In a world overwhelmed by burnout, division, and urgency, the future of leadership may not lie in louder boardrooms—but in quieter forests.
For Graseilah Coolidge, former intelligence analyst turned peace entrepreneur, the most transformative breakthroughs don’t come from top-down policies. They come from rooted presence, awe-inspired clarity, and grounded human connection. That’s the foundation of Nature Diplomacy—a new framework she introduced in her TEDx talk: “How Forests Can Shape the Future of Peace.” Graseilah’s work sits at the intersection of conflict resolution and nature-based healing. Her background in global security once had her analyzing international threats and producing high-stakes summits for institutions like the United Nations. Today, as the founder of Epic Gatherings, she leads forest immersion experiences that reconnect leaders to their internal compass—and each other—through nature’s restorative intelligence.
“Peace isn’t just a political goal—it’s a practice,” she says. “And the natural world offers the blueprint. When we’re grounded, present, and attuned, we lead differently. We relate differently. We heal differently.”
This is more than poetic insight—it’s rooted in science. Research from the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health confirms that time in nature reduces stress, increases prosocial behavior, and strengthens emotional resilience (Frumkin et al., 2017). Another study in Frontiers in Psychology found that awe—a common response in forest environments—enhances empathy and promotes ethical decision-making (Stellar et al., 2078).
Graseilah’s Four Pillars of Nature Diplomacy—Presence, Reverence, Compassion, and Belonging—offer tangible shifts for anyone seeking to lead from a place of deeper impact:
- Regulate to Remember.
When stress hijacks your clarity, step into nature. Even 20 minutes of forest immersion can regulate the nervous system, restore perspective, and reconnect you to what truly matters. - Lead with Presence, Not Performance.
Great leadership isn’t just about execution—it’s about attunement. People trust leaders who slow down, listen deeply, and show up authentically. - Practice Reverence, Not Just Resilience.
Awe softens reactivity. It’s not just poetic—it’s strategic. Reverence expands creative problem-solving, emotional agility, and relational trust. - Let Connection Be the Compass.
Ask yourself in moments of tension: What would deepen connection here? That question alone can interrupt reactive cycles and reopen the door to trust, collaboration, and peace.
So what inspired a former intelligence analyst to become a forest-based peace advocate?
For Graseilah, the shift was personal, not professional. “I spent years analyzing conflict systems at the highest level,” she says. With a master’s in nuclear disarmament and a career in intelligence and civil-military relations, she understood global conflict inside and out, but still felt exhausted and powerless. “The challenges felt too vast for me—or anyone—to solve.”
It wasn’t until she stepped outside the traditional systems that a new path revealed itself. “It was the forest that reminded me that peace begins with how we relate—to ourselves, to one another, and to the Earth.”
Today, as the founder of Epic Gatherings and the pioneer of Nature Diplomacy, she designs immersive, nature-based experiences for leaders, changemakers, and communities—fostering belonging, creative problem-solving, and awe-inspired change. Her work is a return not to simplicity, but to what is essential.
“This talk moved me deeply. Graseilah brings a sense of peace that goes beyond the intellectual—she makes you feel it. Her vision of leadership and diplomacy is the future.”
—Lejla Bratovich, Conflict Resolution Expert
Graseilah’s approach is not about escaping into the woods. It’s about re-entering the world with clearer vision, deeper empathy, and the tools to lead lasting transformation. Because as she reminds us:
“Peace isn’t handed down by governments—it’s built one relationship at a time. And nature is one of our most powerful allies in that work.”
To learn more about Graseilah Coolidge and Epic Gatherings, visit: www.epicgatherings.com/graseilah
Linktr.ee: https://linktr.ee/epicgatherings
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicgatherings/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/graseilah/
Facebook: facebook.com/GraseilahCoolidge
References:
Frumkin, H., Bratman, G. N., Breslow, S. J., Cochran, B., Kahn Jr, P. H., Lawler, J. J., … & Wood, S. A. (2017). Nature contact and human health: A research agenda. Environmental Health Perspectives, 125(7), 075001. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1663
Stellar, J. E., Gordon, A. M., Piff, P. K., Cordaro, D., Anderson, C. L., Bai, Y., … & Keltner, D. (2017). Self-transcendent emotions and their social functions: Compassion, gratitude, and awe bind us to others through prosociality. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 314. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00314
