Our Commitment to Leadership
For the third year in a row, we made the deliberate choice to close our showroom for two days so that our entire team could attend the 2024 Global Leadership Summit in Chicago. At Drury Design, we believe that investing in our team’s growth is essential to our success, and this annual event has become a cornerstone of our commitment to continuous learning.
This year’s Summit featured an array of influential speakers whose insights directly align with our dedication to excellence in design and customer service. Mike Krzyzewski, the legendary former Duke University basketball coach, known as Coach K, shared strategies for building teams that perform at the highest level—principles that resonate deeply with our approach to collaboration and project execution. Will Guidara, with his focus on a hospitality-first culture, reinforced the importance of exceeding client expectations, a standard we hold ourselves to every day. Molly Fletcher’s insights on pushing beyond comfort zones echoed our own drive to continually innovate and bring fresh ideas to every project. And Arthur C. Brooks’s perspective on happiness and success reminded us that our ultimate goal is to create environments that enhance the well-being of our clients.
By dedicating time to events like the GLS, we’re not just growing individually—we’re reinforcing the values that set us apart in our industry. Our commitment to learning and applying these principles ensures that we continue to deliver the highest level of creativity, teamwork, and service, making each client’s experience exceptional.
Below, you’ll find some of the key takeaways and favorite quotes from our team members who attended this year’s Summit.
“I don’t want people who work for me to work for me. I want them to work with me.”
– Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Naismith Hall of Fame coach, 5-time National Champion Coach at Duke, 6-Time
Context: Coach K’s philosophy emphasizes the importance of team members collaborating to achieve shared goals while upholding high standards that extend beyond the game and into all areas of life. This approach contrasts sharply with a more traditional model where team members merely follow a leader’s directives and rely on the leader’s vision to reach their objectives.
Rick Windgassen, VP Operations
“Where others see acorns, you see oak trees.”
– Dan Owolabi, Executive Director Branches Worldwide.
Context: Dan Owolabi used the analogy of an acorn to illustrate how seeing potential in others can lead to exponential growth. By recognizing the possibility within an acorn to produce not just one oak tree, but a whole grove, he emphasized that when you see potential in someone, you’re envisioning their ability to inspire and create far beyond what they might see in themselves.
Emily Tomek, Designer – City Design (Drury Design’s branch in Des Moines)
“If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”
– Kindra Hall, Author and business advisor who specializes in storytelling
Karla Mendoza, Assistant Designer
“Work is the instrument, people is the point.”
– Marcus Buckingham, Thought Leader and Business Expert
Amanda Duran, Sr. Assistant Designer
“We as humans listen in layers and as we grow and mature, so do the layers.”
– Erwin McManus, Renowned Life Architect, author and artist
“Be generous with your stories. Tell them often so people may understand you. Tell them often so people may understand themselves.”
– Kindra Hall, Author and business advisor who specializes in storytelling
Kailey Trostle, Assistant Designer
“Master what you can control, let go of what you can’t.”
–Carey Lohrenz, First female F-14 pilot, Leadership Expert
–Olivia Karlen, Assistant Designer – City Design (Drury Design’s branch in Des Moines)
“It’s not about what you achieve it’s about what you become.”
– Molly Fletcher, Thought Leader and Former Sports Agent
“If you don’t obsess over something you won’t achieve anything.”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at Life.Church
“What if your conflicts were the KEY to your peace?”
– Michael Jr., Comedian and Thought Leader
Context – Michael Jr., known for his insightful and thought-provoking comedy, masterfully distills humor down to its core elements, one of which is conflict. He suggests that by embracing and reflecting on our conflicts with humility and humor, we can transform them into pathways to inner peace. Through this lens, the very friction that once caused tension can become a source of profound calm and understanding.
“Don’t serve people only what they want to be served, but also what they need..”
– Will Guidara, Restaurant Innovator who has earned top Michelin, James Beard and NYT ratings, and the title Best Restaurant in the World by William Reed Business Media
Keri Rogers, Assistant Designer
“The most important story you tell is the story you tell yourself.”
– Kindra Hall, Author and business advisor who specializes in storytelling
Hamza Shahin, Assistant Designer
“You lose sight, you lose the fight.”
–Carey Lohrenz, First female F-14 pilot, Leadership Expert
Context: Lohrenz advocates focusing on what matters with military precision.
“Focus relentlessly, care deeply and commit completely.”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at Life.Church
Carl Schanstra, CFO
“Greatness is born in the extremes”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at Life.Church
Lorann Lombardini, Marketing Associate
“Sometimes magic is just investing more time at something than anyone would deem reasonable.”
– Raymond Teller
Context: Restaurant guru and hospitality evangelist Will Guidara shared this quote from Teller of the magic duo Penn & Teller as he was explaining his approach to exceptional customer service. His point: getting really good at something isn’t necessarily a matter of talent or ingenuity – sometimes it’s a matter of caring enough to practice something long enough to get really good at it!
Joe Coffey, Marketing Director
“Don’t underestimate the power of the “To Don’t” list.”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at Life.Church
Context: Groeschel says leaders are often bogged down by trying to do too much, and this pulls attention and time away from the important things on your “To Do” list.
Doug Beneda, Controller
Shutting Down to Level Up
“Investing in our team’s growth is the best way to invest in our clients,” says CFO Carl Schanstra. “By embracing opportunities like the Global Leadership Summit, we’re ensuring that everyone at Drury Design is equipped to lead with creativity and purpose.”
Owner and Creative Director Gladys Schanstra adds, “True leadership is about more than just guiding others—it’s about inspiring others to bring their best to every project. This Summit is just one way we ensure our team is always ready to exceed our clients’ expectations.”