"We approached Soil and Shadow to help us address growing pains and define our future. We were moving quickly in our work but needed to align our board and staff around a shared vision, what we now call our 'North Star.' Soil and Shadow was instrumental in pinpointing the key issues we needed to tackle, giving us both clarity and data to move forward. Their guidance in redefining our board structure and priorities has been transformative. We’ve moved beyond 'founder syndrome' and built a governance process that engages and energizes our board members. What stands out most is the balance they bring—helping us focus on the work while prioritizing self-care to prevent burnout. This approach has brought a sense of ease and renewed energy to both our staff and board. With Soil and Shadow, we’ve found a trusted partner who understands our journey and is helping us shape a sustainable and impactful future."
~ Michael Reilly, Foodshed Capital
"I came to Soil and Shadow during the early days of building something new, knowing I was navigating uncharted territory. Nikki brought a rare mix of sharp strategic insight, deep soulfulness, and a willingness to dive into the messy reality of growth. She helped us align our seasonal cycles of goal setting and planning, turning our startup chaos into a more intentional, adaptable flow. The difference in our day-to-day work has been transformative—we now operate with clarity and purpose, even when things get challenging. One of the most impactful moments was a composting ritual Nikki facilitated after a tough relational dynamic. It helped us process the interpersonal challenges, extract the lessons, and carry the nutrients into our next chapter. Her visioning exercises also profoundly shaped our trajectory. By insisting that my personal vision and the project’s goals be in alignment, she opened the door for deeper strategic dreaming and unlocked ideas that are now core to our work. Soil and Shadow’s presence has rippled through our team, embedding practices that continue to guide us. This partnership has been an anchor for growth and a source of courage on our journey."
~ Katherine Wilkinson, All We Can Save Project
"We wanted a team to help us build a strong foundation—to evolve into an organization that was more intentionally living into our values. We had these beautifully written values: we wanted a decolonial approach; we wanted to operate with radical candor, where we could openly discuss power dynamics and class structures in order to achieve our mission. But we were struggling. Power dynamics, challenges with co-creation, and the need for deep self-reflection were all holding us back. We needed support to be effectively self-critical and to do the internal work required to reach a place where we could say, Okay, we can do this together.
Soil and Shadow supported our founder in strengthening his openness, humility, and collaborative leadership. They provided us with a safe space to process both the challenges of our startup environment and the organization’s growth. But they didn’t just help us process—they gave us concrete tactics and frameworks to navigate these challenges. That support was essential in sustaining the energy of our team. Tools like the feedback framework helped us again and again, and people still refer back to them, especially in moments when we feel stuck.
The trust we built through this work has made it possible to have real conversations. That is the deepest impact: we now have more confidence and skills to navigate obstacles, and we more fully believe in our ability to build this organization the way we originally envisioned."
~ Zaana Hall, One Project