Leading with Heart: Ciara Byrne of Green Our Planet On The Power of Authentic Women’s Leadership

An Interview With Pirie Jones Grossman

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The following interview is originally published in Authority Magazine on October 14, 2024, found on their website, here.

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Fostering Deep Connections Through Vulnerability Sharing my personal experiences and being vulnerable as a leader has helped me to create deeper, more meaningful connections with my team. For example, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I chose to share my journey openly with my team. This was a very personal decision, but by being transparent about what I was going through, it created a space where others felt comfortable sharing their own struggles. Vulnerability became a strength, allowing us to support each other more authentically and creating a culture of empathy within Green Our Planet.

In today’s dynamic world, the concept of leadership is continuously evolving. While traditional leadership models have often been male-dominated, there is a growing recognition of the unique strengths and perspectives that women bring to these roles. This series aims to explore how women can become more effective leaders by authentically embracing their femininity and innate strengths, rather than conforming to traditional male leadership styles. In this series, we are talking to successful women leaders, coaches, authors, and experts who can provide insights and personal stories on how embracing their inherent feminine qualities has enhanced their leadership abilities. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ciara Byrne.

Ciara Byrne is a social impact entrepreneur who has evolved the way students learn and how teachers teach. Ciara is the CEO of Green Our Planet, a Las Vegas based nonprofit that has become the largest and most comprehensive school garden and hydroponics programs in the United States since launching in 2013. Ciara has a huge passion for impacting students and teachers, with plans to expand to other regions. In 2019, Ciara was selected from 5,000 applications along with 19 other nonprofit leaders to be a 2019 Obama Fellow. The Obama Foundation is supporting Ciara and the team at Green Our Planet to scale their program across the United States and beyond. Additionally, Ciara has a successful professional background in filmmaking. In 2001, Ciara set up and ran a film production company, Lion Television, with offices in LA and New York, leading a team of over 60 employees and producing hundreds of films a year. Ciara is an impactful woman who has always led authentically which has led her to gain success in her endeavors.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about authentic, feminine leadership, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

Before founding Green Our Planet, my partner Kim MacQuarrie and I were making a film in Kenya with Dr. Richard Leakey, the renowned paleoanthropologist and conservationist. We were sitting in Dr. Leakey’s backyard, overlooking the breathtaking Rift Valley, discussing what he called the Sixth Extinction — how human activity was causing the greatest wave of extinctions since the dinosaurs disappeared 65 million years ago. As we pondered the scale of the challenge, I asked him what he believed the solution was. His response has stayed with me ever since: “We need a call to all humans to become conservationists.”

That conversation planted the seed for what would eventually become Green Our Planet. It made me realize that one of the most effective ways to inspire future generations to care for the environment is to engage them from a young age in a school garden. If students can fall in love with nature and understand the science behind it through hands-on experiences, they’ll be far more likely to want to protect the planet as they grow older. This idea is what motivated us to create a garden and hydroponics program that not only teaches students about STEM but also instills a deep connection to the environment. Since then, Green Our Planet has grown into the largest school garden program in the U.S., and I feel incredibly proud to be working on something that nurtures both young minds and the planet we all share.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career?

One of the most powerful moments in my journey happened at Desert Oasis High School, where a group of special needs students, under the guidance of their teacher, Jenny Davis, were running the school’s garden program. I had the privilege of attending their very first farmers market, and it completely blew my mind.

I arrived shortly after dawn, and the garden was nothing short of spectacular. It was lush, bursting with vibrant vegetables, and fruit trees were heavy with ripening fruit. The air was fresh, the sun was just beginning to light up the day, and there was an energy of anticipation in the air.

One moment that stood out was seeing Desiree, a young girl in a wheelchair who was non-verbal, managing the cashier station. She was handling money from customers who were buying fresh vegetables that she and her classmates had grown. The students had also put together beautiful, bountiful baskets of produce that they had pre-sold to teachers, and they were delivering these baskets directly to classrooms.

Desiree’s parents arrived during the market, and their faces lit up with pride and joy when they saw their daughter actively participating in the event. They told me that this experience was a game changer for their daughter, and it was a moment of profound realization for me too. That’s exactly how I feel about these garden programs — they are game changers, not just for Desiree but for so many students.

Being outside, getting your hands in the soil, growing your own food — it can improve mental health, spark an interest in science, and even lead to future careers in STEM. And let’s not forget the teamwork, the collaboration that happens in the garden. It’s truly a win-win-win for our students, and moments like this one remind me of why we do what we do.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

What sets Green Our Planet apart is that we were the first to pivot a school garden and hydroponics program to an online format. Before the pandemic, most school garden organizations were local, serving only their immediate communities. Green Our Planet was primarily focused on schools in Las Vegas. But when COVID hit, everything changed.

We realized that we couldn’t carry out our programs in person anymore, and that’s when our team decided to adapt. We began creating video lessons and sharing them with teachers, and we transitioned to training teachers online. This shift allowed us to continue providing high-quality STEM and garden-based education, even during the pandemic. By the time COVID restrictions eased, we had evolved into an Ed Tech company.

Today, we work with over 1,100 schools across the United States, impacting more than 300,000 students. The online platform enabled us to extend our reach far beyond Las Vegas, and we now play a vital role in supporting not just teachers and schools, but also other nonprofits and partners within the school garden movement.

While COVID was an incredibly challenging time for us, it ultimately shaped us into who we are today. Our ability to pivot and innovate has been key to our growth, and it’s allowed us to serve more students than we ever imagined possible.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

1. Empathy: Understanding my team’s perspectives has been vital. During a particularly stressful project, I noticed a team member struggling. Instead of pushing forward, I took the time to check in and understand their challenges. This led to a collaborative brainstorming session that not only alleviated their stress but also generated innovative ideas we hadn’t considered. But believe me I had to learn to slow down and be empathetic. My natural inclination is to go, go, go. I learned the hard way that you often have to slow down to create the best working environment that will ultimately accomplish more for our students.
2. Resilience: Building a nonprofit isn’t without its hurdles. When we faced funding cuts during COVID, it would have been easy to throw in the towel. Instead, our team regrouped and turned the challenge into an opportunity eventually turning Green Our Planet into an Ed Tech company. The response was overwhelming, and we not only regained our funding but expanded our reach as well.
3. Authenticity: Being true to myself has helped build trust with my team. When I first transitioned from film to education, I was unsure about fitting into a “traditional leader” mold. Instead of conforming, I leaned into my storytelling background, using it to convey our mission. This authenticity resonated with others, fostering a culture of openness and collaboration.

Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.

One of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make as a leader was whether to bring a traditional sales team into Green Our Planet to complement our more conventional nonprofit fundraising strategy. It’s not easy to integrate a traditional sales model into a nonprofit structure, and it’s certainly been a challenge for us.

There were concerns on both sides — how would a sales team fit into the mission-driven culture of a nonprofit? Would their methods align with our goals? Despite the challenges, I saw the potential for both the sales and fundraising teams to learn from one another. The sales team could bring a more structured, results-oriented approach to revenue generation, while the fundraising team could teach the sales team about the importance of mission-driven work and relationship-building.

Though it hasn’t been an easy process, I believe that this collaboration is helping both teams grow and evolve in ways that will make Green Our Planet stronger in the long run. It’s my hope that by blending these two approaches, we’ll not only be able to fund our programs more effectively but also build the school garden movement in a way that’s more sustainable and far-reaching. This decision has reinforced for me that sometimes, as a leader, you have to take risks and bring together unlikely combinations to create something truly impactful.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Can you share a personal experience where embracing your unique leadership style, which might not align with traditional expectations, led to a significant positive impact in your organization or team?

A personal experience that shaped my leadership style happened recently. I’m a breast cancer survivor and just completed my treatment in June. For many leaders, the instinct might be to keep such a personal health journey private, especially in a professional setting. However, I decided to do the opposite.

I wanted to normalize cancer as much as possible within our organization because it affects so many people, either directly or through loved ones. Instead of hiding it, I chose to share my journey with the team. I openly discussed the challenges, the treatment process, and the emotional toll it took on me. I hoped that by being open, I could offer support to anyone on the team who might be dealing with something similar or who had a family member facing cancer.

This transparency created a space where people hopefully feel comfortable sharing their own challenges and where empathy became a central part of our organizational culture. I believe it also helped my team see me not just as a leader, but as someone going through the ups and downs of life — just like anyone else. It was a reminder that vulnerability, even in leadership, can be a powerful tool for connection and support.

In your journey as a leader, how have you balanced demonstrating resilience, often seen as a masculine trait, with showing vulnerability, which is equally powerful, but typically feminine? Can you give an example where this balance created a meaningful difference?

In my experience as a leader, I’ve learned that resilience and vulnerability are not opposing forces — they can complement each other. One of the clearest examples of this balance was during my recent journey with breast cancer. Going through treatment while leading an organization forced me to embrace both qualities in equal measure.

On the one hand, resilience was essential. I had to keep pushing forward with Green Our Planet’s mission, make difficult decisions, and guide the team through day-to-day challenges, all while navigating my health battle. There were days when simply getting through the day required every ounce of strength I had.

At the same time, I also knew that showing vulnerability was just as important. I decided to share my cancer journey with the entire team, something many leaders might shy away from. By being open about what I was going through, I showed them that it’s okay to admit when things are tough, and that vulnerability isn’t a weakness — it’s part of being human. This openness created a deeper connection between me and my team and fostered a culture of support and understanding within our organization.

This balance between resilience and vulnerability made a meaningful difference because it not only helped me personally but also showed my team that you can be strong and open at the same time. It reinforced the idea that as leaders, we don’t have to have it all together all the time. Instead, we can lead authentically by allowing both our strengths and our struggles to be seen.

As a woman in leadership, how have you navigated and challenged gender stereotypes, especially in situations where traditional male-dominated approaches are the norm? What strategies have you employed to remain authentic to your style?

I’ve often encountered assumptions about my leadership style simply because I’m a woman. To challenge these stereotypes, I focus on showcasing the effectiveness of my approach. I emphasize collaboration and emotional intelligence, which are sometimes undervalued. By sharing successful outcomes from these strategies, I aim to shift perceptions and demonstrate that diverse leadership styles can lead to impactful results. Remaining authentic has been key; I choose to lead with compassion and strength, proving that they are not mutually exclusive.

How do you utilize emotional intelligence and active listening to create an inclusive environment in your team or organization? Could you share a specific instance where these qualities particularly enhanced team dynamics or performance?”

At Green Our Planet, we place a strong emphasis on emotional intelligence and active listening as key components of building an inclusive environment. One of the most impactful ways we foster this is through what we call “Origin Stories.” Every team member is given the opportunity to share their personal story — where they come from, who their family is, what they care about, and even their hobbies — during a staff meeting. This opens up a space for others to ask questions, listen, and learn more about each person beyond their role at work.

These Origin Stories have been transformative in building a culture of inclusion and belonging. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds, with quite a few immigrants from various countries, myself included! Sharing our personal stories helps us connect on a deeper level, as we get to see each other as whole individuals, not just coworkers. It breaks down barriers and fosters a deeper sense of trust, which I believe is critical for creating successful teams.

For example, after one team member shared their story about their experiences growing up in another country and the challenges they faced moving to the U.S., it opened up a conversation about resilience and adaptability. This story resonated with others who had gone through similar experiences, and it helped to build empathy within the team. We became more aware of each other’s journeys, which led to stronger collaboration and a deeper sense of mutual support.

By creating a space where people can show up as their full selves, we’ve been able to enhance our team dynamics and performance. It allows us to be more understanding, and ultimately, more successful as a team.

What role has mentorship played in developing your authentic leadership style, and how do you communicate authentically to inspire and empower both your mentors and mentees?

For me, mentorship hasn’t always followed the traditional mentor-mentee relationship where there’s a clear hierarchy or structure. Instead, I see opportunities for mentorship all around me. I’ve learned just as much from my team, the schools we work with, and even the students we serve as I have from more conventional mentors. In fact, some of the most valuable lessons have come from people who are younger than me or who have different experiences that have expanded my perspective.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by inspiring individuals every day, whether it’s a teacher who finds new ways to engage students, a team member who brings a fresh idea to the table, or a student whose passion for the environment rekindles my own sense of purpose. These relationships allow me to learn constantly and to grow my leadership style.

In terms of inspiring and empowering others, I focus on authenticity in how I communicate. I believe that by being open about my own experiences — whether it’s the challenges I’ve faced as a leader, my recent journey through breast cancer, or simply the lessons I’ve learned along the way — I create an environment where people feel safe to be themselves. I want the people around me to know that leadership is not about having all the answers or being perfect; it’s about showing up fully, learning as you go, and lifting others up as you grow.

I hope that by embracing authenticity and staying curious, I not only inspire others to lead in their own way but also create a space where learning is a two-way street — where everyone has something to teach and something to learn.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. Based on your experience and research, can you please share “5 Ways Leading Authentically As A Woman Will Affect Your Leadership”? If you can, please share a story or an example for each.

1. Fostering Deep Connections Through Vulnerability Sharing my personal experiences and being vulnerable as a leader has helped me to create deeper, more meaningful connections with my team. For example, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I chose to share my journey openly with my team. This was a very personal decision, but by being transparent about what I was going through, it created a space where others felt comfortable sharing their own struggles. Vulnerability became a strength, allowing us to support each other more authentically and creating a culture of empathy within Green Our Planet.
2. Empowering Others by Being Open and Relatable Authentic leadership means showing that you don’t have to have all the answers, which empowers others to step up with their ideas. For instance, when COVID hit and Green Our Planet had to pivot to an online model, I didn’t have a clear roadmap for how we would make that shift. But by trusting my team and being open about the challenges we faced, they felt empowered to come up with innovative solutions — like creating video lessons and online training for teachers — that ultimately led to our transformation into an Ed Tech company.
3. Creating Inclusivity Through Storytelling One unique way we build inclusivity at Green Our Planet is through sharing “Origin Stories.” By encouraging every team member to share their background, values, and what drives them, we create an environment where everyone feels seen and heard. Sharing these stories has fostered deeper trust and collaboration within the team, helping us work together more effectively and celebrate our differences.
4. Balancing Resilience with Compassion Leading as a woman often means striking a balance between resilience and compassion. Throughout my cancer journey, I had to demonstrate resilience by continuing to lead the organization and make tough decisions. At the same time, I allowed myself to be compassionate — not only toward myself but also toward my team — by being honest about the toll it was taking. This balance helped create a culture where resilience is paired with understanding, allowing people to bring their whole selves to work without feeling like they have to hide their personal challenges.
5. Leading by Learning from Others, Regardless of Age or Position As a leader, I don’t subscribe to the idea that mentorship only flows one way — from senior leaders to junior staff. I’ve learned valuable lessons from people across all levels of the organization, including students and teachers. For example, visiting Desert Oasis High School and witnessing the transformation of students like Desiree, who was wheelchair-bound and non-verbal but ran the school’s farmers market, was a powerful reminder of the impact of our programs. Moments like these, where students teach me about resilience and possibility, inspire me to keep learning and growing as a leader.

Are there potential pitfalls or challenges associated with being an empathetic leader? How can these be addressed?

Absolutely, empathy can lead to emotional burnout if we’re not careful. It’s easy to absorb the stress of others, which can detract from our ability to lead effectively. To address this, I’ve learned the importance of setting boundaries. By maintaining a healthy balance between empathy and self-preservation, I can continue to support my team without sacrificing my well-being.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

If I could start a movement, it would be “Growing Together.” This initiative would focus on creating community gardens everywhere, promoting sustainability, health, and connection among neighbors. By engaging communities in hands-on gardening, we can cultivate not only plants but also relationships, understanding, and a shared commitment to our environment and our communities. This movement would empower individuals to take action in their communities, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.

How can our readers further follow you online?

Readers can further follow my work online in a couple of ways that can be found below.

LinkedIn: Ciara Byrne

Twitter: @CiaraByrneGreen

Social Media (Green Our Planet):

Instagram: @GreenOurPlanet

Facebook: Green Our Planet

Green Our Planet Website: www.greenourplanet.org

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

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