After Conservation International: M. Sanjayan on Pivots, Purpose, and the Future of Conservation Artwork

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Scientista

After Conservation International: M. Sanjayan on Pivots, Purpose, and the Future of Conservation

December 03, 2025 • Scientista

In this episode, Dr. Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina sit down with Dr. M. Sanjayan—ecologist, award-winning storyteller, and former CEO of Conservation International—for a conversation about what it takes to lead in one of the toughest, most important sectors on earth.

Sanjayan reflects on a childhood spent exploring the forests of Sierra Leone, the scientific rigor that shaped his career, and the mentors who opened doors when traditional pathways were limited. He also gives straight talk on today’s biggest conservation challenges—from the destabilizing impact of foreign-aid cuts to the urgent need for financial models that value nature as infrastructure, not afterthought.

For emerging scientists and conservationists, his advice is both practical and energizing: build real scientific depth, find mentors who advocate for you, and keep the joy and curiosity that brought you into this work in the first place.

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