The Audacity of Dahlias

A reflection on courage, blooming boldly, and leadership in full color

Yesterday, I found myself lingering at the edge of my neighbor’s garden, captivated. Her planters were overflowing with dahlias — in every size, shape, and shade you can imagine. Spiky and round, coral and crimson, tight or wildly expansive, they were absolutely showing off. And I was here for it.

I’ve loved dahlias for as long as I can remember, but I’ve never paused to consider what draws me to them so deeply. Yesterday, I finally understood: it’s their audacity.

These blooms do not stay in their lane. They defy the rules. They express both mathematical precision and chaotic flair. Structured and free. Their petals spiral with geometry, and yet they give the impression of barely-contained exuberance. They grow until they nearly collapse under their own weight, risking broken stems in pursuit of light. They do not apologize for how much space they take up in the world.

That kind of audacity is magnetic.

When my generous neighbor invited me to cut a few blooms that had passed their peak, I brought them into the kitchen and arranged them in a jar. Up close, they were even more stunning. I couldn’t stop admiring their complexity. Then leaned in to hear the message they seemed to whisper.

I thought of myself at 22.

While in graduate school at Emory, I took a risk. I emailed a visiting guest lecturer I admired and asked if he might hire me. I had nothing but curiosity, hope, and a little bit of nerve. That one act of audacity led to a career-defining opportunity and a long, meaningful chapter at a consulting firm. I bloomed.

It makes me wonder: what might be possible now, if I tap into that same courage?

In this new chapter launching Sloop Leadership Coaching & Consulting, I often find myself drawn to well-researched, structured plans and tools. But the dahlias remind me that structure alone is not enough. Growth requires boldness. Opportunity requires risk. Coaching is, at its best, a deeply human art and not exact by any means. By serving as a thinking partner and creating a courageous space, I am present with leaders as they unfurl, bend toward the light, and see new ways to bloom more fully into the future they most desire.

The world doesn't need more neatly trimmed hedges. It needs dahlias — radiant, awe-inspiring, and full of possibility.