Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elaine Dinos. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elaine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission at Kindred Lane is to grow a kind world where nature and all people thrive. Through the work we share—from holistic leadership coaching and regenerative retreats to executive development programs—we help leaders reconnect with their true nature so they are growing ‘kind’ solutions for themselves, their organizations, their communities, and the natural world to thrive. Our mission is deeply meaningful to me because it honors the intersection of my personal journey, my professional expertise, and that which is critically needed in the world. With the many systemic problems facing our world today, we each have an important role to play. We support leaders in clarifying & walking their path of purpose, well-being, fulfillment, and impact, because what we grow is a result of how we lead and how we lead is a result of who we are. When we are each ‘rooted in love’ and walking our unique path of abundance, then we can grow a kind world where nature and all people thrive. This is what we mean by our name, Kindred Lane.

Before founding Kindred Lane, I was a Partner in the Executive Search practice at Korn Ferry, guiding senior corporate leaders through pivotal career transitions. I achieved great career success but was struggling to balance it all. Between the stressors of a high-achieving role and trying to navigate motherhood with young children at home, I was pouring from an empty cup. The pace at which I had built my career success was no longer sustainable while attempting to show up as the parent I wanted to be. I felt a deep longing to better align my career success with (the very difficult to define) ‘success’ as a parent. In 2016, I embarked on a journey of ‘living from my roots’—reconnecting with my foundational values and for the first time in a while, prioritizing self-care. I returned to my yoga practice, got intentional about eating foods that nourished me, and found incredible wisdom when slowing down and learning from nature. Meanwhile, at work, I focused on building the Purpose Practice at Korn Ferry and leading the firm’s groundbreaking research on how purpose drives performance through company culture. The combination of my personal & professional transformation sparked the inception of Kindred Lane. Now, eight years later, my work at Kindred Lane is not just a profession; it’s a personal mission that nourishes my soul in the space around my children.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Kindred Lane is not a traditional leadership development company, but rather an innovative collaborative offering holistic leadership solutions for foundational and transformative growth. We work on a deeper level than most leadership solutions, impacting the core drivers of individual and team behaviors. The ‘how’ of Kindred Lane combines an extensive research-backed methodology with immersive natural experiences and an inspiring collaborative of 50+ pioneering practitioners who come together to guide meaningful experiences resulting in sustained, positive impact.

We typically work with two types of clients. First, an individual leader who is seeking greater fulfillment, well-being, purpose, and impact throughout their work and life; and second, a leader/leadership team that wants to invest in their people in order to grow—for themselves, their organization, and those they serve. We offer one-on-one coaching, peer & team retreats, and custom development programs that are rooted in our pillars of holistic leadership: personal growth, holistic well-being, leading with purpose, fostering community, having a restorative impact, and cultivating abundance. All of our programs bring to life Kindred Lane’s methodology, the Wisdom of the Forest® which guides our participants in Reconnecting with Self, One Another, and Nature. Our programming is intentionally designed to activate transformation at the individual, organizational, and societal levels.

Many of our clients are overwhelmed with the plethora of demands on them personally and professionally, not to mention the world’s problems they feel called to help solve. At Kindred Lane, we offer actionable paths for leaders and their teams to simplify life and rejuvenate themselves while having a bigger impact. Our programs are carefully designed to ensure that everyone who participates can find a personalized route to growth that doesn’t just elevate their capabilities but also enriches their lives with meaning and abundance.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One pivotal lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the relentless pursuit of hustle culture. I used to operate by just running faster and taking on more, the more that was asked of me professionally. Until I wasn’t able to any longer, as a mother of young children. I felt like I was frantically jumping from one branch of ‘my tree’ to another—from work to motherhood, with no time for myself in between. Then I realized, through a pivotal time of soul-searching and self-care, that I had been disconnected from ‘my roots’. I spent a great deal of time reflecting and reconnecting with the values that helped me feel most grounded, in large part, informed by the stories and time spent with my maternal grandparents. While they were no longer living, I felt a deep reconnection with my beloved grandparents and all they had poured into me as a child. This feeling of reconnection combined with a resurgence of nourishing self-care practices was at the heart of my journey into ‘living from my roots’. I finally gave myself permission to slow down, to be present, and to be intentional about what I said yes to, so that I could prioritize my own personal growth and wellbeing so that all I create stems from that place.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I realized that the key to resilience is to bring these values and lessons from my ancestors into all that I do, while at the same time, prioritizing self-care to deeply nourish and restore myself. This became my life motto to both live from my roots AND soak up the sun; to live with purpose AND enjoy well-being. This is the recipe for a fulfilling life AND meaningful work; the path that became Kindred Lane. Over the years I have often prioritized my children over the growth of Kindred Lane. I have missed opportunities to purely grow my business, because there are sacrifices I am not willing to make when it comes to how I choose to show up as a parent. For example, during the pandemic, I quickly shifted into lead parent with three young children to guide through virtual learning and 24/7 parenting. There wasn’t much space for Kindred Lane. Some partnerships and clients that I had invested in were not as patient while I tended to the needs of my children in this unscripted and incredibly stressful time. The past couple of years have been rebuilding years for Kindred Lane; returning from an intentionally passive season. To find resilience, I continually turn to the lessons of my grandparents, and all that my ancestors sacrificed to provide an education and opportunities for their children. I find great strength in this, knowing that I am cultivating regenerative growth in my children and honoring my ancestors, while also pouring the incredible lessons of motherhood into the wisdom I offer my clients at Kindred Lane.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kindredlane.com/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elaine-dinos-4179a73/

Image Credits
Kim Evans