Do you want a wildlife, conservation, or environmental sciences career, but feel that it is not physically possible for you? Do you have health challenges or a condition that limits you and are worried that it prevents you from working in a field that is notoriously demanding? Or do you feel discriminated against because of these circumstances?
Listen to Not Accepting No!
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You are not alone! I have heard from aspiring wildlife biologists all over the world that they struggle with conditions like chronic fatigue, anxiety, sight disabilities, strokes, ADHD, and more and are concerned that they can’t work in this field, which they love so much. I, myself, struggle with an autoimmune condition that greatly slows down my metabolism, and has made me heavily fatigued at key points in my career. Well, in this week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast, I’m showing you that it’s possible for you with an interview with a young conservationist who blew me away with her unstoppable attitude.
When I first heard Grace O’Dea speak on a Green Jobs webinar event, I was so inspired by her story that I knew I had to have her on the podcast. Grace has cerebral palsy, and at 17, she was told by someone that her lack of upper-body strength meant that she could never work in an animal career. But that’s not where her story ended…
In fact, she used that “no,” as ammunition to propel her wildlife career. Today she is a permanent educator at a major aquarium and has previously worked in physically demanding jobs at farms and zoos, proving that naysayer wrong.
This week’s episode of the Fancy Scientist Podcast is all about NOT accepting no as an answer when it comes to pursuing your dreams or whatever conservation goal you want to accomplish no matter what your circumstances are. If you want to work in the wildlife field, you’ll want to listen for sure, but this episode is for everyone. No matter what you were going after in your career or even your life, the lessons that Grace shares will apply to the seemingly impossible situation that you are going through.
"My tutor said there was no way I could work on a farm or in a zoo. To date, I’ve worked on four farms, done work experience at a zoo, and I work in an aquarium."
Through our conversation, you’ll learn how Grace navigated her path by refusing to let her disability define her. She didn’t let being questioned stop her; instead, she purposely built her physical strength at the gym. She didn’t hide her disability either. Rather, she voiced her concerns to employers so that they could find ways to work with her condition rather than around it.
"I have got a disability called cerebral palsy, but in no way do I let that define me or define my career."
Grace shares her experience working with everything from hedgehogs to wild deer, and how she uses positive messaging and hope to impact the public rather than the typical conservation messages of doom and gloom. She explains how she handles the physical aspects of her current and past jobs and why being “ballsy” and confident is your greatest asset, even if you are naturally shy or introverted.
"I’ve learned to be a bit ballsy and a bit confident. I just know what I want to say most of the time."
And the results of her boldness are incredible! Grace started as a seasonal employee, but she didn’t just wait for it to end and look for something else. Instead, she took the initiative to email her bosses and ask if her position could be made permanent. And it worked! She now has a full-time permanent position as a conservation educator delivering daily talks to aquarium guests and teaching the next generation about ocean conservation.
"I emailed them and said, 'You keep extending my contract - should I just become permanent?' And that’s how I became permanent."
Grace also excels at networking. She lets us in on her strategies, which led to her being invited as a guest speaker for her university’s graduation and connecting with influencers in the green jobs space. We talk about how she leverages LinkedIn by active and intentional posting, using hashtags strategically, and attracting professionals to her profile through sharing her personal and professional achievements.
"The key word is hope. I try to give people a way they can help so they feel part of the big picture."
I also noticed that Grace is a fancy scientist herself. We discuss her fancy side and how she owns her personal style and unique comedic value to be an unconventional, yet highly effective educator.
"I would say my set goal is to be happy. Whatever job leads me to that, I’ll take it with open arms."
After the interview, I break down key take-home points for you to apply to your own career or situation, including sharing resources helping you adopt Grace’s unstoppable mindset, using LinkedIn as a search strategy, and why you should never be afraid to ask for a job extension or a permanent role.
If you ever thought you couldn’t pursue conservation because of a health condition, your background, or a lack of financial resources, Grace is living proof that it’s all possible! After listening to this episode, I know you’ll walk away filled with hope, and ready to face the challenge in your career head on.
Specifically, we talk about:
- Grace’s career path from graduation to securing a permanent educator role at an aquarium
- What it was like for Grace to work at various kinds of animal organizations and places including farms and zoos
- Magical wildlife moments from Grace’s career such as stampeding deer and circling buzzards, and humbling moments like collecting hedgehog poop
- Why you shouldn’t “play it safe” if you have a passion for animals and want to pursue this kind of work
- The critical importance of a resilient mindset when facing physical or psychological barriers in the field
- How to navigate a wildlife career while managing a disability or other health condition including when and how to disclose health conditions and get accommodations
- How to ask for what you want in wildlife work
- The power of LinkedIn for attracting employers and why posting once a week can change your career trajectory
- Grace’s dissertation research on positive vs. negative messaging in conservation campaigns
- How to give the public hope through small, actionable steps like beach clean-up
- And more!
Resources and Sources in Not Accepting No!
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Fancy Scientist Podcast #154: Don’t Shoot the Messenger: Navigating AI in Wildlife Conservation Work
Fancy Scientist Podcast #153: Not Accepting No! Succeeding at Wildlife Careers with a Disability: Interview with Grace O’Dea
Fancy Scientist Podcast #152: Age is Just a Number! Breaking into the National Park Service in Your 50s: Interview with Lynda Moore
