Heather Watson is currently doing some fascinating things at Hancock Forest Management that you might not have heard of before. Although she is an Outreach and Education Forester at Hancock Forest Management, the roles she plays are very non-traditional. Heather works with the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, to help develop forestry jobs and education programs for the people. Heather overseas several education programs for the tribe, and is even apart of an ecotherapy program, which we will learn more about on today’s episode.
Key Takeaways:
[3:05] How did Heather get started?
[4:50] How has Heather’s role at Hancock Forest Management evolved into what it is today?
[6:40] What is ecotherapy?
[13:15] Heather feels like the rest of the world needs to know how beautiful and amazing this profession is.
[15:25] What are some good principles of leadership?
[16:45] Heather talks about the mentors throughout her career.
[18:40] What has Heather learned about trust?
[20:40] Heather is an outsider to Native American land owners. Has there been any conflict from that?
[21:15] There are 3,000 tribe members. There are high opportunities for them to distrust, based off of U.S. history alone.
[23:50] You have to be willing to form relationships, and put yourself out there.
[30:00] You also have to have a real interest in other people, and take that step by step. Little actions turn into big results over time.
[32:30] What advice does Heather have for new leaders?
[34:25] What other resources does Heather recommend, to become a better and more patient leader?
[36:15] Are leaders born or made? Heather believes it’s never one or the other.
[38:50] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Dr. Steve Bullard is the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Stephen F. Austin State University. He has both a B.S. in Forestry as well as an M.S. in Forest Management-Economics. In 1983, Dr. Bullard earned his Ph.D. in Forest Management-Economics at Virginia Polytechnic. On this week’s episode, Dr. Bullard shares timeless examples of what makes up a true leader, and how you can use your strengths in forestry.
Key Takeaways:
[3:30] How did Dr. Bullard get involved with forestry?
[6:05] What was Dr. Bullard’s first forestry job or task?
[11:00] The need for foresters to improve their people skills is growing.
[12:25] Industry experts have been saying the same things for decades now!
[17:10] When did Dr. Bullard get excited about leadership and developing his people’s skills?
[22:50] Employers are seeking more and more team-players in the industry.
[25:00] We have more opportunities in forestry than we did years before.
[27:15] According to the author Bruce Tulgan, people are hired by their hard skills, but they’re fired by their soft skills.
[31:20] People will follow you because they believe what you be believe.
[35:45] Dr. Bullard read the book ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ three times before he fully understood, and could use, the knowledge inside it.
[37:35] How do you start a movement?
[39:25] Where does the idea of ‘learning the hard way’ fit into all of this?
[48:40] Are leaders born, or made?
[52:05] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
The Power of Introverts ― TED Talk
Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, by Susan Cain
Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone To Take Action, by Simon Sinek
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, by Stephen R. Covey
Steve McMullin has been learning, practicing, and teaching leadership and natural resources throughout his 40-year career. Steve began his career as a Fisheries Biologist in Montana. After rising up in the ranks in Montana state, Steve left, mid-career, and joined Virginia Tech to earn his PhD, which is where he stayed for the last 23 years. Steve is now a Professor Emeritus at Virginia Tech, where he used to teach students courses on leadership. According to Steve, there are two important skills he wishes every young or emerging leader to develop. Find out what those are, on this week’s episode!
Key Takeaways:
[2:55] What first got Steve interested in wildlife and natural resources?
[5:15] What are some of the key differences between a younger student and mid-career professional learning about leadership?
[6:40] How can our youth get involved with the department of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech?
[12:00] Steve is not aware of any other program that is as extensive as Virginia Tech’s program for undergraduates.
[14:50] What are some of the main things Steve tried to get his students to learn from the college program?
[15:45] There are two important factors to know, in order to be an effective leader.
[18:00] Don’t let who you are, or your personality type, limit you.
[20:45] Don’t waste your time taking a 4-hour personality type, Myer & Briggs-esque, course.
[22:50] All confidence and no skill is a bad look for a leader.
[24:05] You don’t have to be an outgoing and extroverted person to be an effective leader.
[26:50] How does someone learn leadership skills if they aren’t exposed to a program like the one at Virginia Tech?
[31:20] Keep reading leadership books!
[34:35] You can also learn a lot about leadership from volunteering!
[41:35] Remember, we’re in the people business too.
[43:15] Steve recommends the book, Grit, by Angela Duckworth.
[48:00] Are leaders born or made?
[50:55] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode: