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The Leadership Nature Podcast

The Leadership Nature Podcast features one-on-one interviews with diverse leaders from across the forestry and natural resources nation, and it is intended to spread the seeds of leadership insights, lessons learned and personal advice from experienced leaders to current and future generations of natural resource leaders. Each episode also includes a leadership tip of the week from the interviewer.
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Now displaying: May, 2017
May 31, 2017

Anne Heissenbuttel is a partner at Heissenbuttel Natural Resources Consulting. Anne’s career includes over 10 years of field forestry experience in California and more than 30 years of specializing in forest policy on both a state and the federal level. In this episode, Anne talks about the difference between field forestry work and working in policy. Anne spoke about the various ways in which you measure progress, as you transition from different positions throughout your career. A question she often asks others is, “I know what you are against, but what are you for?” to help keep people focused on the main mission at hand.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:50] How did get Anne get started in forestry?

[8:45] Anne was the 6th woman in California to have a forester’s license.

[11:00] Anne’s boss was not happy that he had a woman working for him. He thought women didn’t belong in the woods.

[16:10] How did Anne transition from the woods into policy?

[20:55] What advice does Anne have for those who are in a transition right now?

[22:50] Anne talks about some of her mentors and the roles they’ve had on her life.

[32:20] Humor plays an important role in the workplace, but the lines between what’s appropriate vs. inappropriate can get crossed quickly.

[34:55] What’s it like, working policy in Washington, D.C.?

[41:25] What was the most fun job Anne has had over the years?

[43:20] What is Anne most proud of?

[47:55] Anne discusses where she believes the profession is headed, and the skillsets new foresters will need to know when entering into the workforce.

[54:15] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Stateconservation.org

And the Good News Is... by Dana Perino

May 24, 2017

Nadine Block is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Public Affairs at the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, a nonprofit based out of Washington, D.C. On this week’s episode, Nadine talks about why she got involved in forest policy, and the three pillars of sustainability. She also discusses diversity in forestry and how capable women in forestry tend to under-qualify themselves and pass up on new positions.

 

Key Takeaways:

[2:40] How did Nadine get into forestry?

[4:55] What is a career in forest policy like, and how can someone get started in it?

[5:50] Nadine’s work not only focuses on the forests and the environmental aspects of the job, but also on what it means for the communities that are involved, and how we can continue to educate our youth.

[7:40] What is Nadine most proud of so far?

[11:55] Don’t be afraid to ask for help! People want to help!

[12:10] Nadine discusses the mentors she’s had throughout her career, and the impact they’ve had on her.

[17:20] According to Sheryl Sandberg, women hold themselves back on promotion opportunities.

[21:15] Take a leap and cast a wider net. Your ability to overcome adversity and challenges will often surprise you.

[22:30] Has Nadine ever witnessed other women being held back, in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways?

[28:25] Although Nadine has been out of forestry school for some time, she has noticed that forestry schools have extensive talks and discussions about diversity in the workforce.

[33:15] Nadine recommends two books that have inspired her.

[38:10] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Season 1 | Episode 5: Dr. Paul Winistorfer on The Leadership Nature Podcast

Sfiprogram.org

Nadine on LinkedIn

Lean In, by Sheryl Sandberg

Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown

May 10, 2017

Christa Rogers is the Natural Resources Manager for Mecklenburg County in Charlotte, North Carolina. At her location, she manages a staff of 12, and nearly eight acres of natural preserve. Christa discusses on the show that it can be easy to get pigeonholed into traditional gender roles as a woman, especially when you’re sitting in an office. There are times where it’s necessary to do the paperwork, but Christa believes it’s important to get out of your comfort zone and excel in other, and much tougher, positions.

 

Key Takeaways:

[3:40] How did Christa get started in forestry?

[8:00] What lessons did Christa learn while at the senate’s office?

[9:00] Christa discusses what her first job looked like, and what her first leadership position was.

[11:50] At 26 years old, Christa was being forced into a supervisor role and she was reluctant to do it! She didn’t see herself as a leader.

[16:55] What makes a good leader?

[19:45] Christa talks about some of her mentors, and how they’ve helped her through life.

[26:50] What experiences has Christa had, being a woman in a very male-dominated field?

[30:25] Due to a bad supervisor, who also had a tendency to bend the truth, Christa was often overlooked for promotions.

[35:45] What advice does Christa have for young women professionals?

[37:55] What does the future hold for forestry and natural resources?

[42:50] Keep pushing yourself outside of your comfort zone.

[47:15] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Charmeck.org

Christa on LinkedIn

May 3, 2017

Susan Lacy is the executive director at Allegheny Society of American Foresters, and has seen her fair share of discrimination over the many years she’s worked in forestry. Women need to band together and support one another, not tear each other down. Life is hard enough already in a such a strongly male-dominated field, and woman who are afraid of the success of others, especially fellow women, just make an uphill battle much, much harder.

 

Key Takeaways:

[3:50] How did Susan first get started in forestry?

[8:50] Susan discusses what her school experience was like, as a woman.

[11:40] What makes a good leader?

[14:40] What is Susan most proud of in her career?

[16:25] Susan is proud to say that her first mentor was her mother.

[21:45] What has Susan’s experience been as a woman in a very male-dominated field?

[24:20] The wives of some of the men who worked with Susan even told Susan that they didn’t want her in the field. She was taking a man’s job away.

[32:35] Harassment doesn’t just come from men, it can come from women too.

[34:35] What advice does Susan have for fellow women foresters?

[41:00] Breathe in, breathe out, move on!

[45:25] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!

 

Mentioned in This Episode:

Alleghenysaf.org

Susan on LinkedIn

Toastmasters.org

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