What's in a name? A famous Shakespearean line from perhaps his most famous play, Romeo and Juliet.
Azolla is an aquatic plant that is small and unassuming. Despite this it played a significant role in paving the way for terrestrial life on Earth during the Eocene epoch through the creation of atmosphere that allowed animals to be present.
It achieved this through a nepheloid layer in the North Pole, whereby fresh water is layered over the top of salt water. This fresh water layer was not very deep but it was deep enough for Azolla to grow successfully, thrive and cover the area of the waterbody it inhabited.
Any other plant would not have the same significance in our history. Azolla has the ability to produce its own nitrogen and is therefore not limited like other plants that rely on nitrogen being in the soil in order to grow.
It's also very productive, being able to double its biomass in 3-10 days depending on growing conditions, such as the amount of sunlight available.
In fact it is considered a super plant. This small and insignificant looking plant is unstoppable.
The role it played in shifting the world's climate to what we know today was so significant it has even been recognised in science and is called, the Azolla event.
Azolla is a change maker.
And here in lies the analogy for what we do as a business management consulting firm.
We work with our clients to create their own Azolla event. Instead of sunlight, water, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, we use strategy, innovation, optimisation and leadership. Integrated and aligned, together they create the conditions for growth and change in any organisation.
This tiny aquatic plant reminds us that something so small and seemingly insignificant can have a massive and lasting impact. An effective strategy or innovation may start small but it can have significant and lasting effects on an organisation, a community or even the world. This is what we strive for with our clients - lasting impact.
And now you know why we are called Azolla.
About Marion
Marion is a highly experienced and accomplished strategy, innovation and leadership professional with a focus on the enterprise and government sectors. She is a trusted advisor to CEOs and senior executives, providing practical and pragmatic solutions to the challenges they face. Marion is the Managing Director at Azolla Holdings Pty Ltd, a Board member, thought leader and member of an international entrepreneur association.