Meet Sheila Poo: Z&A leader, Curator of Research at the Memphis Zoo, and a cohort member of the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Dr. Sheila Poo
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Leadership
AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Stephanie Gonzalez
Meet Stephanie Gonzalez: Z&A leader, School Partnerships Supervisor at the Houston Zoo, and a cohort member of the 2025 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
Thoughtful Succession Planning in Nonprofits: Five Lessons I Have Learned
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.
ELDP Spotlight: Meet Duane Hills
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.
AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Chris Conner
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.
Z&A Leader Spotlights: Meet AZA’s Executive Leadership Development Program Participants
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.
Executive Search Insights: What Today’s Trends Reveal About Leadership in Cultural Institutions
Canopy’s mid-year retrospective: What themes, trends, and talent gaps are we seeing in executive search and leadership?
A Story of Pride, Joy, and Hope: Pride Month Reflections by David Walsh
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...
The Power of Cross-Pollination Between Cultural Organizations
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.
AMLAZ Program Update: Meet Canopy’s 2025 Sponsored Participants
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...
AMLAZ Spotlight: Meet Cherie Dumas Nobles
Meet Cherie Dumas Nobles: Research Program Manager at the Audubon Nature Institute and one of Canopy’s sponsored participants in the 2026 Advancing Minority Leadership in Aquariums & Zoos Program.
Executive Search Tips: How to Stand Out and Land Leadership Roles
Whether you’re exploring new opportunities or positioning yourself for future growth, this guide will give you an inside look into an executive search from the recruiter’s perspective — including proven success strategies and pitfalls to avoid as you navigate the process.
10 Best Practices for CEO and Board Transitions in Cultural Organizations
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.
2025 AMLAZ Program Update: Cohort Highlights and Final Projects
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.
