Influential Woman · Nature positive solutions for invasive species control

Pam Marrone

Co-founder & Executive Chair, Invasive Species Corporation

Davis, CA

4Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Bachelor's in Entomology at Cornell University Degree PhD in Entomology from North Carolina State University Member National Academy of Engineering Member National Inventors Hall of Fame

Her Story

About Pam

I've been in the field of nature positive solutions for invasive species control since 1983. As co-founder and executive chair, my key responsibilities include raising money, overseeing strategy and operations. Throughout my career, my most notable achievement has been developing and launching products, two of which are leading products in their categories. I hold 400 patents and 82 U.S. patents, which contributed to my induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Another significant milestone was having the first product in the garden section in Walmart stores in 2003 that was listed for organic gardening. My inspiration came from growing up in southern Connecticut in the woods, being out in nature all the time. My mom was an organic gardener, and from a very young age I wanted to learn how to control pests without toxic chemicals. I attribute my success to a combination of science and business acumen, persistence, resilience, and unlimited energy.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Pam

01What do you attribute your success to?

I attribute my success to a combination of science and business acumen, along with persistence, resilience, and unlimited energy. These qualities have helped me navigate the challenges of developing and launching leading products in my field, and have been essential throughout my entrepreneurial career.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

We had some challenges at my last company, and there was one particularly challenging time. The best advice I got was don't take things so personally, and everybody's just trying to do what they think is right, even though it might be the opposite of what you're doing, what you think. This advice really helped me navigate difficult situations and understand different perspectives.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

There's lots of problems still to solve, but it's getting quite crowded, so they would need to come up with an idea and a plan that shows that they have something that's differentiated from others in the market, and they feel a true unmet need that provides a return on investment for their farmer customer.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

There are many big challenges in my field. Invasive species cause $500 billion in economic and environmental damage every year, so there's no end of unmet needs and things to work on, which is good for us. But it's a very challenging time right now to raise venture capital - it's like one of the worst I've seen. We need money, and raising money is always the big challenge.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I would say doing things that are soft on the planet is most important to me. I'm very green and worry about the sustainability of things, so sustainability is a core value. Some of my other core values would be teamwork, integrity, innovation, resilience, and agility.

Keep Exploring