Thriving Together: Reciprocity, Interdependence, and the Power of Generative Connections

Lately, I’ve been reflecting on reciprocity and interdependence—how the best things in life and work don’t emerge from rigid transactions but from relationships, shared trust, and an openness to possibility.

As a child, my interest in ecology and sustainability wasn’t driven by a fear of a burning planet. It was connection that drew me in—the intricate relationships between people, places, and the natural systems that sustain us. While climate change is an undeniable crisis rooted in science, the messaging around it often leans on blame and shame—tactics that, while urgent, can sow division and defensiveness rather than the collaboration we need to create meaningful change.

But nature itself offers a different model. The natural world doesn’t operate in isolation—it thrives through exchange.

• Forests grow not because individual trees compete, but because they share—connected by underground mycelial networks that transfer nutrients, warn of threats, and support new saplings.

• Soil becomes more fertile through cycles of decay and renewal, where death nourishes new life.

• Pollinators and plants co-evolve in a dance of mutual benefit, shaping ecosystems through interdependence.

And yet, in times of uncertainty, there’s a strong pull to retreat—to become more protectionist, to hold on tighter, to believe that giving diminishes what we have. But in my experience, abundance isn’t about how much we keep—it’s about how well we cultivate and amplify what’s already there.

Generative Growth vs. Scarcity Thinking

One of the biggest shifts in my mindset over the years has been moving beyond a conservationist lens—which, while important, often feels like it’s about limiting impact—to something more generative.

Instead of just reducing harm, how do we build systems that create more value, more opportunities, more meaningful connections?

This is how I approach my work. While I’ve become increasingly agnostic to content and discipline, my focus has sharpened around networks, relationships, process, and team culture. The real question is always:

• Where can we amplify what’s already working?

• Where can small tweaks have an outsized impact?

• How do we design for trust, collaboration, and shared success?

This philosophy extends beyond formal work. It’s why I make time for conversations, small acts of support, and serendipitous connections.

In nature, reciprocity isn’t just an ideal—it’s a practical survival strategy. When we give without keeping score, we create a world that is richer, more secure, and more resilient for everyone.

Not every interaction has an immediate return, but these moments of reciprocity are like planting seeds—small at first, but capable of growing into something much larger.

Planting Seeds Without Knowing Where They’ll Bloom

This past week, I was reminded of how generosity moves in cycles.

A former co-op student I mentored recently became licensed, officially closing our formal mentorship relationship. I had a passing thought: I’d love to do this again.

Almost as if that thought carried weight, another student reached out—someone I hadn’t really connected with since the start of COVID. She was looking for guidance on her path to licensure, and I felt grateful for her boldness in asking. We met over the weekend and spent two hours in conversation over coffee—one of those rich, energizing exchanges that remind me how much I love where I live (shoutout to my local coffee shop), how grateful I am for the experiences I’ve had, and how much there is to learn from the stories of others.

Like trees sharing resources underground or seeds carried by the wind, these exchanges don’t always land where we expect—but they take root in ways that build out resilience.

I don’t take this for granted. I’ve had so many incredible people invest in me—often incredible women—who mentored, championed, and supported me. Not for an immediate payoff, not because they had to, but because they believed in something bigger: that when we all thrive, we create more security, trust, and possibility for everyone.

Yesterday was International Women’s Day, and I find myself reflecting on these invisible yet essential networks of support—the mentors, colleagues, and peers who extend a hand not out of obligation, but out of a deep belief in reciprocity. These relationships aren’t transactional; they are the foundation of human flourishing and have been for as long as we’ve existed.

The Gift Economy: Moving Beyond Transactional Thinking

How do we move away from extraction and competition toward something more generative, more human?

How do we create systems—at work, in our communities, in our own lives—where giving and receiving aren’t transactional, but transformative?

Robin Wall Kimmerer asks: What would it mean if we saw our work, our mentorship, and our communities as part of a gift economy? One where we give not because we must, but because we understand that generosity is the foundation of resilience.

Because the best things we build—whether in nature, in business, or in life—don’t just sustain. They grow, evolve, and multiply through shared investment.

#Reciprocity #Interdependence #Leadership #Mentorship #AbundanceMindset #Collaboration #InternationalWomensDay