Disrupting the status quo isn’t easy—but it’s necessary. The Zoo & Aquarium Professional Troublemaker of the Year program, a partnership between TESSERE and SSA Group, was created to recognize and celebrate the boldest changemakers in our field—leaders who challenge assumptions, push boundaries, and drive transformative change in pursuit of a thriving planet for both people and wildlife.
In February’s ECHO Digital Session, 2024 Professional Troublemaker of the Year, Dolf DeJong, Nominating Committee Member Jess Kohring, and Behavioral Essentials COO Jill Macauley joined us in conversation about what it means to take risks, navigate resistance, and rethink the future of zoos and aquariums.
TESSERE’s Takes:
- Troublemaking Is a Practice, Not a Moment
Driving meaningful change isn’t about a single bold action—it’s a persistent, intentional approach. True troublemakers for good cultivate a mindset of questioning, endurance, and proactive action, continually pushing against the status quo to create lasting impact.
- Change Thrives in a Culture of Psychological Safety
Disrupting the norm is only successful when people feel safe to speak up. Effective leaders foster environments where team members are encouraged to challenge assumptions, iterate on ideas, and view failures as opportunities to learn.
- Bringing Others Along Makes Change Sustainable
The most impactful troublemakers for good don’t work in isolation. Lasting transformation happens when change-makers engage others, build alliances, and create structures that support progress while ensuring their ideas take root and evolve over time. Troublemakers aren’t always the most popular voices in the room and may feel like they don’t fit in, but aligning on a shared vision for good can overcome these tensions and drive meaningful change.
- There is Risk in Challenging the Norm
Pushing against outdated systems takes courage, but it also comes with risk—especially for those without institutional power. Meaningful change happens when those who can amplify and protect the voices of others, ensuring that making trouble doesn’t mean facing it alone.
- Facts Alone Don’t Drive Change—Connection Does
Information and data aren’t enough to catalyze action. Personal stories, emotional connection, and hope-driven narratives are essential to moving people from awareness to buy-in and engagement. Small, tangible wins can be powerful in galvanizing momentum and sustaining progress.
- Ask More “Whys” and Challenge Assumptions
Progress starts with curiosity. Whether in leadership meetings or day-to-day decisions, questioning existing structures and seeking new perspectives can uncover overlooked opportunities and drive systemic change.
