Speaking

Michelle Doerr: Empowering Conservation Leaders To Thrive

As a seasoned wildlife biologist turned leadership expert, Michelle Doerr brings a unique perspective to conservation work. With a deep understanding of both the science and the human side of conservation, Michelle helps professionals navigate the emotional challenges of their field. Drawing from her experiences in the wildlife ecology, the archery industry, and Adlerian psychology, she combines personal stories, emotional inclusion, and evidence-based strategies to help teams move beyond burnout, build capacity, and create thriving, supportive communities.

Michelle’s speaking engagements are engaging, interactive, and transformative, offering practical tools and inspiration for conservationists to reconnect with their purpose, foster collaboration, and lead with renewed energy. Her approach fosters a deep sense of connection—both to the work and to each other—empowering individuals and teams to embrace challenges and grow stronger together.

Building Capacity in Conservation Signature Speeches

Beyond Burnout: Thriving in Conservation

A Keynote for Organizations Ready to Do More Than Name the Problem

Burnout in conservation is real, and it’s not a personal failure. It happens when people who care deeply are pushed beyond what the system can support, and then they are blamed for running out.

In this keynote, Michelle Doerr guides conservation professionals to do something most organizations never teach them: differentiate what is theirs to own from what the system is responsible for. That distinction alone shifts how people show up on Monday morning — with less self-blame, clearer accountability, and a more honest understanding of what truly needs to change.

Using live polling, field data, and stories from within the work, Michelle assesses the true condition of the room and builds from there. Attendees leave with a framework for discernment, not a list of coping strategies.

This keynote is offered with a pre-booking conversation. Opening people up without a structured next step isn’t wellness, it’s extraction. Before scheduling, Michelle speaks with organizational leadership to assess readiness. This isn’t a barrier. It’s how the work stays honest.

Building Capacity in Conservation 

What It Actually Takes to Sustain the Work You Love

The conservation field doesn’t have a resilience problem. It has a capacity problem — and those require different solutions.

In this keynote, Michelle Doerr introduces her Connect, Encourage, Thrive framework and guides attendees through a practical self-assessment of their own capacity: where their energy is truly directed, what replenishes it, and what quietly depletes it. The inventory offers people a clear view of their current state, not a score to judge themselves by, but a starting point for honest conversation.

Attendees leave with their completed self-assessment and the language to discuss capacity as a shared organizational responsibility, not just a personal one.

Ideal for teams navigating ecological pressure, organizational strain, or the gradual exhaustion of caring about something that continuously demands more from you.