Cultivating Leadership: Lessons from the Garden

A few weeks ago, on a cold Chicago evening in January, my niece arrived at our front door as she often does, semi-unannounced, but radiating a joyful presence that causes you to forget the shoes cluttering the foyer and the toddler toys every three to four feet.

She arrived as usual with a gift in hand, a testament to her generous personality and old soul. With a quick hug, she placed a flower pot filled with beautiful yellow tulips in my hands, along with a card, and said, “Read this later, Aunty Kim.”

Hours later when the kids were tucked away, I picked up the bright sky-blue envelope. Inside, I found a beautifully hand-written message along with a lesson about tulips. The line that stood out most to me was that tulips grow best in winter. As a self-proclaimed “nature girl,” this line set me on a quest to more deeply explore gardening, an activity that I have always found fascinating. As a former kindergarten teacher, Froebel-influenced educator, and advocate for the “children’s garden,” this deeply resonated with me and so the journey began.

The idea of a tulip, something so delicate, growing in winter stuck with me and reminded me how many beautiful things in the world are born and nurtured in dark, cold conditions—circumstances that, to the naked eye, might be perceived as hopeless. Yet beautiful things can emerge out of the soil of life, and while tulips typically flourish and bloom in spring, the most critical growth happens in winter.

Chicago’s dark, cold winters and blustery winds off Lake Michigan can overshadow memories of flowers in bloom, but gardening, as I have learned, is much more about the process than the product, a relatable concept for early educators. At its core, the gardening process includes cultivating, planting, nurturing, and harvesting. My exploration into gardening became a reflective metaphor for the state of our “world garden” today and the transitions that I believe are calling our true values and beliefs to the surface.

Amid this exploration, I found myself reflecting deeply on how the principles of gardening could be applied to the current challenges impacting our profession.

During these times of challenge and change, it might seem trite to talk about gardens and flowers, but I challenge each of you to simply use the gardening metaphor as a landscape for our collective work as early childhood professionals and institutional leaders.

The principles of gardening are like many things, an “art,” but gardening is also a science. It is easy to focus on the beautiful blooms and foliage that appear above ground, but what lies beneath the surface is what matters.

The scientific element of gardening is about planning and cultivating the deep dark soil where the seeds will be planted. Make no mistake, a wise gardener knows that gardens are full of surprises and that not every seed will thrive or survive, but there are lessons to be learned in both successes and failures in gardening.

Our theme for the Leadership Connections 2025 conference is “Leadership in Bloom.” While the theme is a nod to our past and the visionary leadership of our founder, Dr. Paula Jorde Bloom, it is also an aspirational look toward the future and what it can be. It is also an acknowledgment of the seasons and circles of life.

Audrey Hepburn said, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” As leaders in communities and institutions of higher education and early learning, I challenge you to consider what you want to cultivate as you mentor future leaders, nurture learning communities, strategically advocate, and honor every voice within reach of our care.

I also challenge you to examine your soil. Check the condition, provide extra nutrients if necessary, and be willing to break up the fallow ground. Once the soil is ready, consider intentionally planting seeds of hope, knowledge, collaboration, and kindness.

Remember, not all plants need the same thing, so be mindful of what’s in your garden and be careful not to give too much or too little water or sunlight.

I believe it is important to be generationally minded and think about those who will follow us and that is why I am so inspired by the African proverb that says, “We must be willing to plant gardens from which we may never eat.” Even the possibility that someone might be encouraged or empowered because of my contributions makes it worth the effort and sacrifice.

As I close, I want to share this inspiring quote from Dr. Maya Angelou, “As I gaze at my garden and regard the varying colors the Creator has made for us, red, yellow, blue, white, pink, purple, etc..., I also think of the many colors the Creator has made of us, black, beige, brown, red, yellow and white—and all of us are beautiful.”

By the time this article is published, it will be Spring and I hope that like the tulips, we have grown through winter and that we all recognize the beauty in the garden.

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Paula Steffen Reflects on 40+ Years of Service in Early Childhood Leadership

By Paula Steffen • July 23, 2025

"What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make." – Jane Goodall As I bring my career to a close, I find myself reflecting not only on the years that have passed, but on the people, places, and purpose that shaped my professional journey. It has been a privilege to serve the early childhood education community, and I am filled with gratitude for the relationships, growth, and shared mission that defined my work. My time at the McCormick Institute for Early Childhood at National Louis University has been deeply rewarding. Since joining in 2007, I’ve worn many hats — from Assessor to Training Specialist to my final role as Quality Supports and Evaluation Manager. Throughout it all, I’ve been fortunate to work with a team of dedicated professionals who believe, as I do (and learned from Paula Jorde Bloom), that leadership rooted in quality can transform the lives of children and families, “Leadership is not a position. It’s a disposition — a way of being.” Paula Jorde Bloom Over the years, I had the honor of helping others grow into their roles — whether that meant guiding assessors to reliability on Program Administration Scale (PAS) and Business Administration Scale (BAS) , co-creating training materials, or leading professional development sessions for directors, consultants, and educators. My work as a national anchor and trainer has taken me across Illinois and beyond, where I’ve been inspired by the resilience, insight, and compassion of those working in the field. Before my time at the McCormick Institute, I was privileged to serve in various leadership positions — at the Illinois Network of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, Joliet CCR&R, and as co-owner of Bright Ideas Children’s Center. Each chapter brought new challenges and new joys, but the thread that tied them all together was a simple belief: children deserve our best, and so do the adults who care for them. "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." – Maya Angelou I’d like to thank my colleagues — past and present — for your friendship, support, and shared wisdom. I am especially grateful to those who challenged me to keep learning, those who trusted me with their own growth, and those who reminded me daily why this work matters. As I step into retirement, I carry with me not just the lessons learned, but the hearts touched. To those I've mentored, assessed, trained, or simply stood beside — thank you. I hope our paths crossed in a way that left you encouraged and empowered. "To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." – Dr. Seuss Though I will no longer be in the field day-to-day, I remain an advocate at heart. My career has been one of service, and I step away proud of the difference we’ve made together. With appreciation and hope, Paula Steffen

Leadership and Gardens

Paula Steffen Reflects on 40+ Years of Service in Early Childhood Leadership