The Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program (AMLAZ) has just wrapped up its second year, and Canopy is proud to continue our sponsorship of this vital leadership development opportunity in partnership with MIAZS and Leadby. Interested in joining the 2026 cohort? Apply here!
We interviewed Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra, Vertebrate Conservation Coordinator at the Global Center for Species Survival, Indianapolis Zoological Society, to hear about her experience in the program, her leadership growth, and her goals for the future.
What inspired you to apply to the AMLAZ Program?
The answer isn’t simple, but I had three main motivations for applying to the Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums and Zoos (AMLAZ) program.
First, my current role at the Global Center for Species Survival — a partnership between the Indianapolis Zoological Society and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Species Survival Commission (SSC) — includes “leading the leaders,” which is a huge responsibility! I support the Chairs, Co-Chairs, and sometimes Red List Authority Coordinators (yes, the ones behind those assessments that we consult in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species) of the IUCN SSC Specialist Groups focused in Reptiles and Amphibians. And recently, also some of the ones working with birds. These volunteer experts from around the world donate their time and knowledge to contribute to saving species from extinction; they are not driven by money, but by passion! Supporting such a diverse group of people — across generations, cultures, personalities, and perspectives — is both a privilege and a challenge, and I wanted to strengthen my leadership skills to serve them better.
Second, I’m also part of the IUCN Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social Policy (CEESP), which is leading the Reimagine movement to rethink conservation, justice, funding, and leadership. Although I’ve long worked in conservation, I wanted more formal training in leadership to complement that work.
Finally, I was inspired by the organizations behind AMLAZ. I’ve followed MIAZS and Canopy Strategic Partners since 2020, when I was still living in my home country (Colombia, South America) during the pandemic. Their activities and webinars gave me hope and insight during troubled and uncertain times, as I sought to understand what was happening in other zones of the planet with the zoo and aquarium industry. (Back then, Canopy was still called Zoo Advisors!) Later, I discovered Leadby when my team worked with Laura on a DISC analysis — a great experience that deepened my interest in leadership development.
When I saw these three incredible organizations join forces to offer a leadership program for minorities, I didn’t hesitate to apply. My supervisor asked, “Do you think you have the potential to be a leader?” I immediately said yes. He replied, “I do think the same” and endorsed my application. So here I am!
What have been your biggest takeaways from the program?
I have been in the zoo and aquarium industry for more than 15 years, but never had the opportunity to attend a formal leadership training like this. The AMLAZ program has been fantastic for my personal and career growth, and I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Canopy Strategic Partners for the sponsored spot: I’ve learned a lot!
For example, it turned out that my list of courses and things that I wanted to learn and do — my dreams — actually had a name: it’s called an Individual Development Plan. So I was not out of my mind all this time writing all that down in spreadsheets and notebooks! Throughout my life this was always for my own initiative, at my own pace, as I do not come from a privileged background. My mother didn’t have the opportunity to attend college; I am a Latina, first-generation scientist, who started her life working with animals. (Not as a zookeeper, but as a 13-year-old domestic cleaner that also had to take care of the house pets — 1 parrot, 2 budgies, and 3 dogs.)
So the AMLAZ program forced me to think about and strategize for my own life in the long-term. It allowed me to create a very organized route. But I’ve also learned about hiring, onboarding, integration, culture, effective communication, conflict resolution, performance management, and more along the way!
In addition to the cohort sessions, the monthly one-on-one meetings with Laura have been invaluable to clarify my mindset and navigate some challenges. And I also need to mention the capstone project, which has been also key for creative development and networking out of my department.
How has the cohort experience been?
For me, it has been comforting to know all the shared struggles from my colleagues in the cohort. Sometimes when we see successful people (whatever your definition of success is), we only see the current status, but not the path that person had to walk to be there. But it has also been great that we all share the passion, persistence, tenacity, and resilience to make this industry and the planet a better place for both humans and wildlife. That helps to keep hope alive!
The diversity of the cohort has allowed me to expand my network and to learn from different areas, as my peers are positioned in different roles in zoos and aquariums. They are all great people, and having had the opportunity to listen to their stories, learnings, and reflections has been inspiring.
What are your professional or leadership goals for the future?
When I was finishing high school and thinking about what to do for the rest of my life, I used to mention that I wanted to be a physician to help people, or study biology because I wanted to help animals. I am lucky enough that I ended up working in Biodiversity Conservation, which includes the option to help both humans and animals.
So now that I have a clear route of growth and development, I am interested in a C-suite position and beyond. Why do I want that? Well, so many years ago, a former boss handed me a birthday card with a quote from Steve Jobs that I always remember, specifically the closing lines of text that said: “The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” So I do hope to have the opportunity and the power to do so. We have seen what good and bad leaders can do for an organization (and the world); I aspire to be one of the good ones!
