Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
What does it really take to build a career in conservation? In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, we dive into a real-life journey of working in this field — the bumps in the road, the tough lessons learned, and the personal growth that comes with a career rooted in protecting wildlife and the planet. Alexander Nicolas and Libby Khumalo unpack the highs, lows, and honest truths behind a life in conservation.
About Libby Khumalo: Libby is a conservation social scientist by training and has coordinated many initiatives that spark new ideas and engagement. She co-founded Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA), a Native developed and led 501(c)(3) nonprofit envisioning Native Nations uniting to ensure the diversity of life in the Northern Great Plains flourishes for current and future generations. Learn more about Libby: worldwildlife.org/experts/libby-khumalo
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Café: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Buffalo Nations Grassland Alliance (BNGA): bnga.org
Learn more about the Great Plains of North America: worldwildlife.org/places/great-plains
Saving Our Grasslands: Summary of Recommendations: worldwildlife.org/publications/saving-our-grasslands-summary-of-recommendations
WWF’s Native Nations Partnership Report: files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/5rm26o8mzn_2021_NativeNations_Partnership_Report_FINAL.pdf
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Chapters:
0:00 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
2:22 Libby’s childhood and early connection to nature.
3:39 What did Libby’s career in conservation look like?
6:52 What is the Buffalo Nations Grassland Alliance?
8:35 What are some lessons learned, stories, and observations from a life in conservation?
13:03 What Libby wishes she knew earlier on about working in conservation.
15:05 Libby’s best advice for anyone working in conservation.
17:04 What makes someone an effective conservation leader?
What does it really take to build a career in conservation? In this episode of World Wildlife Fund’s Wildlife Café series, we dive into a real-life journey of working in this field — the bumps in the road, the tough lessons learned, and the personal growth that comes with a career rooted in protecting wildlife and the planet. Alexander Nicolas and Libby Khumalo unpack the highs, lows, and honest truths behind a life in conservation.
About Libby Khumalo: Libby is a conservation social scientist by training and has coordinated many initiatives that spark new ideas and engagement. She co-founded Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance (BNGA), a Native developed and led 501(c)(3) nonprofit envisioning Native Nations uniting to ensure the diversity of life in the Northern Great Plains flourishes for current and future generations. Learn more about Libby: worldwildlife.org/experts/libby-khumalo
Join us and learn more about wildlife conservation at the Wildlife Café: worldwildlife.org/pages/wildlife-cafe
Links to learn more:
Learn more about Buffalo Nations Grassland Alliance (BNGA): bnga.org
Learn more about the Great Plains of North America: worldwildlife.org/places/great-plains
Saving Our Grasslands: Summary of Recommendations: worldwildlife.org/publications/saving-our-grasslands-summary-of-recommendations
WWF’s Native Nations Partnership Report: files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/5rm26o8mzn_2021_NativeNations_Partnership_Report_FINAL.pdf
---------------------
Chapters:
0:00 Welcome to Wildlife Café!
2:22 Libby’s childhood and early connection to nature.
3:39 What did Libby’s career in conservation look like?
6:52 What is the Buffalo Nations Grassland Alliance?
8:35 What are some lessons learned, stories, and observations from a life in conservation?
13:03 What Libby wishes she knew earlier on about working in conservation.
15:05 Libby’s best advice for anyone working in conservation.
17:04 What makes someone an effective conservation leader?
