fbpx
Global-Wildlife-Conservation Global-Wildlife-Conservation
  • Our Mission
    • Biodiversity
    • Extinction
  • Our Work
    • Wildlands
    • Wildlife
    • Guardians
    • Solutions
    • Impact
  • Our Stories
    • Blog
    • Press Room
    • Romeo The Frog
    • Search for Lost Species
  • Get Involved
    • Stay Informed
    • Follow Us
    • Ambassadors
    • Corporate Partners
    • Events
  • Donate
back to blog

A Q&A With GWC’s New Chief Marketing Officer

07. 19. 2018
tabitha-upshaw

GWC recently welcomed its first Chief Marketing Officer, Tabitha Upshaw, who is responsible for the organization’s branding, communications and marketing programs. Tabitha came to GWC from SunPower, a solar company, where she led brand marketing. Before that she led marketing for Dell’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts. We caught up with Tabitha about the vital role marketing plays in wildlife conservation, and her vision for bringing GWC’s stories to life.

Q. Why are you passionate about wildlife conservation?
A. I am passionate about wildlife conservation because every living being plays an important role in our planet’s survival. Simply put, humans don’t exist without animals.

For the past 10 years I’ve worked to promote sustainability in the for-profit world, and I’ve learned the health of our planet isn’t a zero-sum game. If we look hard enough, we can find solutions that promote human, animal and environmental progress. One doesn’t need to be sacrificed for the others.

My children also inspire my passion for conservation. When my daughter was younger, she was really interested in sea turtles. We learned all about the perils these guys face. For her birthday, we donated to a local conservation organization who sent us pictures of a nest and hatchlings that we helped protect on the Texas coastline. It was so fun seeing her face when we received those photos!

Green-turtle

Q. Why is marketing essential to effective wildlife conservation?
A. Marketing is critical to raising awareness of biodiversity, bringing it to life in a way that people can understand, and then motivating folks to take action.

Also, great marketing can help simplify the world of science and biodiversity into messages that anyone can understand. And in the words of Maya Angelou, “once we know better, we do better.” When people understand how our actions have a domino effect on wildlife, we can make better decisions.

Q. What is your vision for GWC’s marketing efforts?
A. My vision for our marketing is simple. It’s to build an army of loyal fans and donors through great storytelling and content, delivered through leading-edge digital strategies.

Q. What do you love most about the work that you do?
A. There has never been a better time to be a marketer. New technologies help us better understand our fans, so we can deliver stories and content they care about. Technology also helps us reach them with pinpoint accuracy. This doesn’t just benefit marketers, it benefits all of us. We typically don’t mind seeing messages that match our lifestyle and interests. I am not afraid to admit that I click on every athleticwear promotion I see in my Instagram feed!

But what I love most is that I am making a positive difference in the world. Not just for my children, but for generations to come. If we do our job right, future generations won’t think of conservation as a sacrifice. Conservation will be a natural part of everyday life.

Infant-western-grey-kangaroo-in-the-pouch

Q. What is your favorite wildlife species?
A. This question is like asking me to pick my favorite child. Sorry guys, it’s just not possible! One of my favorite things to do is snorkel, so I am drawn to the beauty of marine life (sans jellyfish…ouch). I also have great affection for marsupials. Let’s give it up to those critter-mamas that carry their babies in built-in Baby Bjorns!

  • Tabitha Upshaw

About the Author

Lindsay Renick Mayer

Lindsay is the Director of Media Relations for Global Wildlife Conservation and has a particular interest in leveraging communications to inspire conservation action. Lindsay is passionate about species-based conservation and finding compelling ways to tell stories that demonstrate the value of all of the planet’s critters, big and microscopic.

Categories

Guardians Women In Nature Cultivating Conservation Leaders

Related Posts

The Spirit of Survival

01. 14. 2021

Kayapo Indigenous People Call on World to Help Protect Amazonia Agains

Read More
Erosion caused by an oil pipeline in Ecuador.

INVASION (Part I)

12. 23. 2020

Oil Spills, Illegal Mining And COVID-19 Layer Threats On Ecuador’s I

Read More

INVASION (Part IV)

12. 23. 2020

In Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts Indigenous

Read More

INVASION (Part III)

12. 23. 2020

In Pandemic, Putumayo’s Indigenous Peoples Draw Upon Their Past

Read More
Julio Rolín, president of the Boca Pariamanu community

INVASION (Part II)

12. 23. 2020

COVID-19 Pandemic Highlights Environmental Justice Issues in Peru’s

Read More

A Wild 2020

12. 19. 2020

GWC Celebrates Its Best of 2020, Despite a Challenging Year

Read More
Previous Next
    About
    • About Us
    • Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Careers
    • GWC Ethics
    Collaboration
    • Conservation Partners
    • Associate Scientists
    • Corporate Partners
    • Fiscal Sponsorship
    • Notes From the Field
    Resources
    • Contact
    • Press
    • Financials
    • Charity Navigator
    • Legacy Giving
    Connect

© 2020 Global Wildlife Conservation. All Rights Reserved. Charitable Solicitation Disclosures.

    • Privacy Policy
    • Site Map
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

  • Our Mission
    ▼
    • Biodiversity
    • Extinction
  • Our Work
    ▼
    • Wildlands
    • Wildlife
    • Guardians
    • Solutions
    • Impact
  • Our Stories
    ▼
    • Blog
    • Press Room
    • Romeo The Frog
    • Search for Lost Species
  • Get Involved
    ▼
    • Stay Informed
    • Follow Us
    • Ambassadors
    • Corporate Partners
    • Events
  • Donate