Selected from the many sheroes nominated throughout the year, these Women in Green leaders represent regions and communities from across the U.S. in a time when authentic and transparent leadership matters most. As an extension of the Women in Green panel on Nov. 11, the sheroes of the year have expounded on the questions asked of them. Moderator Amie Kromis, National Director of Vendor Diversity with Skanska, asked our sheroes for some final wisdom and great takeaways for careers and life.

Leslie Tom

Chief Sustainability Officer, Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
July shero: Speaking up, USGBC East North Central region

As a millennial and through your work at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, co-chairing the Detroit 2030 District Venue/Museum group, and volunteering with the Sustainable Detroit Forum, how do you create inclusive spaces for communities to find their voice?

"Speaking up" to me is actually about being competent, listening and holding space to care for one another. I’ve written a haiku which I can de-construct:

"Creating Culturally Inclusive Collaborative Spaces"

Needing to listen
We all have contributions
Hold space for strong backs.

Needing to listen: In learning to speak up, we must learn to have a voice, and in order to have a voice, we must practice listening or being listened to.

We all have contributions: I feel so fortunate to have the dream job where I am given time and support to be involved in so many community groups, control and have my own departmental budget, and be supported to deliver only nine projects a year. By having my executive leadership team support who I really am, I can help hold a culturally competent space for practicing what I’m learning from being in an African American history and cultural space while living in Detroit.

Hold space for strong backs: Women who work in technical spaces of sustainability, like energy, water and waste, should ask how can we speak up and push back—for who is really doing the work? How can we be competent and confident and come from a place of love rather than fear?

What advice would you give your younger self?

Be brave and be bold, listen to your intuition and heart, and put people first: family, friends, colleagues and neighbors.

Jasmin Moore

MSCRP, AICP
Sustainability Program Manager for Douglas County, Kansas Government
July shero: Speaking up, USGBC West North Central region

As one of few people of color in a director-level position, how do you advocate for underrepresented communities and encourage allies to do the same?

I advocate for bringing voices to the decision-making table who have lived experience and expertise. There is a lot of pain and generational hurt, and it takes time and effort to build relationships. After a trusted relationship is established, then we should invite them be a part of the process and compensate them for their expertise.

People of color cannot be expected to be the singular voice for diversity, equity and inclusion. Elevating the voices of those who will be most impacted by decisions should be the work of everyone in the organizations we serve. I encourage people to ask questions like, “Who will be impacted most by this decision?", “What would someone with very different life experiences have to say about this?” and “What assumptions do we need to test or challenge?”

What advice would you give your younger self?

Leadership is not about a specific title or role; leadership is action. Anyone can exhibit leadership at any level of an organization, at home or in their personal lives. Leadership is less about fixing problems and making authoritative decisions, and more about exploring the sticky challenges that require skills like listening, self-reflection, engagement with people not at the table, exploring values and being brave enough to raise the heat in spaces, even when it is uncomfortable. I am working on bringing my full, authentic self to professional settings, which still often feels risky because I am sharing my vulnerabilities. As long as what I do is aligned with my personal values, the risk is definitely worth it.

Clare Epke

WELL AP, LEED AP BD+C and O+M
Manager of Sustainability and Wellness Services, NORESCO
April shero: Health, USGBC Mountain region

Green building is a critical component to improving quality of life. How do you feel this global pandemic will accelerate society’s commitment to green buildings?

As a society, we are still in the midst of a serious crisis, and we have a historic opportunity to hit reset in the building industry. At this time, there is an abundance of information on how buildings can either deliver healthy or unhealthy outcomes. If you have any part in the creation or operation of buildings, you have the responsibility to be informed of how buildings act as vessels for delivering healthy human outcomes, and what your part is in providing this information to occupants and improving operations. Hope is not a plan; we have work to do!

What would you tell your younger self?

Make the choice to worry less, because it is useless. No matter where you are or what stage of your career and life, you have power and influence. Don’t hide your passion or power to make other people more comfortable, because the words you choose and the actions you make have the power to influence. You are constantly planting seeds, and they matter.

Daniele Horton

Founder and President, Verdani Partners
September shero: Purpose, USGBC Pacific region

As founder and president of Verdani Partners, you have put diversity and inclusion at the forefront of your values. What would you tell other leaders who now want to weave diversity and inclusion into their culture for true purpose?

The wave of social change that is sweeping across the globe is putting diversity and inclusion right at the forefront and represents a critical part of sustainability. It is important to acknowledge that we are all one people, sharing the same home and resources. The global threats we collectively face, including climate change, the pandemic, systemic racism and inequality, are very complex and will not be solved if some of us are left behind.

I truly believe that working together and leveraging diverse skills and backgrounds makes us stronger and more resilient to solve these global challenges. Having different perspectives at the table is incredibly valuable, and in fact, companies with greater diversity are outperforming others financially. Companies should focus on a fully diverse organization from their board of directors, leadership and employees.

What would you tell your younger self?

To listen to the wise words of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: "You can’t have it all, all at once.” Sometimes our work takes priority and sometimes our family does. The important thing is to be persistent and never give up, because every day that you make a little bit of progress, you are one step closer to achieving your goal.

Myrrh Caplan

Senior Sustainability Director, Skanska
June shero: Mentorship, USGBC South Atlantic region

What does mentorship mean to you?

Mentorship means:

Listening and hearing
Offering advice, while also leaving room for that person to work toward their own solution
Building elevators for others instead of pointing at the ceiling (meaning, being a sponsor and helping to move others forward when possible)
Living a life that serves as an example of making a difference in the world
Simply being there and remaining present, knowing that it is for some of the most challenging and pivotal moments in someone’s life

What advice would you give your younger self?

Many people are hurting and worried about the future. They are dealing with a lot of challenges at home—including, for some, domestic abuse, which has dramatically increased around the world this year. First, know that you have done all you can to try and stop the bad from happening around you. Second, don't believe them. Third, your future path will eclipse their bad behavior. You are going to break the chain of verbal, mental and physical abuse. (If you are in need of help, visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline.)

You are doing everything you can in this moment—keep going.
Don't believe a person who makes the choice to be mean.
The work all of you are doing around green and health and resilience and equity and community-building will absolutely eclipse the bad in the world.

April Ambrose

Business Development Manager for Energy and Sustainability, Entegrity
March shero: Leadership, USGBC South Central region

You were the first employee at Entegrity, have been recognized in Arkansas Business's "40 Under 40" and honored by your alma mater as an "Outstanding Young Alumna." Based on your experience of pushing to have your voice heard as a young leader, what would you say to new leaders trying to do the same?

As a young person, if your purpose puts you in uncharted waters, you’re a leader. If that puts you in waters with a lot of people that don’t look, act or speak like you, you’re a leader. If others are attracted to your goal or vision and ask to start helping, you’re a leader. Leaders are often young people with energy and enthusiasm that simply start doing things. So listen, observe and notice what is needed, and then don’t wait for permission, validation or even payment, and just do it!

Push to be in the room and at the table. Then, make sure your ideas are well thought-out before you raise them to a group loud and clear. Even if you don’t feel heard in the moment, you will be planting the seeds for future women and young leaders to be successful. You have no idea who is listening or what ripples you are sending out.

What advice would you give your younger self?

First, take those marketing classes! You will have to communicate for yourself and highlight your value, perhaps all the more than what you would if doing the same for an organization or cause. Learn how to tell engaging stories that connect with the listener—this is critical to your success!

Second, create your own leadership board. Look around you at the women that you find successful, and try to surround yourself with them. And last, nobody actually cares what you look like when you are trying to get stuff done! Instead, exercise, adorn and develop yourself in any way that makes you feel confident and beautiful.

Learn about our 2020 sheroes of the year

Women in Green share advice for 2020 and beyond