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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