This archive report was first published on 16 September 2019.
Dr Paula Kahumbu: Wildlife Conservationist and CEO of WildlifeDirect ¶
Published on September 16, 2019
Dr Paula Kahumbu is a wildlife conservationist and Chief Executive Officer of WildlifeDirect. She is best known for her tireless efforts in protecting Africa's wildlife, particularly elephants, through her campaign, Hands Off Our Elephants, launched in 2014 with Kenyan First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
As CEO of WildlifeDirect, Dr. Kahumbu is responsible for the organization's strategy, fundraising, and overall representation. She is also the producer and host of the wildlife documentary TV series Wildlife Warriors and teaches undergraduate and graduate-level courses at Princeton University.
Dr. Kahumbu's leadership style is characterized by creativity and a focus on high standards. She delegates tasks and matches work with staff interests and work styles. To build strong teams, she uses the 'open space' method, which involves starting from a common intention and allowing everyone to participate in planning.
Despite the numerous challenges facing wildlife conservation in Kenya, including the expansion of threats to nature, Dr. Kahumbu remains committed to her work. She is proud of the achievements of the Hands Off Our Elephants campaign, which led to changes in law, policies, and regulations, saving Kenya's elephants. She is also working on the second season of Wildlife Warriors, which will be filmed in other African countries and broadcast across the continent.
Dr. Kahumbu's passion for wildlife conservation is evident in her daily life. She spends most of her time in the field, meeting people, and working on writing and planning. She also enjoys teaching and being in the wild. In her free time, she reads, watches movies, and calls her son before sleep.
Dr. Kahumbu's advice to others is to not hesitate when they have big ideas, but to take action and seek approvals. She reminds herself that the work she is doing is bigger than her and that personal decisions should not be made.
