What is Botanical Business Coaching With Leslie? A Candid Client Interview
Plant For Profits Column, Leslie F. Halleck
As a professional horticulturist and green industry business coach and consultant, I do most of my work one-on-one with clients; either in individual consulting sessions or in an ongoing retainer capacity. I typically work on retainer with more established garden centers or landscaping firms, but offer easy-access individual as needed sessions as well, which are helpful for new entrepreneurs, very small businesses, and career transitioners. I do also occasionally run coaching groups that may be more accessible to newcomers (and experienced folks alike) and provide a collaborative and supportive space to make industry connections.
When you've never participated in a coaching group, the unknowns of it all can make you a little unsure of how things work or what value you'll get from joining. Or, what it's like to work with me. I'm a neurodivergent personality who has a direct no-BS style of communication; my strengths include quickly identifying areas that can be turned from weaknesses or gaps into strengths and opportunities. Laser focus aside, you'll also find I'm also the biggest genuine advocate for you and your business and I'm open and generous.
In a coaching group environment, when I'm coaching one person in the group, I'm coaching everyone! So while there may be less 1:1 in a group, you're also getting exposure to a broader array of topics and challenges, as well as benefiting from the perspectives and experiences of the other members, as well as the guidance I'm giving them.
To better clarify the experience, I thought I'd ask one of my previous group coaching members to provide their thoughts on what it was like to participate, and what ROI they felt they got from the group. I always ask for total transparency and authenticity, even if the feedback is negative! I always want to know where I can improve to help my clients.
For this interview, I reached out to Vince Zabala of BAMBUHAY - A Bay Area Botanical Business
Here are the questions I asked Vince about what it was like to work with me in a Botanical Business Coaching Group:
How comfortable do you feel communicating with me and the other members in the botanical business coaching group?
I felt extremely comfortable throughout the program. You created a safe space where I could be myself, make mistakes, and learn openly from other group members. The environment felt supportive from day one, which made sharing and receiving feedback natural and productive.
Do you feel your opinions and ideas were respected?
Absolutely. There was consistent affirmation and acknowledgment of everyone's work and ideas, balanced with constructive feedback that helped improve my thinking and processes. I appreciated being in a space where I could share openly while receiving respectful, honest input that genuinely helped me grow.
Do you feel the group fostered a supportive and non-judgmental environment?
Yes, definitely. We got to know each other throughout the process and shared personal aspects of our lives that shaped our business purposes. This vulnerability created a truly supportive environment. You did an excellent job establishing from the beginning that this was a space for growth and learning, where we were all supporting each other's journeys.
How effective was the group coaching in helping you reach your goals?
Extremely effective. The coaching helped me make strategic pivots in my business and affirmed the direction I was heading. I gained fresh perspectives and ideas I wouldn't have considered on my own. During our time together, I reached several milestones and grew both personally and professionally. The experience not only addressed my immediate needs but also equipped me with long-term thinking strategies and highlighted the power of community support.
Do you feel the size of the group was appropriate? (The groups are limited to a maximum of 10 people)
Yes, the intimate group size was perfect. It allowed for meaningful connections and ensured everyone had adequate time to share and receive feedback.
Can you apply what you've learned from the coaching sessions to your business situation?
Absolutely. I've applied many lessons from our sessions, including the value of honest, constructive feedback and trusting my intuition. I learned how personal and professional aspects are interconnected and how that can either help or hinder progress. The practical skills around prioritization and time management have been particularly valuable. As someone with ADHD and anxiety, I appreciated learning how to use these traits as strengths in my business approach.
How would you rate my ability to help you identify and overcome obstacles or discover opportunities? Be honest!
Very highly. You have a remarkable ability to identify what's holding me back and connect the dots between various challenges I'm facing. You provide practical strategies based on her experience and wisdom, which I find incredibly valuable and trustworthy.
How has the coaching influenced your performance within your business?
The coaching significantly boosted my motivation and energy. After each session, I felt inspired to work strategically and intentionally. As an entrepreneur juggling multiple priorities, having this consistent source of motivation and direction was essential for maintaining momentum and focus.
Do you feel more confident in tackling challenges after your group coaching sessions?
Yes, absolutely. While challenges will always exist in business, I now feel equipped to step back, assess what needs to be addressed, and move forward confidently. The coaching expanded my thinking about my business possibilities, making me more confident about tackling whatever comes up.
Can you identify any tangible improvements or achievements since you began coaching sessions?
Several significant improvements stand out:
- Business focus: I pivoted to concentrate on workshops and partnership opportunities, positioning myself for scaling
- Increased activity: I grew from one workshop per month to 3-4 workshops monthly
- Cultural integration: I began meaningfully incorporating my Filipino identity into my business offerings, recognizing this as a unique value proposition
- Enhanced clarity: My client consultations and service offerings became much clearer and more impactful
- Personal growth: A recent trip to the Philippines allowed me to bring new perspectives and experiences into my business
What do you appreciate most or feel is helpful about my approach, so that I can continue to grow in that area?
Your authenticity stands out immediately. As someone who shares similar experiences (being neurodivergent), I felt understood in a way that's rare in professional settings. Your directness was exactly what I needed - it helped me identify challenges and make improvements quickly without getting stuck in overthinking. Your approach validates my own insights while providing honest, respectful feedback that makes me feel truly supported. Your willingness to share her experience and wisdom creates a foundation of trust that makes the coaching incredibly effective.
In what areas do you feel I could improve to help you meet your goals? Are there different offerings that would work better for you?
Honestly, the sessions were excellent as structured. If anything, I'd love more time and opportunities to maintain this type of community connection. Some ideas that could be valuable:
- Longer program duration or follow-up sessions
- Opportunities to connect with participants from other coaching groups to learn from their experiences
- Ways to stay connected with fellow participants in the same field and industry
The current time frame and structure worked well, so these are more about wanting to extend a great thing rather than fixing anything that's broken.
Would you be interested in continuing with group coaching, and if so at what frequency?
Yes, I'd definitely be interested in continuing. The weekly frequency we had felt perfect for maintaining momentum while having time to implement changes between sessions. For ongoing support, quarterly check-ins might work well for reconnecting and resetting, though that might be too infrequent. The weekly rhythm really worked for me.
It was a true pleasure working with Vince, and I'm so pleased to see how he's clarified his vision and is growing his business in the right direction. Be sure to visit Vince's website, if you're in the San Francisco Bay area, be sure to check out his upcoming workshops!
UPCOMING GROUP SESSIONS
I will be guiding 6-week group coaching sessions during the Fall and Winter of 2025 for Horticulture Businesses, such as garden centers, plant shops, garden designers, interiorscapers, landscape install, horticulture therapy, and the like. You may just be working on creating a vision for a new company, trying to get your legs beneath you in a business you already started, or you've been running an existing business but are struggling to achieve the profits you need to be successful and sustainable.
You can also join as Horticulture Career Transitioners. If you're wondering what it would be like to transition into a career in the horticulture industry, are looking for direction on how to start that process and how to get hired, or you're already working in the green industry and want guidance on how to grow your skills and professional advancement, join in!
The 6-week group sessions will run September 30-Nov 4 2025, concurrent with my UCLAx The Business of Horticulture course (you can do both simultaneously for max immersion!) and again January 28-Mar 4, 2026. If sections fill up I will open new groups based on demand so be sure to CONTACT me to get on the wait list for advance notice of when registration opens, or if the group you want is closed. To open an evening group I need a wait list of at least 5 people with such a request so be sure to let me know!
Be sure to sign up for either my Halleck Horticultural (monthly) newsletter or my Plant For Profits business newsletter (weekly) - or both - for updates and open registration access for the groups!
One-on-One Consulting Options
If you'd prefer to work one-on-one with me so we can focus ALL the time you, or you feel you have sensitive topics to discuss that require more privacy, there are many flexible ways to work with me individually. When we work 1:1 you can directly schedule the times that work best for you within my available schedule.
Initial 1:1 Botanical Business Consultation: If we haven't met yet, or it's been a while, you can schedule a one-time 2-hour (or you can break it into two sessions of 90 min + 30 min) session to get started.
Three 1:1 Consulting Sessions Bundle: You can purchase a bundle of three 1-hour sessions that you can schedule whenever is convenient for you, and save some money off the one-time consultation price.
Six 1:1 Consulting Sessions Bundle: If you're ready to commit to more sessions, and want to save a little MORE money, the 6-session bundle gets you my lowest hourly rate for small businesses. Again, you can schedule at your convenience.
6-Week 1:1 Immersive Coaching Program: If you feel you need a more significant commitment and accountability, and you have some serious goals or a project you want to focus on for your creating, launching, growing, or rehabilitating your business, you can dig into a 6-Week immersive program with me. It starts with an additional 1-hour assessment meeting and includes ongoing support and communication from me between our weekly schedule sessions!
12-Month, Monthly Consulting Sessions: I've added this monthly session for those who want to follow up their consultation or coaching with a a consistent check-in. I'll help you stay focused your professional and botanical business goals and keep you on track!
