New This Year: Outstanding Leadership Fellowship

One exceptional woman will be selected as the inaugural Rooted & Rising Outstanding Leadership Fellow and will receive a full-ride scholarship to participate in our 2026-2027 women's leadership program. 

The Outstanding Leadership Fellowship is not necessarily awarded to the woman with the longest résumé or the most impressive title. We are looking for a woman who is actively making a difference in her organization, on her team, or in her community.

The Outstanding Leadership Fellow is someone who has already demonstrated a commitment to personal and professional growth. She invests in herself, seeks out opportunities to learn, and is willing to step outside her comfort zone in service of becoming a stronger leader.

Most importantly, we are looking for a woman who will fully embrace this opportunity and use it as a catalyst for her continued growth, impact, and leadership.

All applicants may choose to be considered for the Fellowship.

 Participants will... 

• Hone communication and EQ skills critical for effective, efficient, and impactful leadership

• Learn to spot and address burnout to support employee morale and retention

• Gain skills to better navigate difficult conversations and power dynamics in the workplace

• Build confidence in their voice, setting boundaries, and ability to navigate challenging team dynamics

• Increase resilience to better perform under stress

• Gain tools to overcome imposter syndrome, guilt, fear, and other blocks to their greatest contributions

• Clarify what they truly want for their team, company, and the industry

• Set clear goals and create accountability to reach these objectives

• Explore best practices for performance reviews and nurturing top talent

About Your Guide

Megan Taylor Morrison is an executive coach and sought-after speaker specializing in leadership development in the horticulture industry. 

Meg has given keynote talks for women at Cultivate, Landscape Ontario, The Texas Nursery and Landscape Expo, as well as led educational sessions at industry events across North America. 

Her connection to the green industry began early. Meg grew up in Fresno, California — in the heart of one of the world’s most productive agricultural regions — where orchards, farms, and gardens shaped everyday life. She later worked with the UN Food & Agriculture Organization, spent time on organic farms, and learned firsthand from her grandmother and aunt in their gardens.

With more than 10 years of experience as a coach, Meg has worked with leaders and teams across various industries, including the green industry Her clients lead teams at organizations including Meta, NASA, Costa Farms, Syngenta, Siemens, and Columbia University.

Meg has trained with multiple coaching institutions and hold a master's degree in science journalism. When she isn't working with her clients, you can find her dancing (lindy hop, tango, bachata - you name it!), working on her next book, or swimming in icy rivers.