Voices of Mahai: Renée Leduc on Finding Rest in the Midst of a Changing World

Renée Leduc has spent her career working at the intersection of climate, weather, and public policy. As the Founder and Principal of Narayan Strategy, she helps organizations communicate complex weather, climate, and aerospace priorities to decision-makers across the U.S. government. Her path has taken her from researching human interactions with wildlife and natural resources in southern Africa as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar to nearly a decade at NOAA advising agency leadership on environmental satellite programs.

After navigating an exceptionally demanding period in the climate policy world, Renée arrived at Mahai for our Calm Retreat carrying more stress than she realized. In this edition of Voices of Mahai, she reflects on the healing power of slowing down—finding deep rest in the rhythm of the waves, sharing nourishing meals around the community table, embracing moments of contrast through ice baths and warm flower baths, and ending each day beneath a sky full of stars.

Mahai: Living in a city, working in the realms of climate and politics, can you share a little of how visiting Mahai supported you?

Renée : I live in Alexandria VA, just outside Washington, DC, and own my own policy consulting firm focused on weather and climate. While 2026 is my 13th year in business, the DC policy environment since 2025 has been extremely stressful with budgets cut and colleagues fired. While my business has survived, the strain on my body and mind was substantial. I didn't understand I was so exhausted until I got to Mahai. The team welcomed me with open arms as did Mahai's amazing hammocks! The sounds of the waves and the breeze pulled me into deep rest, which was so needed.

Mahai: What is your favorite memory from your visit at Mahai?

Renée : I loved the food and savoring it together with everyone else with thoughtful conversation at the long table. The thoughtfully planned activities were amazing too, especially the ice baths followed by the warm flower bath!

Mahai: ⁠What is your favorite time of day? How did you enjoy it at Mahai?

Renée : I have always been a night person, so I definitely enjoyed the time on the roof watching stars and dancing, as well as the time near the campfire.

About Renée :

Renée Leduc is the Founder and Principal of Narayan Strategy based in Arlington, Virginia USA where she helps her clients communicate about weather, climate and aerospace priorities to decision makers across the U.S. federal government and abroad. She started Narayan Strategy in 2013.

Renee began her career in climate adaptation as a U.S. Fulbright research scholar studying human interactions with wildlife and natural resources in Malawi, Zimbabwe and Botswana in the late 1990s. Her focus on weather and climate began at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) where she served as a civil servant for nearly a decade, advising two NOAA administrators on the agency’s environmental satellite programs together with U.S. Congress and the White House.

Renee has a bachelors degree in biology and anthropology from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine and a masters of public policy degree from American University in Washington, DC.

Photos from our Calm Retreat: