In this episode of One in Ten, host Teresa Huizar welcomes Irish Burch, a longtime Children’s Advocacy Center leader and mentor, to discuss “imperfect” leadership as learning and service. Irish recounts her path from CPS investigator to forensic interviewer, then into leadership roles culminating as CEO of the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center, emphasizing that being great at a job doesn’t automatically translate to leading people. Irish shares advice for emerging leaders about balancing mission service with personal development, preventing burnout by maintaining life outside work, and her next season focused on coaching, speaking, and sustaining leaders under pressure while building broader public support for CACs.

Time Stamps:

Time. Topic

00:00 Leadership Myths Busted

01:36 Irish Leadership Journey

03:53 Grounded by Faith Community

05:01 Weight of Mission Work

07:47 Imperfect Human Centered

10:18 Burden and Blessing

13:05 Advice for Emerging Leaders

15:58 Radical Transparency Myth

19:47 Leading Through Influence

23:38 Hiring for Collaboration

26:02 Systems Change Decisions

27:58 Learning on the Fly

28:59 Grace Over Perfection

32:21 Myth of Great Leaders

37:27 Vision for CAC Future

39:39 Next Season and Speaking

42:13 Staying Healthy in the Work

45:55 Burnout and Identity

51:23 Closing Gratitude and Farewell

Resources:

Irish Burch Company

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