The Story of Redwood Leader
When you climb into the canopy of a redwood tree, you lose sight of the ground entirely. You're in an undiscovered, unexplored ecosystem, with layers of soil sitting on the limbs and dense thickets of huckleberry bushes rooted in redwood branches at 250 feet. How did THOSE get there? Well, experts believe that the huckleberry seeds blew in on the wind, landing serendipitously in the moisture and nutrient rich soil, providing the perfect environment for them to thrive.
Redwood Leader’s partners met in much the same way - three seasoned professional development leaders brought together by chance to work for an international business advisory firm - each of them bringing their own unique backgrounds and gifts. Shaunna, located in northern California, brought her expertise in human resources and operations. James and Bart, hailing from Kansas City, contributed their exceptional learning and development and career coaching skills, respectively. Together at the firm, they collaborated on leadership development and strategic planning projects for clients in accounting, manufacturing, banking, construction, agriculture, and more.
Over the years their friendships flourished as they enjoyed each other’s professional perspectives, humor and passion for life. Notably, they shared in common a philosophy about helping others to reach their potential.
In 2021 the winds of change blew once again and within months each of them had transitioned to new career opportunities. Toward the end of the year, they reconnected on a video call. Shaunna shared with James and Bart experiences she had while walking through a nearby redwood forest and commented, “You can learn a lot about leadership from redwood trees." She shared how these thoughts had turned into research which she was transforming into a framework for leadership development. The conversation quickly became about the best way to share this valuable information with other individuals and organizations.
In the year that followed, the team of friends collaborated to develop the ECOsystem Leadership Model. The model expertly addresses a pervasive pain point for many of the team's clients by providing a roadmap to bridge the gap between established leaders and emerging talent.
So, here they are, James, Bart, and Shaunna, perched once again in the vibrant canopy of unexplored territory, with a treasure trove of leadership lessons to share. They invite you to join the Redwood Leader community. Let's climb to new heights together, explore new ways of thought and being, and discover the leadership potential within us all.
Connect with us and let's grow and thrive together. Because just like the redwoods, we believe the roots of connection support the most magnificent growth.
