The Heart of Leadership as a CEO and Mentor
I had the privilege to photograph Kyra Faison-Gardner, CEO and co-founder of Business Environments LLC, a commercial interiors business, and founder of Prospect & Refuge Life. She shared a Brendan Burchard quote she loves: “In the absence of a reason, find a purpose.”
“My husband John and I met in the industry 40 years ago. After starting a family, we decided to start a company, 20 years ago. As CEO I’m privileged to lead and influence the culture. I’m a heart-centered leader and an empathetic person naturally, and that is the culture I’ve developed for our company. My husband is the president, and we are a true family business, with three of our children working with us. They are brilliant and talented and make us proud every day.
In contrast to now, early in my career I became less authentic and took on the veil of what was commonly accepted as professionalism then—a little cold, stand-offish. In higher leadership roles, women and marginalized professionals were expected to emulate what people told us a leader looks like. I went with that for a while until I didn’t.
The pandemic was an awful time. I was in the middle of some life transitions. It was almost a guilty blessing to use the pandemic as a sabbatical to focus on meaningful spiritual heart-centered leadership and the power in that way of leading. I went all in and that naturally paved a beautiful path to a Transformational Life coaching certification in heart-centered leadership as well as Life in Retirement.
I now serve in dual capacities seamlessly transitioning between CEO and mentor. Coaching makes me much more engaged as a CEO with teams and clients. I don’t have any plans to step away from our business but add a place of giving through coaching. As a female executive in “middle essence”, I feel a sense of fulfillment that so many people in my position are lacking. I truly believe we can be fully functional as decent humans and as effective leaders.
Although there will always be challenges, I believe that when we allow quiet, things begin to emerge within ourselves. My advice: spend time listening to your higher self, then take inspired action for a more meaningful life.
I never had a professional headshot done before. But I was finally feeling confident enough in my position in life to present myself that way. After our first conversation, I knew I was going to work with Alissa. She listened so closely and deeply that she talked me through the whole process. I had to be intentional. She was beautiful and kind and the pictures were everything. So happy that my headshots picked up my essence. It was magical!”