What Nature Taught Me About Leadership

Long before I studied organizational consulting, I was learning to understand complex systems through nature.

My studies in environmental science, sustainable living, and permaculture introduced me to the interconnectedness of living systems. At the Regenerative Design Institute in Bolinas, California, I completed two intensive permaculture design trainings, a nine-month residential program focused on regenerative design, nature awareness, sustainable living, and community building, and a six-month Ecology of Leadership course centered on self-discovery and conflict resolution.

I also studied animal tracking, bird language, nature awareness, ecological design, natural building, farming, and wildcrafting, learning from educators including renowned nature mentor and tracker Jon Young, permaculture designer Penny Livingston-Stark, and James Stark.

Learning to track wildlife changed the way I observe the world. A footprint, a shift in birdsong, or an unexpected silence can reveal something about what's happening in the surrounding environment. But noticing those signals requires slowing down, questioning assumptions, and understanding how different elements influence one another.

My artistic pursuits have shaped how I see the world, too. After I graduated high school, I spent my freshman year in art school studying drawing and painting, learning to observe closely and notice subtle details. I've worked with ceramics on and off since childhood, practiced glassblowing throughout my late teens and early 20s, and have also worked with metal, wood, basket weaving, and other traditional Indigenous crafts. Working with different materials taught me patience, precision, and adaptability. Glassblowing, in particular, demanded an awareness of timing and cause and effect, knowing when to act quickly, when to make a subtle adjustment, and when to step back. Across these disciplines, I learned that even small actions can have significant consequences, and that the best results often come from balancing intention with responsiveness.

Nature taught me that what we see on the surface is often only part of the story.

I began recognizing the same principles in human relationships and communities. People influence one another, often without realizing it. Environments shape behavior. Small changes can create ripple effects throughout a system.

My studies in nonviolent communication, conflict reconciliation, consensus decision-making, and community building deepened that understanding. Through ecovillage living and training in nonviolent approaches to conflict, I explored what happens when people with different needs, beliefs, and perspectives must find ways to make decisions and move forward together.

More recently, my studies in somatic approaches and Brainspotting have added another dimension to how I understand the relationship between our internal experiences, nervous systems, and responses to stress.

That perspective now informs my work with leaders and organizations.

I pay attention to what's being said and what's left unsaid, the patterns that keep repeating, and the conditions that may be reinforcing them.

Sometimes what looks like an individual's performance problem is actually a problem with unclear expectations, competing priorities, or an environment that makes success unnecessarily difficult.

Sometimes the most effective way to change an outcome isn't to push an individual harder. It's to change the conditions in which they're trying to succeed.

From Understanding to Action

I believe the problem we can see isn't always the problem we need to solve.

A team struggling with accountability may lack clear decision-making agreements. A manager who avoids giving feedback may be unintentionally allowing problems to escalate. A leader's response to disagreement may be discouraging employees from sharing information the organization needs.

These aren't simply interpersonal challenges. They can affect productivity, employee engagement, retention, and an organization's ability to execute its strategy.

My work brings together executive coaching, emotional intelligence, behavior change, team development, and organizational systems thinking to identify what's keeping a challenge in place.

And while I value deep reflection, insight is only the beginning.

The work becomes meaningful when difficult conversations finally happen, decisions move forward, responsibilities become clearer, and teams spend less time navigating friction and more time accomplishing what matters.