From bartender to Gorilla guardian | Greg Cummings

Conservation Careers Podcast

How Passionate Individuals Can Transform Their Careers and Save Wildlife, With Our Guest Greg Cummings.

How can someone transition from being a bartender in London to leading an organisation helping to protect Gorillas - one of the most charismatic species on the planet?

And how can they raise millions of dollars in the process - meeting influential people like Bill Gates and Leonardo DiCaprio along the way.

That’s what today’s guest Greg Cummings has achieved in his career, along with so much more.

Greg is Former Executive Director of the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund and author of new book Gorilla Tactics.

During our chat he shares his fascinating experiences as a “wildlife Robin Hood” - raising money from the rich and famous and redistributing it to endangered gorillas and their habitats.

This thirty-year worldwide journey moves from boardrooms in Manhattan and London to mountain treks in Rwanda and Congo.

We start by discussing the importance of Gorillas, his personal experiences with them and their conservation threats.

We also chat about the successes in increasing mountain Gorilla populations and downgrading their endangered status.

Greg also shares challenges faced during career - such as managing burnout - along with practical advice for how to raise funds for conservation efforts and the importance of working in partnership with local communities.

Finally, we end with a message of hope and optimism for the future of conservation despite the challenges it faces.

It’s a Gorilla-conserving, DiCaprio-fundraising, podchat.

Enjoy.