Lee Steigerwaldt is the Chief Operations Officer and part owner of Steigerwaldt Land Services, Inc. Steigerwaldt Land Services was originally established in 1957, making Lee a 3rd generation consulting forester. Prior to joining the family business, Lee served as a production arborist in Idaho. Today’s discussion details the unique challenges of growing up as a little girl around the family business, and then taking on more senior, and tougher, roles as she got older. Lee also outlines some of the fun and challenging aspects of her work, and so much more on this week’s episode!
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] A quick intro about Lee’s background.
[4:10] How did Lee get involved in forestry?
[5:30] What are some of the differences between working in Idaho vs. working in Wisconsin?
[7:50] What does Lee’s sister, Julie, do for the family business?
[9:10] When was Lee first exposed to leadership in the work that she was doing?
[14:35] What does Lee wish she had found out sooner when she was in her first leadership role?
[16:15] Lee wishes she had a leadership coach sooner in her career. What have been some of the biggest benefits of having one?
[18:10] What has been the most fun/challenging aspects of Lee’s career?
[21:15] Lee believes the gender discrepancy in forestry is gradually shifting for the better.
[21:55] Where does Lee find her talent?
[22:35] A lot of the staff have seen Lee grow up in the family business. Has she had to deal with any pushback when she took on tougher and more senior roles as she got older?
[25:20] What advice does Lee have for women interested in forestry?
[27:05] How do people learn leadership, and what is considered ‘good’ leadership?
[29:15] Lee discusses some of her mentors, growing up.
[31:05] What’s the most exciting aspect about going into the consulting field?
[36:15] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Gracious and Ruthless, by Susan Sokol Blosser
Anne Jewell is a Certified Forester as well as a Forester Planner for the Department of Defense. She serves the U.S. Army Garrison at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia. In this role, Anne supports military readiness while practicing land conservation and sustainable forestry on the 76,000 acre military installation. Anne discusses the leadership lessons she’s learned as a fire boss, what to do when someone does not give you the respect you deserve/need to do your job, and why you sometimes just gotta talk over the boys.
Key Takeaways:
[1:05] A quick intro about Anne’s background.
[3:20] Why did Anne decide to become a forester?
[5:00] What’s it like working in forest management on a military installation?
[10:55] How can people learn more about this line of work in forestry?
[14:05] When did Anne get her first leadership role?
[17:15] What kind of leadership lessons did Anne wished she learned sooner in her career?
[21:35] It’s part of the work that you’re working with limited information, and sometimes you make the wrong decision based on that info.
[25:30] What kind of mentors has Anne had along the way?
[29:00] Anne feels comfortable working shoulder to shoulder with men, but Anne has noticed that not all men feel comfortable working next to a woman.
[34:00] Where do you draw the line between jokes in the field vs. lack of respect?
[37:45] What are some of the things that Anne likes about working with the military?
[43:30] Anne realizes it’s rude to talk over someone, but if you don’t do it, then you’ll never get a word in!
[49:45] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Kathy Abusow is the President and CEO of Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), Inc., an independent non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable forest management. On today’s show, Kathy offers a reminder to all of us, that life is not like a menu where you can pick and choose what you want out of life so quickly. You have to remind yourself that things take time and patience, and sometimes life throws you onto unexpected paths.
Key Takeaways:
[1:10] A quick intro about Kathy’s background.
[4:00] How did Kathy get started in natural resources?
[9:30] How did Kathy first learn about leadership?
[13:15] Kathy discusses some of her role models and mentors that have made a big impact on her.
[16:45] How do Kathy and her company help students?
[21:25] After being in this industry for over 25 years, Kathy is happy to say that the forestry industry is changing and becoming much less of a male-dominated field.
[25:30] What do future leaders need to know about forestry in the next upcoming years?
[27:40] What lessons did Kathy wish she had learned earlier in her career about leadership?
[33:25] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Pursuing Sustainability, by Pamela Matson, William C. Clark, and Krister Andersson
Fran Cafferata Coe is a Certified Wildlife Biologist for her own consulting firm, Cafferata Consulting. Fran discusses how she got into consulting and the benefits of joining a professional association, and offers some advice for women and young professionals who wish to advance their forestry careers. If you want your voice heard, then you need to speak up and take ownership!
Key Takeaways:
[3:30] When did Fran become interested in forestry?
[5:45] Wildlife and good forest management are not two separate things. They both need each other.
[8:20] What’s getting the attention of young foresters? Why are they joining the field?
[10:35] The Emerald Chapter of the Society of American Foresters out of Eugene, Oregon, are now meeting at a brewery to attract young professionals.
[13:00] What was Fran’s first field job?
[14:05] What advice does Fran have for those who want to get into environmental consulting?
[16:00] As a consultant, you sometimes just don’t know how much work you’ll have next season.
[20:25] What are some of the benefits of being apart of a professional association?
[26:45] How can professionals make forestry more welcoming to newcomers?
[29:25] What has Fran learned about leadership, after being in the profession for so many years?
[33:25] Remember, we’re more powerful when we work together.
[38:45] Fran doesn’t believe that men ‘overtaking’ or ‘controlling’ a meeting is done on purpose. Want to speak at a meeting? Take ownership!
[43:55] Tom’s Leadership Tip of the Week!
Mentioned in This Episode:
Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce