Women in landscaping: Building careers with confidence, collaboration and mentorship

Photo courtesy of Liz Ryan

In 2024, I attended the Women in the Green Industry Conference in Chicago, and — amid many inspiring moments — one experience stayed with me. Several attendees described being the only woman, or one of a few, in their landscape companies. One participant called herself a “warrior,” saying every workday felt like a battlefield. Yet seeing a room full of women in landscaping swapping stories, advice and support left her empowered and less alone. Her perspective reminded me how fortunate I am to work where women actively collaborate and uplift one another. It reinforced a simple truth: Collaboration, representation and confidence are essential for a fulfilling career in the landscape profession, or in any traditionally male-dominated field.

Back at K&D Landscaping, I spoke with six female colleagues — a support specialist, employee success specialist, account manager, controller, project coordinator and associate account manager — to see whether that “warrior” mindset resonated. None framed their jobs as a daily battle. Instead, they credited our tight network of women in landscaping for turning that combat mentality into connection and support. Project Coordinator Malena Cueva said, “Women across departments uplift one another through mentorship, shared learning and open dialogue. That support builds stronger teamwork and a culture of trust.”

Trust opens the door to another reality many women face, which is earning credibility in mixed or male-dominated crews. Account Manager Katie Hsu notes, “Being a woman in this field, especially in a hybrid office/field position, it’s easy to be overlooked or not treated as an expert.” Yet, she counters that risk by continually learning, reaching out and collaborating with peers. Support Specialist Lauren Wendt offers perspective from early in her career, sharing that she has “experienced challenges in my role, but none have been caused or related to me being a woman.” Together, these voices show how growing representation dissolves the “only-woman” narrative and replaces it with genuine belonging.

When I asked the same colleagues for advice to women entering the landscape industry, every response circled back to confidence — the fuel that turns collaboration into momentum. Employee Success Specialist Shantel Perez encouraged newcomers to jump in with both feet: “Do it! You don’t need to have all the answers; you need to show up and be willing to learn. Don’t shrink yourself to fit in; this industry can use people with different perspectives.”

Building on that idea, Associate Account Manager Blanca Montes stressed resilience: be strong and unafraid. “We as women, if we do not know something, we figure it out,” she said, adding that “there will always be someone to mentor you.” Her words highlight the power of seeking — and providing — guidance.

Finally, Controller Tina Feagan emphasized authenticity and initiative, “be yourself and don’t be intimidated. Show all you can do and be proactive.” Her counsel reminds us that confidence is most convincing when paired with action. Together, these perspectives form a simple playbook: show up, stand strong, act boldly.

For women who haven’t yet found the built-in network we enjoy at K&D, resources such as the Women In the Green Industry Conference, NALP’s Women in Landscape Network, and CREW offer ready-made communities of mentors and allies. And remember, you can always reach out to me or any of the women at K&D — we’re proof that in this field, no one has to fight alone.

So, here’s to every woman who picks up a shovel, a sketchbook or a spreadsheet: Claim your space, lift one another and reshape the landscape — literally and figuratively — so the path behind you blooms even brighter for the next generation of warriors, collaborators and leaders.