Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Cynthia Fishman AIA, BSpec, LEED AP, ACUE, Fitwel Ambassador of Ruby Hill

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Cynthia Fishman AIA, BSpec, LEED AP, ACUE, Fitwel Ambassador. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Cynthia, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Depends on what I have going on that day, but my preferred first 90 minutes of the day consists of cuddling with my polydactyl, tuxedo cat named Dottie. Then I go for a walk around my neighborhood before it gets too hot and/or other people are out and about. I use that time to listen to the birds, admire people’s front yards, and clear my head. Then finally I spend some time in my backyard drinking my coffee or tea and checking email.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Cynthia Fishman and I am the newly appointed Executive Director and Director of Education for the Ecosa Institute. Ecosa is a nonprofit ecological design school that had been in operation for almost 30-years in Prescott, Arizona. I am starting a new chapter of the organization by bringing it to Denver, Colorado. It’s immersive curriculum spans interdisciplinary studio work, system thinking, green building methods, biomimicry, ecology, permaculture, and environmental philosophy. Ecosa is one of the few programs in the United States that is completely taught in person, making it really special. Our program is for architects and designers, but also for anyone interested in designing with nature. I do many things at Ecosa including curriculum development, fundraising, marketing, creating strategic partnerships, administrative work, and being the main instructor for the design certificate program. This year (2025) is about transitioning to ‘Ecosa2.0’ in Denver and rebuilding the program. We anticipate our first cohort of students in the beginning of 2026.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
A person who saw me clearly before I could see myself would have to be my Aunt Diane. She had been my mother’s best friend since they were in high school. Diane was not only like an aunt but also like another mother to me and loved me unconditionally which is like no other feeling in the world. Unfortunately, she died of cancer when I was nineteen. However, after all these years, I still have a box of handwritten letters and notes from her. Reading them now gives me a sense of comfort and, funnily enough, sometimes great advice depending on the situation. She saw me for who I really was back then as I was trying to figure it out as a child and then during my teenage years, still saw me while I was trying to hide who I was, like a lot of people at that age. Her words of encouragement, understanding, and love speak to me at the level of my soul. So I am always striving to see myself now as she did then.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Where to even start? (laughing) There have been many times that I almost gave up. I started my biomimicry research, consulting, and education business in 2018. Like many people, the pandemic really killed all the momentum I had gathered in those first few years. Receiving over twenty-five rejections from 2020 to 2022 (I stopped counting after that) from different design competitions, grant applications, and other opportunities really took its toll on me. It’s hard not to take that kind of rejection personally. I tried not to be discouraged and pivoted my business plan more times than I can remember. I wanted to give up many times. Nevertheless, those struggles taught me different skills and really strengthened my resilience. That path led me to where I am today with Ecosa, so I’m glad I never gave up on myself and wanting to be involved in something that could have a positive effect on the planet.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
As trite as it sounds, I’m committed to trying to make the world a better place. We are living in a time where environmental degradation and the consequences of climate change are causing eco-anxiety, a chronic fear of environmental doom that can lead to feelings of hopelessness and existential dread. By helping bring the Ecosa Institute into this new chapter, I hope the program can help combat those feelings by giving students a sense of agency. We teach students tangible methods and concepts to not only help the planet adapt to these changes but also to help humans adapt and become leaders in this brave new world.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I was actually just talking about this with a friend! I most definitely think I am doing what I was born to do. I have been involved with Ecosa many times over the years, and it has always been life altering. I attended the program after I got my architecture degree because I knew I needed to learn more about ecological design. During that semester I met lots of amazing people. One of the clients we worked with reached out to me after I finished the program with a job opportunity. This was during the recession, and I hadn’t been very successful finding something on my own. This caused me to move to Santa Fe, NM and altered the trajectory of my life. Years later, after I got my Masters in Biomimicry degree, Ecosa hired me as a lecturer and helped me develop my teaching skills. And now in my current role at the Ecosa Institute, it is allowing me to do all the things I enjoy and am good at such as connecting like-minded people, mentorship, teaching, and project management. It reminds me of the Japanese concept ikigai. It is only when a person finds something that they love doing, they are good at, they can be paid for, and what the world needs can they find joy and purpose in their life. With Ecosa, I think I’ve found that.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ecosa.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecosainstitute/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecosa-institute-aa5b55123/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EcosaInstitute