the Wond'ry

Rosemary is a 15-year veteran of the senior living business, most recently serving as VP of Strategic Projects for Brookdale Senior Living.  She started her career in marketing but spent most of her time in operations, acquisitions, launching new business lines and building systems.  She holds an MBA from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University and a BA in Sociology/Pre-Med from Northwestern University.  Active in Nashville’s non-profit scene, she currently sits on the board of the Belcourt Theatre and volunteers at Monroe Harding Children’s Home.

Q. What excites you most about the Wond’ry?

A. The opportunity for young people to put their ideas in motion, learn to work in productive teams and experience the highs and lows of creating something meaningful. These kids are less likely to graduate with a habit of saying, “Just tell me what to do” and will have more patience for the process of launching something new.

Q. What do you feel are the most important skills you have to offer in your role as a mentor?

A. I can instruct the students on the importance of starting with the end in mind, iterative development, constant user feedback and defining a unique selling proposition. I can also help them clarify the roles of team members to get the most out of the whole team and match functions with strengths and styles.

Q. What has been your proudest moment in your career?

A. Leading a large team on a four-year project to develop a staffing model to manage $750M in annual labor for a diverse portfolio of 650 retirement communities. It saved the company $30M/year, shortened the budget process, and ensured the communities had the right labor to serve their specific resident populations.

Q. What has surprised you about your job?

A. That I am one of few people who likes to take on an assignment they have no background or experience in. I thrive on learning and get bored once I master something, while most people master something and want to do it the rest of their lives.  I also was surprised how many people worked hard for me when I wasn’t technically their boss.

Q. If you could do everything over again, would you make the same career choices?

A. Yes, I would because I was able to make a meaningful contribution to the company I helped build and set myself up to do what I want in my next chapter.

Q. In your opinion, what is the most important quality for success?

A. A willingness to get your hands dirty!

Q.  A willingness to get your hands dirty!

A. I wanted to open an ice-cream store for cats.