BrownHEN interviewed Steve Glenn, Brown '87, CEO of Living Homes, Santa Monica, CA.
1. Steve, you have worked for several startups, a nonprofit (the Clinton AIDS initiative), and now a for-profit company with a strong social mission. What are some of the important differences in working at these enterprises with somewhat different missions?
With a for-profit entity, I have fiduciary reasons to create shareholder value. I have to think about creating lasting value on a sustained basis. For a nonprofit, I like to think of shareholder responsibility and ask what are our key metrics, what we need to measure ourselves against, how they further our mission and how relevant is our mission over time.
2. Besides being environmentally responsible your houses are beautiful, and so is your website. Please comment on the importance of aesthetics in a product design, especially for a startup with many constraints.
One of the lessons we learned about houses built in the 1970s was that they were not commercially viable for people who wanted to have a comfortable home, but also one that fit their lifestyle needs and one that they could feel proud of. So we aim to build something that not only looks greats, but also works well. We integrate form with functionality.
3. You have traveled to countries in the Far East and in Africa where much of the housing is substandard. Do you have plans to eventually extend the Living Homes concept to the Third World?
I would love to do that. But first, we will start by creating affordable housing in the U.S. and expand. It is a challenge to implement an extremely comprehensive environmental program and at a low cost. Right now a lot of the materials and energy systems and fixtures that we use do cost more money. Over time as we complete more homes and as others complete more home, prices should come down.
4. You work with several architects. Do you not have in-house architects?
We work with world-class architects and design teams, and we also have three in-house architects who deal with the process.
5. What are some of the challenges you have faced as CEO of Living Homes?
First, starting a company is never easy although I did have experience with startups. I had no background in home building so my learning curves were steep. We’re trying to do something with modular homes, and we haven’t done this before and the learning curves also exist there. I enjoy the process, from concept ideation to implementation. I enjoy the challenge of wedding profit to purpose while creating an environmental impact.
6. What are the top five qualities you would ascribe to an entrepreneur?
• Vision
• Persistence
• Self-awareness
• Energy to move things along, to lead
• Confidence
7. Would you speak about fear as a motivation or hindrance toward accomplishment? How has that played a factor in your path, if at all?
I probably don’t use fear as a factor. I do view insecurity as an important check and even a source of motivation. I have compared notes with many entrepreneurs. When they face a crisis / a disaster, they learn to move through these cycles and glean lessons that can help them turn adversity into opportunities.
8. As you know, the entrepreneur’s path is filled with trials and errors, and also failures. What’s a valuable insight for entrepreneurs to keep in mind when they’re experiencing setbacks?
Persistence pays. It’s often been said that every great business has died almost twice—failures both within the business and within you along the way. You fail to make decision, you fail to get out on time, etc.—all are inexorable parts of what makes a great entrepreneur.
9. What is the latest insight (about life, work, play) that you picked up and would like to share with BrownHEN?
I heard Paul Hawken speak about the ecology of commerce, natural resource and sustainability. I try to think a lot about everyday things that I am doing, and how helpful are they.
10. Are you thinking of creating a Lego-like toy focused on home architecture?
I’ve thought about it.
•••••••••••
Editor's Note: In 2006, the USGBC LEED for Homes Program Awarded LivingHomes the First-Ever Platinum Rating in Residential Sustainable Design.
•••••••••••
© BrownHEN.org – 2008
Comments