Operations, and hosted strategic meetings and team events. My favorite projects are the ones where I get to use my creativity and background in fundraising to experiment with new member relationship initiatives or make an existing process more dynamic.
“I think the future of sustainable design is organic, asymmetrical, undulating in shapes and textures modeled after the natural world.”
Plantclub: What do you think the future of sustainable design is?
Bianca: I think the future of sustainable design is organic, asymmetrical, undulating in shapes and textures modeled after the natural world. We’ll see more greenery, definitely, but also a greater willingness to break with conventional building models and materials.
Plantclub: In your opinion, what do circular businesses have to do to continue/expand their impacts on the environment?
Bianca: I think the success of circular businesses will be in finding community connections with other like-minded businesses that are asking themselves the same questions on sustainability. This is where partnerships with businesses like Nornorm come into play - to work on projects together, certainly, but also to share information and collaborate on hewing out a more intentional community of businesses prioritizing circularity.
Plantclub: What does a normal day at Plantclub look like for you?
Bianca: Since Ops is a large umbrella, a normal day looks like a lot of collaboration with my awesome team across different areas of our workflow. Between developing and planning projects in collaboration with Ailsa (Design Lead) and strategizing on Plant Ops with Angelique (Plant Care Coordinator), I also collaborate with Isabella (Managing Director) with growth initiatives as we look toward expansion.
The Plantclub team in action.
Plantclub: Your work playlist sounds like?
Bianca: Deep focus flow: Classical Bangers, LoFi Girl, & Crystal Singing Bowls
Diverse admin flow: Kali Uchis, Jessie Ware, & this fun witchy playlist
Plantclub: How do you think plants can change office design?
Bianca: Plants can completely transform offices from straightforward, traditional workspaces to dynamic meeting points for creativity and collaboration. So many of our members report feeling more at ease in their workspaces when they’ve got a lush green plant growing nearby.
Plantclub: What have you learned from working with Plantclub?
Bianca: I’ve learned how much is possible when you’re working on a dynamic, hard-working team. I’m really proud of the projects we’ve worked on since I joined, and the improvements we continue to make. Our core team is small, but it is mighty and capable of moving mountains.
”My life philosophy is centered around togetherness, open and kind communication, and contributing to the creation of a more caring world.”
Plantclub: Where do you see Plantclub in a year from now? What do you hope for Plantclub?
Bianca: A year from now I can see Plantclub in a few other cities in Germany (spoiler alert? Stay tuned!). I hope the Plantclub team continues to work on exciting projects, and I’m most excited to see how the sustainability projects we’ve spearheaded this year will come to fruition.
Plantclub: Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Bianca: A year from now I hope to be fostering community care through food and gathering. I’m still working out what exactly that means, but my life philosophy is centered around togetherness, open and kind communication, and contributing to the creation of a more caring world.
Plantclub.io provides you and your colleagues with the benefits of plants, wherever you work. Rent office plants and transform your space into a green oasis, with flexible monthly membership options to suit your size. Diversify your employee perks with a dedicated company store, where you can give green gifts and your team can buy plants for their home office. Book a time to chat with us today.
