What does elite talent really look like in conservation — and why do most hiring systems miss it completely?

Rowan Martin is a walking contradiction to the sector’s stereotypes. A PhD scientist in butterfly vision. A mountain biker with an instinctive grasp of risk. An estate manager running real land, real projects, and real decisions in West Wales. A mother, creator, and operator who refuses to separate who she is from how she works.

This conversation goes far beyond ecology. We get into why CV-led recruitment fails, how high-performance cultures are actually built, and why character, standards, and mindset matter more than tidy career paths. Rowan shares her journey from academia to action, how she balances leadership with authenticity, and why conservation done properly is uncomfortable, physical, and deeply human.

We also explore risk — on the bike, on the land, and in business — community trust, volunteer culture, and what happens when you give exceptional people the freedom to be fully themselves.

This isn’t a story about fitting in. It’s about raising the bar.

If you care about talent, leadership, or how the future of nature is really being built — this one matters.