While there certainly isn’t a single magic bullet for effective leadership, Zoo Advisors wanted to chat with a who’s who of our industry’s most highly successful leaders and see if we could unearth a handful of helpful gems, common themes, and actionable advice. Furing AZA’s 2013 annual conference, Zoo Advisors gathered fifteen current and former Zoo and Aquarium Directors and CEOs to offer words of wisdom.
And now we want to share what we heard. As you look to the next step in your own professional journey, heed the wisdom of those who have been down this path…and benefit from their collective experience.
Our video series, “Zoo and Aquarium Leadership Lessons,” lets you get to know some of those who are shaping our industry and hear how they have molded their leadership skills and evolved their styles. Some of it is simple – some of it, not so much. Please take a look. We surely learned a few things and hope you will too.
Our all-star cast features:
- Pat Simmons, President & CEO, Akron Zoo
- Liz Fowler, Executive Director, Cleveland Zoological Society
- Kevin Mills, President & CEO, South Carolina Aquarium
- Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., Vice President Animals, Science & Environment , Walt Disney Parks and Resorts
- Gregg Hudson, CEO, Dallas Zoo Management Inc.
- Craig Pugh, CEO, Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo
- Dave Towne, Director Emeritus, Woodland Park Zoo
- Jo-Elle Mogerman, VP of Institutional Planning & Inclusion, Chicago Zoological Society
- Jim Fleshman, Director, Cameron Park Zoo
- Lynn Clements, Executive Director, Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center
- Deborah Jensen, Ph.D., President & CEO, Woodland Park Zoo
- Steve Taylor, Director Emeritus, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
- Chris Gentile, Director, Western North Carolina Nature Center
- Tom Schmid, President & CEO, Texas State Aquarium
- Scott Barton, Executive Director, Fresno Chaffee Zoo
