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 where soil collects on branches 250 feet in the air, and huckleberry bushes take root and flourish. How did those get there? Experts say the seeds blew in on the wind, landing in just the right conditions to grow with moisture, nutrients, and time.

​

That’s how Redwood Leader began: seasoned leadership development professionals brought together by timing, chance, and shared values. With roots in Northern California and the Midwest, the founding team brought together expertise in HR, learning and development, career coaching, and organizational strategy. They met while consulting for an international advisory firm, where they partnered on people-centered solutions across industries: banking, agriculture, construction, tech, and more.

​

Beyond professional alignment, what really bonded them was a mutual belief in people: that leadership is less about titles and more about thriving ecosystems. That when people grow, organizations grow. That we rise higher when we rise together.

​

In 2021, new opportunities called but the spark remained. On a catch-up video call, Shaunna shared reflections from a walk through a local redwood forest. “You can learn a lot about leadership from redwood trees,” she said. Her observations had turned into a body of research and that research was becoming a framework. From there, the team got to work.

​

The result was the ECOsystem Leadership Model, a practical, purpose-driven roadmap that helps organizations grow stronger by bridging the gap between established leaders and emerging talent. The model is rooted in what’s real: nature, neuroscience, and lived experience. And it’s already helping workplaces lead with more connection, clarity, and care.

​

Today, Redwood Leader continues to explore the canopy. Still growing, still curious, still grounded in the belief that better leadership starts with better relationships.

​

We invite you to climb with us. Let’s go higher, together.

​

Because just like the redwoods, we believe the roots of connection support the most magnificent growth.