The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed
By Doug Noll | Authority Magazine | January 31, 2023 | Read on Medium
Female Founders: Jackie Wright of Pineapple Procurement On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed
As part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jackie Wright.
Jackie Wright is the founder and principal of Pineapple Procurement. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and her collaborative approach, Jackie started Pineapple because she wanted to work closely with designers to execute one-of-a-kind projects in the luxury to upper midscale segments of the hospitality market. She believes in approaching projects honestly and holistically by keeping things aboveboard and encouraging open communication. Jackie can also be credited with leading contributions to many prestigious projects with brands including Marriott, Hilton, IHG, Wyndham, SBE, and Viceroy as well as many independent boutiques. Pineapple has completed full-scale renovations, conversions, adaptive re-use and historic projects throughout the United States, operated by major brands and independent boutique owners. She is trusted as a strategic partner on design forward projects and is known for working closely and collaboratively with talented creatives.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?
Growing up in the Midwest gave me a certain ‘just do it’ attitude; but, more importantly, it taught me the value of human connection and the duty to be helpful and hospitable. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked in hospitality, interior design, lighting sales, visual merchandising, buying/sourcing, import-export, and project management until finally, I found my perfect fit in FF&E procurement. As the founder of Pineapple Procurement now, I appreciate the opportunity to look back at where it all started.
During college, I worked full-time and went to school at night. I began working for a couple of residential interior design firms and quickly realized that wasn’t for me. In my next role, as a visual merchandiser for a retail furniture chain, my job was to decorate the store and window vignettes. That was one of my favorite jobs. Eventually, I got approval from the corporate buying office to allow me to start purchasing accessories for my store. I would study home interior trends and what people were buying and then place orders with vendors. Then I would study what sold, and what didn’t and try a new strategy. As graduation approached, the company announced that there was an opening for an assistant upholstery buyer at the corporate office. Luckily, I understood Excel very well and got the job. Working in the buying office taught me a lot about the manufacturing process, quality control, trend forecasting, markup, and profit margin. My next role working for a plastics import/export company taught me a great deal about shipping goods between China and the US. Then, as a project manager at an advertising agency, I continued to build my foundation managing high-profile clients, big budgets, complex schedules, and deliverables from numerous project stakeholders. I took some time off to travel to India where I toured different types of textile mills, stone quarries, and ancient civilizations. Serendipitously, when I returned, I discovered an FF&E procurement company near my home. I had no idea this profession even existed at the time, yet as I read about it, I couldn’t believe how perfectly it aligned with my past roles. I started out as an FF&E project coordinator, then project manager, then senior project manager before deciding to start my own company. Combined with determination, it was a bit of luck that all my previous work experience and schooling turned out to be the path that would lead me to become the founder of an FF&E procurement company today.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?
Realizing how much I enjoy leading a team and creating a positive work culture has been one of the most unexpectedly rewarding and fulfilling aspects of starting Pineapple. I had never managed a group of people before, so I base my leadership style on how I wanted to be treated when I was an employee at larger companies.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
When I started Pineapple Procurement, I really wanted to have a special logo. I had always (and still do) love heraldry and crests. I decided this was the perfect opportunity to get my own crest. It was important to me that our crest convey hospitality, our appreciation, and understanding of design, our uniqueness, our passion for procurement, and our efficient and strategic approach… the list was long and unrealistic. To save money, I decided to crowdsource the logo. I provided a brief and asked that the crest include a unicorn (commonly seen on crests and symbolizes freedom, happiness, and vibrancy — these resonated with me as I wanted to offer something positive and fresh), a giraffe (symbolizes guidance and leadership), and a pineapple (the symbol of hospitality and our industry focus). As you can imagine, the logo looked insane. I have only ever shared it with two or three industry friends.
It was hard for me to admit how bad it was since I got exactly what I asked for (and paid for it). Ignoring my sixth sense to abort the mission, I uploaded it to our very first website. It remained there for a few weeks until I just couldn’t deny how bad it was any longer. After a few weeks, I hired a professional branding company to create the logo we have today. Lesson learned: stick with what I do best and invest in the best people to help with the rest.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?
That’s very true and there are so many people that have helped me (and continue to help me) along the way to starting Pineapple. I’ll never forget my very first client; she has become a friend and mentor. She could have gone with a bigger, more well-known company, but she wanted to hire someone to which her project would matter greatly. It more than mattered to me, by hiring me, she helped put Pineapple on the map. That was an inflection point; and that project was the catalyst to receiving industry recognition and later, endorsement from Hilton. Pineapple has grown significantly since then, but the credit is not all mine. Without our amazing team (past and present), our loyal and trusting clients, the support of iconic hospitality leaders, brand partners such as Hilton, IHG, and Marriott, the interior designers who trust us to help execute these unforgettable designs, and vendor partners that consistently go above and beyond to help us be successful, we would not be where we are today. I am incredibly grateful to them all.
Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?
Speaking from my own experience, my biggest hesitation was that I wasn’t sure how to get clients, and that seemed pretty important. Some of the best advice I received was not to be afraid to tell my story. Starting Pineapple was not easy. I made my fair share of mistakes [and still do, I embrace the fast learnings that follow] and there were/are a lot of highs and lows. Hopefully, sharing my story with other women (and men) will open the door to being curious about what being a founder would look like for them.
Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?
As an individual, it’s important to me to be open and welcoming to newcomers. Anyone that’s willing to step into the arena and put themselves out there deserves the opportunity to shine. It’s important to me to lift them up and help propel them forward because that’s what so many people have done, and still do, for me and for Pineapple. I believe in the power of karma commerce.
As a society, I believe it’s important to stay curious, explore, and always continue to learn. I’m always looking for ways to improve existing processes, be more efficient, innovate, and do more. For me, it’s important that I contribute to society by exchanging ideas with others and being curious about new innovations no matter how old I get.
I tend to think that sometimes focusing on low-hanging fruit and small initiatives can have faster gains with a bigger immediate impact. Local government, such as a Chamber of Commerce has a lot of power to elevate their communities through something as simple as a ‘small business owners — idea exchange night’.
This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?
Being the founder of Pineapple Procurement has given me a stronger platform to make a positive impact in so many ways. One of my most important (and rewarding) roles as a founder is to provide a positive work culture. As a founder, there are opportunities and new doors that may not have been open to me otherwise.
What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?
#1. To be successful, you need to be shrewd. I like to take a human-first approach and develop relationships with the people I’m going to be working with. Staying in alignment with my values keeps things simple and aboveboard.
#2. All clients are good clients. Honesty, collaboration, and mutual respect are key ingredients to a successful partnership. It’s important to know when to walk away.
#3. You need a lot of clients/customers. All it took for me was one client. One spark can set your path ablaze.
Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?
Two traits come to mind. One of the key traits that I have observed in successful founders and business leaders is the ability to inspire and champion those around you in good times and especially in tough times. The other trait is grit. There’s a great deal of stress and responsibility that accompany being responsible for other people’s livelihoods and not everyone wants to take that on.
Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)
Your time is limited. Focus on purpose-driven work. Set goals and align ideas and major initiatives with each goal. If the ideas or initiatives don’t align with company goals, refocus on working with purpose.
Be courageous in giving and receiving feedback both internally and externally. The opportunities for growth and learning are invaluable.
Hire good people with the right experience. It’s worth the time and financial investment to find the right people.
Delegating is not easy but do it anyway. Hiring good people; makes it easier.
Being yourself is the best way to fit in. Don’t fake it, you’ve already made it.
How have you used your success to make the world a better place?
I feel good knowing that I have created a company with a positive work culture. I view the Pineapple team as my extended family. They choose to bring their experience, knowledge, and talents to my company, and I am so grateful to them. I see how hard they work and the unique perspective and value they bring to each project. We are a very collaborative group, and they are included in initiatives outside their primary role such as overall company goals and standard operating procedures. I want them to understand why what they are doing matters and how it relates to our company goals. They are encouraged to share and exchange ideas and to attend industry events so that they have opportunities to learn about new products, identify new sources, and connect with our industry in memorable ways.
You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
High-speed internet for everyone. There are so many rural areas, my hometown included, that do not have access to high-speed internet. The bandwidth required to support a lot of websites and cloud-based platforms that more and more companies are using in their day-to-day business requires high-speed internet. Therefore, people living in rural areas won’t have the same opportunities, such as working from home or taking online classes, (or even looking on Zillow to find a home) as people with access to high-speed internet in their homes. So many people can’t apply for a job online or Zoom with an associate/classmate in another state or country, or Google something anytime they want/need.
We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.
Indra Nooyi. She’s so impressive. Her way of looking at problems, presenting facts, and generating new ideas/solutions is something I aspire toward. She would tell me straight up all the things I’m not doing well and what I can do better. I’m confident she could solve the high-speed internet problem.
Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.
About the Interviewer: Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA was born nearly blind, crippled with club feet, partially deaf, and left-handed. He overcame all of these obstacles to become a successful civil trial lawyer. In 2000, he abandoned his law practice to become a peacemaker. His calling is to serve humanity, and he executes his calling at many levels. He is an award-winning author, teacher, and trainer. He is a highly experienced mediator. Doug’s work carries him from international work to helping people resolve deep interpersonal and ideological conflicts. Doug teaches his innovative de-escalation skill that calms any angry person in 90 seconds or less. With Laurel Kaufer, Doug founded Prison of Peace in 2009. The Prison of Peace project trains life and long terms incarcerated people to be powerful peacemakers and mediators. He has been deeply moved by inmates who have learned and applied deep, empathic listening skills, leadership skills, and problem-solving skills to reduce violence in their prison communities. Their dedication to learning, improving, and serving their communities motivates him to expand the principles of Prison of Peace so that every human wanting to learn the skills of peace may do so. Doug’s awards include California Lawyer Magazine Lawyer of the Year, Best Lawyers in America Lawyer of the Year, Purpose Prize Fellow, International Academy of Mediators Syd Leezak Award of Excellence, National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals Neutral of the Year. His four books have won a number of awards and commendations. Doug’s podcast, Listen With Leaders, is now accepting guests. Click on this link to learn more and apply.