What do you value about the Jackson Wild Collective, and/or how has it served you in your work?

What I value most about the Collective is the people who make it what it is. I regularly stay in touch with a few members, exchanging ideas and challenging each other to push both the field and our own personal boundaries. This connection has been instrumental in helping me advance my work, question my approaches, and find motivation during moments when continuing the work feels particularly tough.

Could you tell us more about your work? It’s a relatively new and innovative field, and we are curious about it!

Ha! My parents ask me this very same question all the time too—they always struggle to explain what I do to their friends, and honestly, sometimes I’m not even sure how to explain it myself! So, let’s give it a shot!

I’d start by saying that I work with conservation organizations, national parks, and documentary teams at the intersection of conservation, storytelling, and behavioral change. My role blends insights from social sciences and strategic impact thinking to design interventions that shape mindsets, influence behaviors, and transform structures—all in service of protecting our planet’s wilderness and biodiversity.

For instance, consider a case of human-lion conflict in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, where retaliatory attacks are reducing lion populations and disrupting natural corridors. In such a scenario, I collaborate with conservation organizations and scientists to uncover the motivations behind these retaliatory killings. Rather than focusing solely on the outcome (protecting cattle), I analyze the behavioral determinants—such as knowledge, cultural practices, capacity, roles and decision-making processes, social norms, values, and beliefs. By identifying these drivers, we can then use the insights to inform storytelling and conservation messaging as well as strategic actions to enhance the perceived value of lions, influence community structures, encourage sustainable coexistence and even communicate and advocate with decision-makers to help pass bylaws to protect the landscape.

This journey began over eight years ago when I first set foot in the wilderness of Tanzania. It felt like coming home to something I never knew I was searching for. Every encounter—with people, wildlife, and landscapes—has profoundly shaped who I am today and strengthened my commitment to this work.

What began as strategic impact planning, community relations, behavioral change initiatives, and communication campaigns soon revealed the transformative power of storytelling in driving social and behavioral change at all levels, from communities to donors and decision-makers.

I have seamlessly moved between field-based conservation work and documentary filmmaking, often intertwining the two as I worked across Tanzania, Kenya, Botswana, Angola, and Mozambique. The wide range of projects I’ve been part of has taught me that conservation is as much about people as it is about wildlife. It is about stories, connections, and understanding the barriers and drivers that shape human behavior at all stakeholder levels. Witnessing the impact of social science and impact-thinking in field-based conservation work and later experiencing the power of film in capturing realities, I became truly passionate about bridging the two disciplines to help craft narratives that not only inform and document but also inspire action, break down barriers, and drive tangible outcomes to safeguard our planet's most vulnerable ecosystems.

Questions like, “Did the intervention make a difference?” or “To what extent has a biodiversity threat been reduced due to behavior change?” guide my approach to integrating social science, conservation expertise, and community engagement to measure tangible outcomes.

Ultimately, my goal is to weave science, culture, and storytelling to foster connections that protect Africa’s precious wilderness and biodiversity. I strive to connect livelihoods with landscapes, create bridges between protected areas, mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, and honor the richness of traditional ecological knowledge fostering harmony between people and nature to ensure a future where both can thrive.

How does that look on a daily basis?

Honestly, my job isn’t as exciting on a daily basis as people often imagine. I frequently find myself stuck behind a computer, far from the field—a challenge that can be difficult for me to navigate at times. That said, I truly love what I do!

A significant portion of my time is dedicated to creating strategic documents, such as problem-actor-behavior maps and Theories of Change, which help visualize the challenges and dynamics within the conservation landscape. In doing so, I continuously assess challenges, threats, and opportunities, developing frameworks to address key drivers of conservation behavior while overcoming barriers.

My role also involves coordinating with different teams—writers, filmmakers, scientists, producers—and engaging in capacity building, making sure we’re all aligned and everyone’s needs are met. I spend a lot of time analyzing data, bouncing ideas around, and finding ways to make complex science easy to understand. That’s also one thing I enjoy doing a lot; science communication! Inclusivity lies at the heart of my work. I prioritize listening to communities, stakeholders and scientists to uncover the stories they want the world to hear, rather than imposing external narratives.

At its best, my role extends far beyond the desk: learning to pole a traditional canoe to blend in with local traditions, following the footsteps of a lion guardian on a patrol, or even pushing a Land Rover out of the mud.

Why do you think this work is important?

Storytelling blended with behavioural science can drive change, I’ve witnessed it firsthand…. For example, I’ve seen local communities take pride in their cultural heritage after seeing it represented on screen, which has inspired them to protect and celebrate it more actively. I’ve also seen communities learn about sustainable practices from neighboring villages, such as rangeland management skills, and be inspired to adopt them for themselves. Through visual storytelling, people can better understand the interconnectedness of their livelihoods and the landscapes they depend on, sparking a deeper sense of stewardship.

How do your passions intersect, and how has it allowed you to further your impact?

Hmm, that’s a tricky yet easy one at the same time! I’d say my heart and work are truly aligned. I’m deeply connected to these landscapes—I live for Africa, riverbeds, and elephants. This makes it easy for me to dedicate my life to protecting them and supporting the communities and wildlife that depend on them.

As you can see, I wear many hats in my work, whether it’s collaborating with communities and key stakeholders, engaging in science communication, designing impact strategies, supporting the development of impactful films, or creating evaluation frameworks. I see these elements as complementary tools. For example, while behavioral change focuses on shifting mindsets and actions, storytelling serves as the bridge—helping people understand the issues, grasp the importance of preservation, and inspire them to take action.

What is the hardest part of working in conservation? What is the most rewarding part?

One of the hardest parts for me is when this work is not valued. This approach requires a deep understanding of both communities and ecosystems, yet sometimes, it’s overlooked in favor of more traditional methods. That lack of recognition can be frustrating, especially when you see how effective these strategies can be in driving meaningful, lasting change.

The most rewarding part of this work is witnessing stakeholders embrace new behaviors because they see the value in them—like using dugout canoes to navigate rivers in ways that protect flora and fauna or actively participating in removing invasive species to safeguard rivers and livelihoods.

Equally meaningful are the relationships I build along the way—whether with local communities, local authorities or conservation teams. These connections often extend far beyond the duration of a project, and nurturing them is something I deeply value and cherish.

If you could give any advice to your younger self or an aspiring conservation storyteller and scientist, what would it be?

Honestly, it’s advice to my younger self, my present self, and even my future self—I’m still learning every day and need these reminders, too! Three things come to mind: trust, kindness, and priorities. First, trust that things will work out. Be grateful every day and keep showing up, even when things feel uncertain.

Kindness is just as important. You never truly know someone’s story or the impact you’re having on them. Thoughtfulness and a warm smile can mean the world to someone.

And finally, priorities. Work is important, but it’s not everything—relationships are what truly matter. I learned this the hard way when I once passed up the chance to have lunch with Jane Goodall. After one of her presentations, she and her team invited me to join them, but I said no—convinced I needed to rush back to the office. What was I thinking? Jane Goodall, the legend herself! I still shake my head at that decision. It’s a story I laugh about now, but it also serves as a gentle reminder to be more open, to pause, and to embrace the unexpected.

You have a diverse portfolio, which includes National Geographic’s Okavango Wilderness Project and Impact Story Lab, BBC NHU, and many more. What draws you to specific stories and collaborations, and how do you decide which to work with?

I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked on such a wide range of projects, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who has trusted and believed in me. They have shaped not only my career but also the way I see the world, and for that, I’m endlessly thankful.

First, I’m captivated by landscapes. Whether it’s the winding waterways of the Zambezi or the rolling savannahs of East Africa, the environment itself tells a story I want to help protect. The conservation challenge is just as important; I’m most motivated when there’s a clear opportunity to make a meaningful difference, especially when the work requires innovative approaches to behavioral change, science and stakeholder engagement.

The people I work with are equally important. I’m naturally drawn to teams that prioritize kindness and collaboration, creating an environment where everyone feels valued. I also thrive on projects that allow for creativity and hands-on involvement—where I can contribute ideas and see them come to life in real-world settings. Send me to the field, and you’ve already won half my heart!

Looking back, what experience left the most profound impression on you and shaped how you approach your work today?

One experience that left a lasting impression on me happened during my early years in Tanzania, at a capacity-building workshop with the government. We were planning research to uncover what the community truly valued, and I sensed some reservations from the government about the process. They had strong opinions that the community’s priorities were centered around “nurturing and family,” which, on the surface, seemed logical.

But when the research results came in, they revealed something unexpected: the community prioritized “status and modernity.” That insight completely changed the messaging of our campaign and became a pivotal moment for me. It taught me the immense value of pushing for strategic planning grounded in evidence rather than relying on assumptions or personal projections.

It was a humbling and eye-opening experience, one that continues to shape how I approach my work. Now, no matter how confident anyone feels about what the "right" answers might be, I always advocate for diving deeper, asking questions, and letting the evidence guide us.

Follow Mia on Instagram, connect with her on LinkedIn, and learn more about her work on The Lasting Planet’s website.

The Jackson Wild Collective is the virtual home for our global storytelling community to connect, collaborate and inspire change year-round. Join today.

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