Leadership & Recovery Rooted in Nature
Surrounded by green fields and open skies just 35 minutes from Amsterdam, lies Little Dutch Farm. This regenerative coaching farm, with healing gardens and a food forest, is led by founder Kim Taylor. After nearly two decades on the front lines of the energy transition and sustainability - including roles in leadership teams at Seenons (circular economy), Sungevity (solar), and New Motion (electric cars) - Kim combines her expertise in leadership and sustainable transformation into a unique offering for the professional market. We sat down with Kim to discuss how she utilises nature as a co-facilitator for leaders, teams, and professionals in transition.
You often speak about ‘Regenerative Leadership.’ What does this look like in practice?
Regenerative Leadership is for leaders and entrepreneurs who understand that systemic change begins with looking inward. In the fast-paced world of tech and impact-driven sectors, the pressure is constant. I help these leaders shift from leading through persistent pressure to leading through presence and connection. By using nature as a mirror, leaders learn to listen to their own rhythms and those of their environment. It is about finding the balance between "doing" and "being," allowing them to become a grounded inspiration of calm for their organisations. "Sustainable change requires sustainable people."
Another pillar of your work is ‘Garden Therapy.’ How do you support professionals with burnout prevention and recovery?
This work is deeply rooted in my own journey. After experiencing a burnout myself, I discovered the profound power of nature for recovery. Garden Therapy is a 12 week program where we use the senses, the seasons, and physical labour on the land, such as sowing and harvesting, as active tools for healing.
It is a science-based approach; research confirms that nature reduces stress and improves cognitive performance and creativity. We offer professionals a safe, welcoming space to slow down and rediscover their resilience before they reach a breaking point, or to return to work in a healthy way after a difficult period. Here, you are invited to simply land and reconnect with what truly matters.
Images: Chloe Precey
For organisations, you offer ‘Team Coaching in Nature.’ What kind of depth can a team expect from such a day?
Team Coaching in nature is focused on strengthening culture by fostering psychological safety, trust, and connection. When a team steps outside, the dynamics shift completely; hierarchies fade, and conversations flow differently. We use the farm’s elements to help team members see each other in a new light. The goal is to forge a healthy team culture that can withstand the complexity of today’s business world, leaving the day with a sense of unity and shared focus.
How do you see the future of these products in combination with the Little Dutch Farm Foundation?
The two are inextricably linked. We launched the Little Dutch Farm Foundation to make the healing power of nature accessible to vulnerable groups, such as those on the mental health waiting list. My ambition is for Little Dutch Farm to grow as a social enterprise. Corporate clients who choose regenerative leadership or team coaching contribute directly to this mission. A percentage of the revenue is donated to the foundation to create free garden therapy places for those who need it most, creating shared value that regenerates both the professional community and the natural world.
Images: Chloe Precey What makes a day at the farm successful for you as a coach?
Success at Little Dutch Farm is defined by the profound shift that occurs when nature takes over as a co-facilitator during the coaching journey. Far from being a simple backdrop, the land possesses a science-based power to restore the clarity and resilience that the busyness of modern life often erode.
