From Parks to Boardrooms: Leadership Lessons from Nature with Donald Forgione and Mike Simmons

About this episode

Donald Forgione and Mike Simmons discuss leadership lessons drawn from nature and their application in business.

Donald Forgione — Former Director of 175 Florida State Parks, with 40+ years in ecotourism, leadership, and public service. Now a business owner, speaker, and coach, Donald connects leadership lessons from nature to business. Mike Simmons — Founder of Find My Catalyst , leadership coach, and sales strategist, helping people identify and act on their catalyst for change. Three Key Quotes Donald Forgione: "Trust is the key to absolutely everything… If they're not feeling what I'm saying, I might as well throw it out the window." Mike Simmons: "A revenue challenge is often a culture challenge in disguise. Culture starts with leadership. Leadership starts with self." Donald Forgione: "Superman ain't coming. You have to be your own Superman, your own Wonder Woman — and figure it out." Mike and Donald explore the deep connections between nature and leadership, revealing how adaptability, trust, and asking the right questions can transform teams and culture. They share real-world lessons from state parks to sales, showing leaders how to align purpose, overcome obstacles, and create environments where people thrive. 5 Key Takeaways – Finding Your Catalyst in Leadership 1. Adaptability is…

People in this episode

Host: Mike Simmons

Guest: Donald Forgione

Topics covered

• leadership
• nature
• business
• trust
• adaptability

Keywords

• leadership
• nature
• trust
• adaptability
• business culture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Find My Catalyst

Places: Florida, state parks

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