Meet Stephanie Robinson, My Green Lab's Business Development Manager

We’re thrilled to introduce you to Stephanie Robinson, My Green Lab's Business Development Manager! Born and raised in sunny South Florida and currently residing in Raleigh, North Carolina, Stephanie grew up in and around nature, appreciating its beauty from a young age and inspiring her to dedicate her career to preserving and protecting the environment.

Stephanie also spent 5 years living in New Zealand with her Kiwi fiancé and is grateful to call both the United States and New Zealand home.

Read on to learn more about Stephanie and her sustainability journey!

Please tell us a little bit about yourself & your background.

I am originally from Fort Lauderdale, FL. I went to college at Florida State University for my Bachelor’s in Biology, and then moved South (very South) to New Zealand to attend the University of Auckland for my Master’s in Chemistry. I was immediately intrigued with the field of Green Chemistry, so I decided to focus my thesis on constructing heterocycles from biomass-derived precursors. Luckily, I worked a lot with vanillin and eugenol, so I was always surrounded by aromas of vanilla and clove.

What is your role at My Green Lab?

I am the Business Development Manager for My Green Lab. Specifically, my role involves growing our Green Lab Certification Program, expanding our sponsorship portfolio, and building relationships across the life sciences industry. Without a doubt, the most rewarding aspect of this position is being a part of such a driven organization with amazing people.

Stephanie and her family

What inspires you to do the kind of work you do?

While growing up in Fort Lauderdale, my dad was the manager of a state park. We lived onsite in a wooden house built on stilts, so I always say that I grew up in a treehouse. The nature of having a park ranger as a dad meant he was always introducing me to new species of trees, bringing injured wildlife home to rehabilitate and then release, and taking me on late night golfcart rides to see the Night Blooming Orchids (this crazy flower that only blooms once a year then dies when the sun rises the next morning – Google it!). He taught me from a young age to appreciate the beauty of nature, so I would say that ever since my childhood, I knew I wanted to dedicate my career to preserving and protecting the environment.

What are your personal sustainability goals?

For me personally, sustainability is all about continuous improvement and learning. In the last few years of my life, I’ve prioritized learning the local regulations for whatever city I’m in to ensure proper recycling methods. I’ve also worked diligently to reduce my household’s reliance on plastic and on meat. In fact, it’s become an exciting challenge to take on, always aiming to create a better vegetarian meal than the last one.

What are your hobbies outside of work?

I’m a fish out of water and have always been drawn to the ocean. I grew up surfing, diving, and enjoy spending my free time on the water. I have a 2 year old hound dog who is always up for an adventure, so my weekends are often spent hiking, picnicking, or just strolling to the local coffee shop with him.

Surfing Cloudbreak in Fiji. A bucket list item and a dream come true for Stephanie!

What are your favorite books / movies? 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople is one of my all-time favorite movies. I also love cheesy Christmas movies, so The Holiday and About Time play in my house a few times every year.

​My favorite way to wind down in the evenings is with a good book. I read a lot, so it’s tough to choose just one, but I love recommending the book ‘Bula’ by Brian Carson. It’s a true story about a man who sails across the Pacific Ocean and documents his adventures and challenges along the way. The book was given to me when I was on a surfing trip down in Puerto Rico. The rule was that once I finished it, I had to pass it on to someone else. Thanks to social media, I was able to watch as the book made its way around the world, being passed to individuals as they carried it with them on their travels. That book will always hold a special place in my heart.