As part of PBS Nature’s recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month, the Wildlife Conservation Society’s BJ Siasoco and Noah Chesnin sat down to talk about the paths that brought them to conservation, the work they do today, and why building community is as important to conservation as protecting wildlife. This discussion has been edited for length and clarity.

BJ

There are so many ways people can contribute to conservation. Everyone has a part to play in keeping this world of ours healthy and sustainable. Growing up as a Filipino kid in rural Wisconsin, nature was just part of who we were. My dad was always saying, “Let’s go hiking, let’s explore the parks around us.” Our backyard had squirrels, owls, and hawks. I thought I wanted to be a veterinarian or an architect, but I found myself drawn to people and learning. I worked in science museums and higher education, then in HR, doing training and leadership development at IBM, before realizing I wanted to go back to a mission-driven organization.

Noah

I relate to that because my path into conservation wasn’t a straight line. I grew up in Seattle, but I always dreamed of living in New York. My parents would say, “But look—you can see Puget Sound.” In a funny way, that’s exactly what I get today. I have a reverse commute to the ocean. One of my first jobs involved working with insurance companies to incentivize environmentally responsible rebuilding after disasters. I learned how to analyze complex issues and build solutions that could meet the needs of communities while also making environmental and economic sense.

BJ

That’s one of the things that drew me to WCS. We don’t just work at one level of conservation—we work across the whole spectrum. Whether someone is encountering an animal for the first time at one of our parks or aquarium, whether they’re doing field work around the world, or shaping policy, everybody contributes to conservation in different ways. My role is thinking about what people at WCS need to learn and grow. Some days I’m teaching leadership courses. Some days I’m working with teams at the Bronx Zoo or the Aquarium. Some days I’m on Zoom with colleagues around the globe.

Noah

WCS scientists are studying terrestrial and marine wildlife globally. Our NY Bight team members study whales, sharks, and other wildlife in the New York Bight, an area between Cape May, NJ and Montauk, NY. My job is to help translate that science for community organizations, industry collaborators, and government officials so we can build consensus around conservation solutions. I give tours at the Aquarium, meet with government officials, talk with local fishing communities, and work with partners to protect places like Hudson Canyon. Conservation should be bipartisan. It depends on working collaboratively and finding common ground.

BJ

That idea of bringing people together is also why the QUEER Employee Resource Group at WCS means so much to me. People ask sometimes, “Why do we still need Pride in New York?” Pride matters not just for people here, but for LGBTQ+ people all around the world. Where some people are visible, it shines a light and helps create a path for others. Representation matters because someone paved the way for me to be here. If living openly helps someone else believe they can do the same, that’s important. The ERG creates that opportunity for connection.

Noah

Earlier in my career, I wasn’t out at work. So having a place where people know they belong—and where they can learn from one another—makes an enormous difference. One thing we’ve tried to do in the ERG is create opportunities that aren’t just about work. We’ve organized visits to museum exhibitions, partnered with other employee resource groups, and attended screenings during WCS’s REEL WILD film festival. Those experiences may not seem directly connected to that email you have to write before five o’clock, but they help people build community and feel comfortable being themselves at work.

BJ

Community has always been important to me, and I think community creates joy. We start many of our ERG meetings by simply giving people time to connect because joy inspires people. Other people see that joy, share in it, and they’re inspired to share it with someone else. In many ways, that’s what WCS does every day. We help people build a joyful connection with nature. You’re much more inspired to do something for something you feel joy for.

Noah

I think that’s true of conservation too. As much as I love New York City, I don’t want to live in a world without wildlife or natural places. I want the joy of having them. WCS builds that emotional relationship with nature first, and that’s what inspires people to work together to protect it.