The Circle Up Experience "Natural Leadership School"

A long-time C-suite executive himself, Brad Lande-Shannon has a first-hand understanding of the pressures and stresses that face company founders, leaders, and high performance teams. This is partly why he first turned to Natural Leadership as he faced his own professional challenges.

Brad's passion for horses has been a life-long pursuit. Having competed with the National Cutting Horse Association as a youth and now as an adult amateur dressage competitor, he’s combined his deep horse expertise with his executive leadership coaching. Over the course of his career, Brad has guided thousands of leaders on values, purpose, emotional intelligence, and well-being.

Certified in the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership and following training from The Center for Equus Coaching (formerly The Koelle Institute), Brad enrolled in the Natural Leadership program. Compared to other programs, Brad says Natural Leadership is, “deceptively simple and multi-dimensional in its use cases to apply and teach.”

Brad has an equestrian facility that offers Natural Leadership facilitation, coaching and programming at Awake Ranch, near Portland, Oregon, which he acquired with his husband in late 2022. “We are home to 16 horses, three goats, and two cats surrounded by Pacific Northwest trees and on farmland that regularly displays exquisite sunset and sunrise views.”

Michael Marks is the owner and driving force behind Free Bird Farm & Stables, a sacred space designed to restore the spirit, of humans and horses alike. In his third decade of a storied career in commercial real estate, Michael now directs more creative energy towards, and is consciously committed to, curating experiences that celebrate the healing magic of horses.

Michael’s passion for horses began at a young age, sparked by memorable visits to the countryside and, ultimately the racetrack, with his father. Their shared love of horses fostered a strong bond and built a lifelong connection to these uniquely intuitive and energetically honest animals. In 2011, Michael purchased Free Bird Farm & Stables, and started transforming the space.

While working with a Somatic Experiencing practitioner, Michael attended an equine assisted coaching retreat that forever changed the direction of his life. The unfamiliar yet essential nature of a well-regulated nervous systems came into focus and the reflections provided by horses became critical. Michael now seeks to create the experience of safety and connection in presence with equine partners.

Learning that the leader of a herd is not the fastest or bravest, but rather the one with the most regulated nervous system was a pivotal moment in his appreciation for the insightful magic of horse work. Michael’s appreciation has only deepened through his own personal journey to restore his nervous system and heal. His passion to bring this experience forward for others is palpable at Free Bird Farm & Stables.

Lauryn Henley is a visionary leader, consciousness coach, and speaker whose work bridges education, leadership development, liberation pedagogy, and spiritual evolution. With over 20 years of experience, Lauryn is committed to dismantling limiting paradigms, decolonizing bodies and minds, and guiding individuals, relationships, and ecosystems toward liberation and alignment. Her mission is to co-create a thriving world where all beings—human and non-human—can innovate, belong, and thrive in harmony with the Life Principle. A lifelong learner, Lauryn holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from the University of Florida, a Master’s in Curriculum Planning and Design from National Louis University, and certifications in Conscious Leadership Coaching and Equine-Assisted Therapies. She integrates her academic expertise with intuitive wisdom, sacred practices, and revolutionary Dragon magic to activate new-world systems and empower clients to discover their eternal nature. Lauryn’s approach inspires breakthroughs, guiding clients to transcend limitations, realign with their soul blueprints, and co-create lives and ecosystems that defy the constraints of matrix programming. Her work has made her a sought-after keynote speaker for organizations such as Teach for America, North Park University, and the National Charter School Conference. She also co-hosts The Healing Collective Podcast, exploring the intersection of individual and collective transformation. When not coaching or facilitating, Lauryn nurtures her connection with nature, designs sacred rituals, and cherishes time with her animals and her son, Taylen.