WildHub's Community Manager, Thirza Loffeld, sat down with Sabrina Brando, Director and Founder of AnimalConcepts, to discuss self-care strategies for professionals in wildlife conservation and animal care. These critical topics are often overlooked both when entering these fields and while navigating their demands. As Sabrina aptly puts it, "The only constant in your life is you, so taking care of yourself is essential." Drawing from her extensive experience and hard-earned insights, Sabrina shares practical advice and inspiration that is invaluable for WildHub's global network of over 5,000 conservation professionals spanning 160 countries.

This interview is about mentorship, human well-being, resilience, positive coping, energy management, compassion, empathy, social support, professional regulation, universal skills, and personal responsibility. Curious? Click "play" on the video above!

Introduction

Sabrina Brando, Director and Founder of AnimalConcepts, discussed her journey from working in animal care to pursuing a PhD in psychology at the University of Stirling. She emphasised the importance of interconnectedness between humans, animals, and the planet. Sabrina highlighted the need for resilience and positive coping strategies, such as setting good boundaries, managing energy, and practising compassion. She also stressed the significance of self-care, teamwork, and organisational support. Sabrina advocated for a culture of care where individuals prioritise their well-being to contribute to conservation efforts effectively.

Outline
Introduction and Purpose of the Meeting

• Sabrina introduces herself and her role at AnimalConcepts, emphasising the interconnectedness of
  lives with animals, people, and the planet.
• Thirza highlights Sabrina's current PhD at the University of Stirling and her psychology and animal
  care background.
• Sabrina shares her journey from dropping out of high school to working in animal care in the
  Netherlands, including her experiences at a zoo and a rehabilitation centre for stranded harbour
  seals.
• Sabrina discusses the advice she received from mentors, emphasising the importance of patience,
  understanding the "why" behind actions, and the significance of how things are done.

Sabrina's Career Path and Mentorship

• Sabrina describes her transition from animal caregiver to managing director and eventually
  launching her own company, focusing on animal welfare and psychology.
• She explained her decision to return to university to study psychology and to understand animals’
  mental well-being and behaviour.
• Sabrina discusses her ongoing mentorship relationships and the importance of having mentors and
  mentees in the field.
•  She shared her shift in focus to human wellbeing during her PhD, which examines the support
  systems and leadership needed for conservation and animal welfare workers.

Balancing Passion and Wellbeing

• Thirza and Sabrina discuss the challenges of balancing passion for work with personal well-being.
  They share their experiences of feeling like "double agents" while managing emotional demands.
• Sabrina emphasises the importance of managing passion and understanding when it becomes
  unhelpful, using the metaphor of a flashlight to see better.
• They discuss the complexities of staying well in the face of emotional challenges and the need for
  good habits and energy management.
• Sabrina highlights the importance of setting good boundaries, managing one's window of tolerance,
  and practising communication skills to stay resilient.

Strategies fo Resilience and Coping

• Sabrina outlines the multifaceted nature of resilience, emphasising the need for good habits, energy
  management, and understanding one's limits.
• She discusses being "anti-fragile" and the importance of good sleep, social connections, and dealing
  with past traumas.
• Sabrina shares her experiences with mentors and the importance of learning to manage emotions
  and behaviours better.
• They discuss the importance of reflecting on one's needs and habits to stay well and the role of
  mentors and mentees in this process.

Creating Meaningful Work and Healthy Boundaries

• Thirza and Sabrina discuss the challenge of finding meaning in work while maintaining healthy
  boundaries and managing tasks that may not be enjoyable.
• Sabrina emphasises the importance of reframing tasks to find meaning and the pragmatic approach
  of doing tasks without necessarily liking them.

• It's often the stories in our head, the anxiety and energy drains we imagine, than the actual task itself, that holds us back or causes us to procrastinate.

• They discuss the importance of self-care and the need to balance fieldwork with administrative
  tasks to support the team.
• Sabrina shares her experiences with mentors and the importance of setting boundaries and
  managing energy to stay well.

The Role of Teamwork and Organisational Culture

• Sabrina discusses the importance of teamwork and organisational culture in supporting well-being,
  drawing parallels with high-performing intervention teams and sports.

•  Sabrina emphasises the need for a culture of care, where individuals care for themselves and each other, and leadership supports this culture.

• They discuss the importance of social connections and the role of good social support in managing
  stress and promoting well-being.
• Sabrina highlights the need for organisations to support remote and challenging positions and the
  importance of creating a supportive network.

The Importance of Human Value in the Workplace

• Sabrina discusses the concept of the "human value department"; and the need to treat people as valuable contributors rather than resources.

• They discuss the importance of feeling heard, respected, and connected in the workplace and the
  role of leadership in creating a supportive environment.
• Sabrina shares insights from the book Real Love in the Workplace, which emphasises the
  importance of feeling connected and having a purpose in work.
• They discuss the need for organisations to support basic human needs, such as financial stability, to
  create a supportive environment for employees.

The Role of Empathy and Compassion in Conservation

• Sabrina discusses the difference between empathy and compassion and the importance of shifting from empathy to compassion to avoid burnout.
• She shares insights from research on the neural networks of empathy and compassion and the importance of distinguishing between the two.
• They discuss the challenges of working in conservation and animal welfare and the need for self-awareness and compassion to stay well.
• Sabrina emphasises the importance of learning to manage empathy and compassion to avoid becoming righteous or making unethical decisions.

The Need for Professional Regulations in Conservation and Animal Welfare Professions

• Sabrina discusses the need for regulations and professionalising jobs in conservation and animal
  welfare professions, including support, ongoing training, and onboarding (job induction).
• They discuss the importance of creating a supportive environment for employees and the need for
  organisations to commit to continuous training and support.
• Sabrina shares her vision for the field's future, emphasising the need for clear standards and
  employee support.
• They discuss the importance of universal skills and the need for organisations to support
  employees in developing these skills.

Closing Thoughts and Personal Reflections

Check Sabrina's inspirational recap around 37 minutes! 

• Sabrina shares her journey and the importance of self-awareness and compassion in her work.

• Thirza and Sabrina discuss the challenges of working in the field and the need for personal responsibility and agency in creating a supportive environment.

• Sabrina emphasises the importance of understanding one's needs and taking responsibility for
  one's wellbeing.

• Sabrina and Thirza discuss the importance of community and support in conservation and animal welfare and the need for ongoing learning and development.

• Hear about the two different neural pathways we have towards empathy and compassion (from approx. 42 min.) Sabrina shares how, sometimes, we can make unethical decisions when we are in our empathic state. 
• Sabrina encourages us to map out who are we, where do we come from, and what do we need. What would it take to regulate our field of wildlife conservation? 

Resources:

• Green Cross Academy of Traumatology: establishing and maintaining professionalism and high standards in the care of trauma victims and responders throughout the world. https://greencross.org/
• Real Love in the Workplace book: https://reallove.com/real-love-workplace/
• Love as a business strategy book: https://www.loveasabusinessstrategy.com/