Solutions 8 Director of Operations Leandra Grenier-Green Talks Home Ownership, Healthy Living, and Horticulture

For many of us, it can be difficult to conjure up a happy memory from 2020. Still, Solutions 8 Client Manager Leandra Grenier-Green can look back and find a bright spot in an otherwise dark period of time.

At the beginning of the year, she and her partner Dave bought a house. And though she recalls moving in during that first week of lockdown was a “very stressful experience,” Leandra is thankful to have turned their house into a home, complete with a personal office for her new work-from-home life.

We’re thankful too, since that office is where she shines as a client manager.

Day after day, you can find Leandra working with Solutions 8 clients and helping them navigate the complex world of Google Ads. She says the best part about her job is delivering amazing results to clients and shocking them with how far their money went. On the other hand, it can be challenging to ensure everyone’s expectations are on the same page so that we can work toward meeting (and exceeding) our clients’ goals.

But not to worry—Leandra says one of the personality traits that makes her so good at her job is that she loves figuring out problems and finding solutions. She’s also super organized and likes the satisfaction of crossing things off her to-do list, which makes her a perfect fit for her current role.

Growing up, Leandra had dreams of becoming a veterinarian.

But even though it didn’t work out, she says her father-in-law owns a group of veterinary clinics in Ontario (Canada), and she manages his Google Ads campaigns.

“That’s as close as I will get!” she told me. Which is perfectly fine with us, since we’d rather have her here at Solutions 8.

Though born in Kansas when her dad was stationed there while in the military, Leandra says she never lived in the United States but maintains dual citizenship. Both of her parents are Canadian, and she grew up (and currently lives) in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

She lives with her partner Dave and their two four-legged family members, Zarra and Betty. Zarra is a 7-year-old brindle boxer and Betty is a brindle mix-breed rescue puppy.

So adorable!

When she’s not at work, Leandra loves staying active.

In the summer, you can find her at a crossfit class, taking long walks with the pups, or going for a run (her goal this year is to run over 500km) — running in a big race like a triathlon is on her bucket list. In the winter, she enjoys cross country skiing and snowboarding in the mountains.

“I am really grateful for my health,” Leandra told me. “I think health is one of the most important assets and I value it so much; I try to take good care of myself so that I can be capable and strong for a long time.”

She also loves to travel and said she’s been fortunate enough to visit many places over the years. Leandra once lived in a small town in Arctic Norway for six months (and absolutely loved it), and more recently she traveled around Peru and Europe (where she got to check out Oktoberfest in Germany). Oh, and she also went skydiving and bungee jumping while traveling in New Zealand, but says once was enough for both experiences!

The future looks bright.

She dreams of someday living on an acreage with space to garden, raise her dogs, and enjoy nature. Considering how smart she is with her money, it’s a good bet she’ll do just that.

“I am crazy diligent with budgeting and NEVER having credit card debt,” she told me when I asked where she’d be most likely to max out her credit card. ” That said, as a new homeowner, I spend a lot of money at Home Depot. There is always some kind of home improvement purchase to be made and I seem to always buy new plants there.”

She told me that during quarantine she went from owning “one sad, dying cactus” to owning a house full of flourishing plants. “They light up my life and make me happy,” says Leandra.

And finally, some of the best travel advice you’ll ever receive.

When I asked Leandra what is the one thing she absolutely can’t travel without (besides her phone, computer, tablet, etc.) she told me this:

“I have travelled a lot and lived for months on end with whatever could fit in my backpack. The most important thing is a black T-shirt. They can be dressed up, dressed down, and look clean and wrinkle-free even though it may not have been cleaned in weeks.”

Amen to that. Looking forward to the day when we can all travel safely again!