Executive Director's Outlook - Fall 2025

By Rose Epperson on Tuesday, September 30, 2025

An Unforgettable Summer Night with Simon Sinek

On Thursday, August 7th at 5:30pm, I joined friends, colleagues, and fellow leaders at TreePeople’s S. Mark Taper Foundation Amphitheatre for an evening that I know will stay with me for years to come. We gathered under the canopy of trees in the canyon, where the air carried both stillness and anticipation, to hear Simon Sinek speak on friendship.

The setting could not have been more fitting. TreePeople’s Amphitheatre has long been a place where community, nature, and purpose intersect. On this night, it became the backdrop for something truly special—a reminder of why we do the work we do, why connection matters, and why leadership must always begin with purpose. Even more powerful, 100% of proceeds from the evening went to the Wildfire Resilience Fund, ensuring that inspiration translated into direct action for communities who need it most.

Discovering the Why. I first encountered Simon Sinek’s work through the International Society of Arboriculture’s leadership programs in the mid-2000s, when his groundbreaking ideas about the importance of the “why” were introduced to our field. His philosophy—that organizations and individuals thrive when they are clear about their purpose—has shaped my own approach to leadership.

Simon teaches that people don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it. This simple but profound insight has guided countless leaders and organizations to build trust, inspire loyalty, and lead with authenticity. Over the years, his ideas have helped me see how essential it is to root our work in meaning—whether that’s tending to trees, nurturing communities, or building resilient organizations. That very question has kept me rooted in mission and focused on impact.

Friendship as Growth. Hearing Simon speak in person at TreePeople brought those lessons into new light. His focus that evening was on friendship, and his words were both poignant and practical. “Friends are two people who agree to grow together.” That simple phrase set the tone for the night. Friendship, Simon reminded us, is not static—it’s an agreement, an active choice to evolve alongside one another.

He spoke about relationships requiring activity, about the need to show up consistently and do the work. He encouraged us to remember that lessons are everywhere, all the time—if we are willing to say yes to what life offers. He reframed grace, not as a mechanism to avoid struggle, but as a celebration of acknowledging it.

Simon also reminded us that play is not frivolous. “Play is the place where magic happens,” he said. Creativity, connection, and innovation are born from joy. And perhaps his most freeing reminder: life should be as fun as possible.

Lessons for Green Industry Leaders. As leaders in the green industry, Simon’s message resonates deeply. Our work—caring for trees, stewarding landscapes, building healthier urban forests—is inherently relational. It thrives on collaboration, trust, and purpose.

Just like trees, we are not meant to grow in isolation. We are strongest when we grow together. Stewardship is not passive; it requires daily effort and a willingness to face challenges head-on. And in a profession often marked by urgency—pests, climate change, wildfires—we must still find space for play, creativity, and joy. Without them, our passion runs dry.

Simon’s philosophy reminds us to:

• Lead with purpose. Stay anchored in the why of our work.
• Commit to growth. With colleagues, partners, and communities, choose to grow together.
• Acknowledge the struggle. Celebrate grace not by avoiding hard truths, but by honoring them.
• Make room for joy. Remember that fun is not a distraction but a fuel for resilience.

These lessons aren’t abstract leadership theories—they are daily practices that help us sustain our industry, our organizations, and our communities.

The TreePeople Connection. The choice of venue elevated the evening to something even more profound. TreePeople is more than an organization; it is a movement built on purpose, resilience, and joy. From the visionary leadership of Andy Lipkis, who founded TreePeople with the belief that people and trees together can heal cities, to Cindy Montoya, who carried that torch with grace and vision, to their current leadership: TreePeople embodies Simon’s philosophy in action.

For decades, Andy and Cindy, as well as TreePeople today, have shown us what it looks like to anchor leadership in the why. They remind us that when people gather around a shared purpose, transformation is possible. Sitting in the amphitheater that evening, I felt the deep resonance between Simon’s words, the legacy of TreePeople’s work and my own journey.

A Night to Remember. As the evening drew to a close, I felt both grounded and energized. Simon’s reminders about friendship, grace, and play echoed in my mind as more than ideas—they felt like commitments to carry forward.

This night in the canyon was not just another lecture. It was a celebration of connection, a reflection on purpose, and a call to grow together. It reminded me why I first resonated with Simon’s work all those years ago, and why his philosophy continues to guide me today.

I left with a renewed sense of purpose—to lead with clarity, to nurture relationships with intention, and to keep joy at the center of the work.

For me, it was more than an event. It was a moment of clarity, a gathering of friends, and a shared vision for a greener, stronger, and more resilient future.

Cheers to Trees and TreePeople!

Rose Epperson