Ideas Worth Bringing Home
When you stop by our showroom next week and talk with senior designer Kelly Trotz about your kitchen, or call and speak with assistant designer Jenny Rawal as she answers the main phone line, you’ll be talking with someone who recently spent two days learning from some of the world’s most respected leadership thinkers.
The same is true if you meet with VP of Operations Rick Windgassen to discuss removing a wall, chat with warehouse manager Gerik Wozniak as he delivers your tile, or work with anyone else on our team. They were in the room as business leadership authority Jim Collins reflected on what gives a life lasting meaning, researcher Arthur C. Brooks explored the difference between genuine happiness and the versions we often see portrayed online, and other internationally recognized speakers shared ideas about leadership, communication, resilience, and personal growth.
Those conversations took place at the 2026 Global Leadership Summit, and once again, Drury Design gave every member of our team the opportunity to attend.
Why? Because designing and remodeling homes is ultimately a people business.
Every project depends on clear communication, thoughtful collaboration, creative problem-solving, trust, and a commitment to continual learning. Technical expertise matters, but so do empathy, curiosity, humility, and the ability to keep growing. Investing in those qualities helps us become better teammates for one another and better partners for the homeowners who invite us into their lives.
The speakers have left the stage, but the conversations are just getting started. We know many of our readers enjoy a great idea as much as we do, so we thought we’d pass along a few of the insights our team brought home from this year’s Global Leadership Summit.
“Lend someone your confidence until they believe in their own.”
– Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, Wonder Project CEO, former Netflix and YouTube executive
Context: In a session about vision, leadership, and earning the trust of others, Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten encouraged attendees to “lend someone your confidence” until they believe in themselves. Samantha immediately connected the idea to guiding homeowners through the uncertainty that naturally comes with remodeling.
“Nobody gets to the top of the mountain by themselves.”
– Alison Levine, Team Captain of the first American women’s Mt. Everest Expedition.
Context: Alison Levine spoke about the trust, communication, and teamwork required to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Alicia saw a clear parallel to remodeling, where designers, homeowners, craftspeople, and project managers all play an essential role in a successful outcome.
“If you change your perspective and your goals, you will change your life and destiny.”
– Julio García, cofounder and CEO of Ambriza Social Mexican Kitchen
Context: Julio García challenged attendees to see perspective as a choice that shapes the future. That resonated with Basia, who knows that whether you’re redesigning a home or pursuing a new direction, positive change begins by imagining what’s possible.
“You cannot have uphill success with downhill habits.”
– John Maxwell, Leadership guru
Context: Priscilla Shirer used this John Maxwell quote to illustrate how our daily habits ultimately shape our future. Jenita connected that message to the steady learning and continual improvement that help every designer grow.
Jenita Rawal, Assistant Designer
“The greatest leaders are happiness teachers.”
– Arthur C. Brooks, Researcher, Author
Context: Arthur C. Brooks challenged attendees to think differently about leadership, suggesting that the best leaders help others flourish rather than simply manage them. Amanda, a designer with City Design, Drury Design’s sister company in Des Moines, appreciated how that philosophy extends to design, where listening well and helping clients create spaces that support happier lives can be just as important as the finished project itself.
Amanda Beaumier, City Design Designer
“Great leaders cannot predict the future but they recognize the patterns that are creating it.”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor Life.Church
Context: Craig Groeschel encouraged attendees to look beyond today’s challenges and recognize the patterns that are shaping tomorrow – good or bad. Emily, Director of City Design, Drury Design’s sister company in Des Moines, appreciated how that mindset applies to the design industry, where spotting emerging trends early often leads to better decisions long before they become the obvious standard.
Emily Tomek, City Design Designer Director
“Inability to lead by example is an inability to lead.”
– Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor Life.Church
Context: Craig Groeschel challenged leaders to recognize that influence comes from example, not authority. Rick connected that message to his role in operations, where consistency, accountability, and a willingness to pitch in help shape the culture of the entire team.
Rick Windgassen, VP Operations
“A.I. is all ‘how to’ and ‘what,’ but humans need ‘why.’ Half our brain is dedicated to it.”
– Arthur C. Brooks, Researcher, Author
Context: Arthur C. Brooks explored the growing role of artificial intelligence, noting that while AI excels at answering how and what, people are uniquely driven by why. Carl appreciated the reminder that even as technology continues to transform business, purpose and human judgment remain essential.
Carl Schanstra, CFO
“ ‘I like you’ are the three most powerful words you can gift.”
– Vanessa Van Edwards, Behavioral Researcher, Author
Context: Vanessa Van Edwards encouraged attendees to think about the powerful impact of helping others feel genuinely appreciated. Keri connected that message to her role as an assistant designer, where building trust and creating positive relationships are just as important as technical expertise.
Keri Rogers, Assistant Designer
“Freedom is not the absence of responsibilities. Freedom is being able to choose your responsibilities.”
– Jim Collins, Researcher, Author
Context: Jim Collins encouraged attendees to think of freedom not as escaping responsibility, but as having the opportunity to choose meaningful responsibilities. As both a designer and business owner, Gladys connected that idea to the privilege of leading a team and serving homeowners in work she finds deeply rewarding.
“If you want to change how people respond to you, you have to change how you respond to people.”
– Vanessa Van Edwards, Behavioral Researcher, Author
Context: Vanessa Van Edwards encouraged attendees to focus less on changing other people and more on changing the way they engage with them. Lauren appreciated how that mindset applies to working with homeowners, where empathy, thoughtful communication, and genuine curiosity often shape the relationship as much as the design itself.
“Most of your biggest decisions in life will be made before you are ready.”
– Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten, former Netflix and YouTube executive
Context: Kelly Merryman Hoogstraten reminded attendees that many of life’s biggest decisions arrive before we feel fully prepared for them. Kelly connected that idea to both life and design, recognizing that important decisions are often inevitable — and delaying them rarely makes them any easier.
“Help others feel they have impact.”
– Vanessa Van Edwards, Behavioral Researcher, Author
Context: Vanessa Van Edwards encouraged attendees to create environments where people feel that their contributions truly matter. Chloe appreciated the reminder that leadership begins with character, and that helping others recognize the impact they have is one of the most meaningful ways to build a stronger team.
Chloe Podewell, Design Intern
“Backing up is not the same as backing down.”
– Alison Levine, Team Captain of the first American women’s Mt. Everest Expedition.
Context: Alison Levine explained that climbers don’t reach the summit of Mount Everest in one continuous ascent. Instead, they repeatedly return to base camp between climbs, allowing their bodies to acclimate before moving higher. Jennifer, one of Drury Design’s newest team members, appreciated the reminder that taking time to build a strong foundation isn’t falling behind — it’s an essential part of reaching your full potential.
Jennifer Sauer, Assistant Designer
“The path out of the fog lies in a series of small steps.”
– Jim Collins, Researcher, Author
Context: Jim Collins described life’s uncertain seasons as “the fog,” encouraging attendees to resist waiting for perfect clarity. Instead, he advocated taking a series of small, iterative steps that gradually reveal the path forward. Doug appreciated the reminder that meaningful progress often begins with one thoughtful step rather than one dramatic leap.
Doug Beneda, Controller
“Don’t underestimate good old-fashioned work ethic.”
– Priscilla Shirer, Cofounder, Minister, Author
Context: Priscilla Shirer illustrated the value of patient, consistent effort by comparing personal growth to a well-tended sourdough starter, which develops over time through care and attention. Amanda appreciated the reminder that trust, reliability, and lasting success are built the same way — through steady habits rather than shortcuts.
Amanda Duran, Assistant Designer
“Even the most exceptional people can get sidetracked by going out of frame. They can also be revitalized by coming back in frame.”
– Jim Collins, Researcher, Author
Context: Jim Collins introduced the idea of living “in frame” by focusing on the activities most closely aligned with our unique strengths and purpose. Gerik was reminded of the stunning images from the James Webb Space Telescope, where changing the frame reveals an entirely different perspective. He appreciated the reminder that where we choose to focus shapes what we discover.
Gerik Wozniak, Warehouse Manager
“What would the next leader do?”
– Andy Stanley, Pastor of North Point Ministries, Author
Context: Andy Stanley encouraged leaders to consider what the person who eventually replaces them might see that they perhaps can’t see. Joe appreciated the challenge to question familiar assumptions and recognize where experience, habits, or limited perspective might be keeping a role — or an organization — from moving forward.
Joe Coffey, Director of Marketing & Sales
“If you don’t paint a picture of their future with you, they will paint one without you.”
– Ryan Leak, Executive Coach, Author
Context: Ryan Leak challenged leaders to be intentional about communicating a shared vision for the future. Mea connected that idea to the importance of making people feel welcomed, valued, and excited to be part of something bigger than themselves.
Mea Schanstra, Team Support
Every member of our team came away with different ideas, but they all shared a common purpose: becoming a little better at what they do and how they serve others. We hope a few of these insights gave you something to think about as well. Thanks for joining us — and here’s to putting a few of these ideas into practice together.