For 30 years, Sandra Kirschner has walked alongside children and families, not as someone who has “arrived” but as a fellow traveler on the journey to becoming fully human. Her work is grounded in two wide-angle values: the commitment to becoming fully human herself and supporting others in doing the same, and bringing more love into the world.

Field Day! Sandra’s 3rd grade class with my husband, Pete

In her classroom, that love looks like kneeling down to meet a child at eye level to truly hear their story, creating rituals that help children feel seen and safe, and guiding parents through difficult moments with empathy rather than judgment.

It’s the gentle encouragement to a shy child to take part in a song, the quiet reassurance to a parent navigating a hard season, and the cultivation of an environment where kindness is the norm, not the exception. I have witnessed Sandra’s unconditional acceptance of where a human is in their journey—and it moved me deeply. It inspired me to want to multiply her value of creating love in the world so it can ripple far beyond the walls of her classroom.

For Sandra, education is inseparable from the family system. “We need each other to grow,” she reflects. “We need both support and resistance to grow.” Her vision is of a meditative life where there is no boundary between the physical and the spiritual—a way of seeing that allows her to sense what a child needs and what hindrances must be removed so they can unfold naturally.

Like a gardener tending a beloved plant, she knows growth sometimes requires weeding, sometimes sunshine, sometimes patience when winter takes its toll. And when something appears lost, it often returns—stronger and more vibrant.

Sandra has found a natural home in Waldorf education, a place where the resting soul can flourish and leadership seeks the highest good for all. From her very first day in a young Waldorf school, she found herself in leadership by necessity: “It was all hands on deck, so I jumped in.” She learned by doing, meeting challenges head-on. Leadership, for Sandra, isn’t about seeking dominance—it’s about saying yes to what is needed, guided by a spiritual reconnection to the human being.

She believes servant leadership is the ability to let others shine, to do the inner work that earns respect, and to mentor from a place of generosity. She has been blessed with great mentors and has mentored many in return. Her counsel: beware of fear and overprotection that lead to “this is how we’ve always done it” thinking. Trust the people inside your organization—outsiders can only go so far in their coaching; then it’s up to you to take it and run.

Sandra’s style is quiet, humble, and deeply authentic. She values connection that embraces the whole human being—light and shadow.

Boulder, she notes, has a “dark underbelly” beneath its beauty, and she invites us to bring more heart and acceptance into our connections. Avoiding the shadow harms us; acknowledging it makes us whole.

She challenges us to consider:

• Can we make more space for low-income housing?
• Do we have room for real diversity?
• Will we resist becoming sterile, or will we say yes more often to helping each other?
• How do we know when it’s time to reimagine leadership entirely?

Sandra Kirschner’s journey is a reminder that leadership is not a role—it’s a daily act of courage, humility, and love. And like the gardens she evokes, it is a practice of tending, weeding, and making space for every living thing to flourish.

• Learn more about my work and why leaders like Sandra inspire it → Visit my website
• Read about Dharma’s Garden in Boulder and how it parallels Sandra’s vision → Dharma’s Garden on AboutBoulder
• Explore the philosophy of Waldorf education that shapes Sandra’s teaching → Waldorf Education on Wikipedia

Kate Galt Primal Leadership Business Coaching

Kate Galt coaches and challenges leaders at all levels— from entrepreneurs to seasoned executives— to sharpen their vision, articulate key messages so they connect and inspire, and make decisive, strategic moves that drive real business growth. Based in Boulder, Colorado, she works with individuals and teams to strengthen leadership, improve team dynamics, and achieve measurable results.

Her coaching is rooted in Primal Leadership—because the strongest leaders move with instinct, command presence without force, and create unshakable trust through raw, real connection.

Like any driven person, Kate is always figuring out how to do it all—running a business, raising two kids with her equally involved husband, and still making time for the adventure that brought her to Colorado in 1998. Whether it’s snowboarding, mountain biking, or chasing an ultimate frisbee, she knows the best leadership isn’t just learned—it’s lived.

The bottom line? Kate makes good leaders great.

Curious about what makes her coaching style so impactful? Book a call and experience it for yourself at CoachTheLeaders.com.