Succession planning doesn’t have to be cumbersome if you approach the process with foresight, preparedness, and collaboration. Dr. Jackie Ogden shares five lessons to help leaders navigate the responsibility of succession planning with clarity and ease.
Duane Hills is the Deputy Director at Cameron Park Zoo and a cohort member of AZA’s 2025 Executive Leadership Development Program. We chatted with Duane about his experience in the program thus far, his career journey and leadership goals, and his perspectives on the future of our field.
Meet Chris Conner: Z&A leader, PhD candidate, and one of Canopy’s sponsored participants in the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
Canopy is proud to be sponsoring the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ 2025 Ted A. Beattie Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) and supporting the advancement of leaders in our field. We connected with current and former program participants to hear about their leadership journeys, including what drives them as leaders, the most valuable lessons they’ve learned, and what they envision for the future of the Z&A field.
Canopy’s mid-year retrospective: What themes, trends, and talent gaps are we seeing in executive search and leadership?
As Pride Month comes to a close, I must admit that here at Canopy, we have struggled to find the right words this month. Given all that’s been happening, our team — like many of you — has been caught up in a real sense of gloom and worry about our current state of...
With a client base that spans a range of cultural institutions, we see the benefits of cross-pollination in action every day. This ongoing exchange of ideas and best practices across different sectors isn’t just beneficial — it’s essential for relevance, sustainability, and advancement in today’s interconnected cultural landscape. Read on for resources + tips to help you incorporate more cross-pollination into your strategy.
As the Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program (AMLAZ) enters its second year, Canopy is proud to continue our sponsorship of this vital leadership development opportunity. Learn more about Chris Conner and Yetta Robinson, two of our sponsored...
“Learn from my mistakes!” Jackie Ogden reflects on her leadership journey and shares five invaluable lessons for emerging leaders.
When the world turns upside down, we must center ourselves around what’s most important: taking care of one another. David Walsh shares his perspective on the current climate and the Canopy team’s commitment to doubling down on our values.
Based on conversations with CEOs and board members, as well as our executive search work, we’ve gathered 10 best practices for navigating leadership transitions and succession planning in zoos, aquariums, and other cultural institutions.
Congratulations to the 2025 cohort of MIAZS’ Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program! We caught up with several participants to capture their highlights from the program, as well as an overview of the impactful final projects they completed for their respective organizations.
What is the key to establishing and sustaining a strong board relationship? That’s what we’ve been asking CEOs and board members from zoos and aquariums across the country over the past six months. Through dedicated focus groups — capped by a live panel discussion at the AZA Annual Conference — we’ve been exploring what it takes to build partnerships rooted in trust, clarity, and shared purpose. Read on for some of the best advice that has emerged.
Meet Andrea Echeverry-Alcendra: Zoo and aquarium leader, Conservation Coordinator at the Indianapolis Zoo, and one of Canopy’s sponsored participants in the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
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