Combining Organization Development skills and animal conservation: A conversation with Michael Clifford, who is the Strategic Director for the international organization, Reverse the Red. The chat is a great example of process consulting and cross-cult

My guest this episode is Michael Clifford, who combines his unique talents of zoo science and conservation with his expertise in organization development and change in his role as the Strategy Director for Reverse the Red. Reverse the Red is a global movement that ignites strategic cooperation and action to ensure the survival of wild species and ecosystems and reverse the negative trend of biodiversity loss. Michael shares how he utilizes OD concepts in facilitating strategic change and building partnerships and coalitions, among governments, various partner organizations, and communities.  We discuss how he uses his unique skill set to facilitate change, in an environment where he has no authority or power, just the ability to understand ecosystems and systems in general, and the ability to cast a vision and provide a pathway for change to occur.  The chat is a great example of process consulting skills in action.  The conversation also highlights the value of cross-cultural competencies in working within diverse communities and systems.  Michael mentions that with 196 different countries, there are 196 different ways of approaching conservation.