There is no track record for running a business during the COVID-19 pandemic— meaning the path forward was driven by instinct and best guesses. And in that environment, Growcentia Inc.’s CEO Scott J. Wiley forged an aggressive path of growth and expansion.
“The pandemic and related challenges have and will continue to press leaders into new and uncharted territory,” Wiley said. “There are no maps. There is no compass. There is no certainty. The leadership lesson I learned and will continue to apply is trusting yourself, committing to your decisions, and resisting the temptation to abandon either.”
Wiley is particularly proud of how the agriculture biotech company overcame the challenges of the pandemic and supply chain woes to hit growth and profitability numbers that outpaced the competition. “Since our competitors faced the same environment, it became clear that if our company could navigate supply chain and market disruptions and recruit talent better than them, we could capture market share and continue to propel growth,” he said. “Growcentia did precisely that.”
During 2021, the company maintained industry-leading service levels of 98%+, which required supply chain and production planning and logistics redundancy to introduce new products and fulfill orders for 1,200-plus retail customers in North America, Europe and Australia, Wiley said. The company also recruited three new members to its executive team, added nine members to the management team and entered the home garden market. These initiatives helped Growcentia reach industry-leading revenue growth, margins and EBITDA while some of its competitors saw declines in those areas.
Part of the reason for that success was the company’s aggressive approach during the pandemic and other challenges. Rather than circling the wagons and sitting tight, Growcentia launched four new products and each one surpassed revenue projections, setting the table for more growth in 2022. The company developed new technology, prompting three provisional patent applications, and negotiated a long-term lease for a new headquarters in Loveland. In 2022, the company plans to launch four to eight new products, enter the Canadian market and offer new products in Australia.
“The pandemic and related challenges have and will continue to press leaders into new and uncharted territory,” Wiley said. “There are no maps. There is no compass. There is no certainty. The leadership lesson I learned and will continue to apply is trusting yourself, committing to your decisions, and resisting the temptation to abandon either.”
Wiley participates in Biz West’s life sciences CEO roundtable and titan 100 boardroom meetings. He speaks at conferences and on discussion panels at industry gatherings and studies the industry intensely. He has chaired the soil and crop sciences department’s Industry Advisory Board at Colorado State University for nearly five years.
This is Wiley’s second time being named to the titan 100. “The recognition of impactful action and results is gratifying,” Wiley said. “The greatest value of the titan platform for me is networking and corresponding with fellow titans. My fellow titans’ brain trust, creativity, courage and vision is inspiring and provides insights into leadership, problem solving, character and fortitude.”
