Roberta’s journey from CEO to Ecosystem Leader

Roberta Bosurgi, a senior executive with a strong corporate background, was serving as CEO of Impact Europe, a not-for-profit network of impact investors, when she met Debbie Baute. In that role, she was facing a profound leadership dilemma: would the corporate leadership toolkit, that had served her so well in that context, help her navigate the organic, network-driven environment she was now supposed to lead? Her initial search for new leadership tools, quickly transformed into an essential journey of systemic self-discovery. The realization was clear: sustainable leadership requires integrating the whole self to thrive within the ecosystem.

Roberta first engaged Debbie Baute for a team coaching exercise at Impact Europe. She immediately felt a strong affinity with Debbie’s approach and recognized the opportunity to refresh her consolidated leadership toolkit. "I started wondering whether my leadership style, shaped in the large corporate world was a fit for purpose in the not-for-profit, in a more networked environment."

When Debbie introduced the concept of the Ecosystem Leadership Circle (a journey focused on organic, systemic and self-aware leadership), Roberta saw a path toward a strategic pivot: "That resonated. I wanted to bring new tools and approaches into my leadership style.” Roberta took a leap of faith, trusting her gut feeling about Debbie’s approach and the potential of the ELC and asked to join the current Circle.

Activating the whole ecosystem by co-design

The Ecosystem Leadership Circle (ELC) is designed to be a living, responsive program, not a static training. Roberta highlights that the ELC was a co-designed journey, with Debbie continuously adapting the content to the group's needs and energy: "It was very much shaped, co-designed and co-developed together with Debbie as we went through the journey. It puts all the focus and the effort on the listening to each other and reading the signs of the journey in order to shape the next steps."

The sessions actively engaged the full spectrum of the leader's being (the mind, the body and the heart) going far beyond purely cognitive learning: “The sessions invited different parts of your system to engage: the thinking, the feeling or the movement of the body... This deepened the connection between your feelings and the signals of the body. A rare experience, since most leadership programs stay mainly in the rational mind.

Engaging mind, body and heart

The ELC included elements considered "unusual" in typical leadership settings, such as breathwork and a session with music and dancing, all aimed at bringing the 'whole self' to the process. The work in the Circle was intense, requiring dedication outside of the scheduled meetings. Roberta noticed that the deeper insights didn’t show up right away: "We joked that the 'aha moments’ tended to land a day or two later, when the process continued unfolding on its own.”

The deep work also created physical reactions. Roberta noticed that the body reacts strongly: "You can feel that your body has gone through something different, and that subconsciously unlocks an element of your way of thinking about certain things." This proved that the self-discovery was not just in the mind, but fundamental on different levels.

Safety as a growth catalyst

A key differentiator is the quality of the peer group. Debbie’s commitment to group curation was paramount, ensuring the ELC operated as a safe, high-trust environment: "All credit to Debbie for this part. She brought great care and due diligence to choosing the people she invited in.” Before finalizing enrollment, Debbie actively ensured the group chemistry was right. She knew that the wrong fit could slow down the learning for everyone. "She even introduced me to the group before making a final commitment, wanting to be sure the good group chemistry would remain intact. In such a personal journey, if you bring in somebody that doesn't fit, it could really slow down the journey for other people."

This dedication to group curation is essential because the ELC is not solely about individual growth, but about joining a small, supportive ecosystem where leaders can safely explore themselves: "It's not only about the individual, but it's joining a small ecosystem. So there needs to be a real sense of fit, not only in where someone is on their own path, but also, in how their presence connects with the others." The trust was built by the members’ shared vulnerability, creating a safe space for deep analysis.

Unpacking the leader: the multifaceted self

The ELC sessions moved beyond discussion through the active use of practical tools, including the Metaphors@Work leadership archetype cards. These cards served as a mirror, helping participants unpack the complexity of their own leadership identity. Roberta explains that the archetypes countered the idea of a leader as a monolithic entity: "We have done a lot of exercises with those cards. Each of us is a multifaceted individual that has different ways of acting and different modes of creating. We are not a monolithic piece of marble. We are the communicator, we are the connector, we are the thinker, we are the lover, …"

This exercise revealed the inner spectrum of the leader. How past environments can suppress certain necessary archetypes. The invitation is to choose consciously which aspect of the Self to bring forward. "Depending on the context and the situation, one mode comes more naturally, while others stay quiet in the background. The work is to notice which aspect of yourself you allow to guide you. Even when some of those modes have not been welcomed in the past.” Roberta clarifies.

This concept reinforces the core ELC lesson: authentic leadership is not about imposing a fixed style, but about consciously cultivating the right internal mode to respond to the ecosystem's needs.

Finding the right ecosystem where your potential can grow

The most impactful outcome was a clear realization of the importance of ‘ecological alignment’. ‘‘As corporate leader you are often expected to be the hero, to dive in and fix every challenge. In the ecosystem leadership world the leader is a gardener. For a garden to thrive, many aspects need to play a role, so the choice of garden is as important as the gardener’s green fingers.”  Roberta's journey gave her the clarity and confidence to make important career decisions and pivot.

The focus shifted from trying to fix the external environment to understanding where she could operate at her best. The ecosystem tools became life tools, integrating her family context and professional role: "They’re not just two separate individuals: Roberta in the family and Roberta at work. Every part of me impacts the other."

Leading with intuition: a lifetime journey

Roberta experimented to consciously use body signals and intuition as strategic inputs, paying attention to the link between heart, body and mind. "Heart, body and mind are all connected! This is one of the key insights that will stay with me forever." This is not a quick fix, but a sustained commitment: "I think it’s a lifetime journey. That’s why you have to continue practicing." She followed her gut to join the ELC and now she tries and practice listening to her intuition every day.

The true success of the ELC is that it lived its own philosophy: the system became self-sustaining. After one year the group chose to continue, organizing a second year of sessions themselves. This was cemented by the evolution of Debbie's role: "We moved on from having Debbie as the master of ceremony and the external coach and she's become one of the group." This demonstrates that the leadership system is now truly alive, with all members contributing to its ongoing wisdom.

Investment in foundational transformation

It’s clear the ELC is more than a training. It is a profound investment in systemic and personal clarity. "The only prerequisite is a willingness to be challenged and to walk the journey with openness.”, concludes Roberta.

This program is for leaders ready to unwind old habits, feel vulnerable and integrate their complexity to achieve sustainable, system-wide growth. Roberta's journey underscores that true leadership growth begins within the system. She credits this profound shift to her own courage to look inward, supported and facilitated by Debbie Baute.

Are you a founder or executive ready to find an ecosystem where you can thrive? Discover the power of the Ecosystem Leadership Circle and book a complimentary exploratory conversation with Debbie via coaching@debbiebaute.com.