Women Leaders Are Key to the Future: Denise Starling

Denise Starling has always been a visionary leading Atlanta into the future. With her latest endeavor addressing embodied carbon, Starling has been conquering sustainability before the concept was on the corporate agenda. “That’s what motivates me, getting things done” says the Georgia Tech graduate.

And getting things done is what she does best. With an undergraduate degree in Architecture and Master’s degree in City Planning both from Georgia Institute of Technology, Starling began working toward a cleaner Atlanta in 1999. Leading the formation of Buckhead Area Transportation Management Association (BATMA), she courageously took on the task of transportation and air quality in Atlanta. In 2003, her solution-oriented approach redefined last mile connectivity with BUC Shuttle.

After a review of city greenspaces in 2010, Denise spearheaded her BATMA team in forming Livable Buckhead, a non-profit overseeing sustainability efforts for both residents and the commercial businesses.  On May 15, 2013, PATH400 signs were revealed with some altitudinous goals set forth. Starling told Curbed Atlanta, “Ga. 400 has been described as ‘the scar that will never heal’ because of the way that it divided Buckhead. Through the PATH400 project we’re overcoming a lot of the negative feelings that people have had ever since Ga. 400 was built.”  Successfully collaborating with Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID) and the PATH Foundation, the completed goal is to connect the region. With five completed sections, two in progress sections, and seven future sections, the construction progress is a success. In 2016, Starling brought together the five major civic organizations in Buckhead (Livable Buckhead, Buckhead CID, Buckhead Coalition, Buckhead Business Association and Buckhead Rotary) to develop a collective vision for the community’s future creating the Sustainability Action Plan.

Starling is a self-reliant Gen X’er thriving on challenge, creative input, and resourcefulness. She facilitates and fosters the power of diversity using constructive collaborative dialogue. With a generationally inclusive work world, she bridges the gap between the older generation and the newer generations. She does all this while balancing family life. Can the tasks of family and career leadership become overwhelming at times? Absolutely. She makes being present at home and the office a focal point finding joy in the small wins. Working in sustainability and viewing the global picture can be discouraging. Starling focuses on what she can do to help her Atlanta communities and how it will add to the larger picture. “I love things to be moving, I am not happy with anything when things are not going forward and that is why I am thrilled with the construction of PATH400. I get to be out there working with the construction crews,” Starling says of her valuable community project PATH400.

Having a seat at the table, Starling looks to encourage and support other women giving them the tools to pull up a chair. Over time, she has noticed a shift in who is entering that peer room. With her bridge of connection skills, Starling is perfect to create a room full of generationally diverse problem solvers of the future. “Pick up that phone and communicate with each other. Connect and get things done”- Denise Sterling.

Also in the series:

Peggy Whitlow-Ratcliffe – Founder and Executive Director, Live Thrive

Ashley Bella – Founder and CEO of Artzybella