Based in Wānaka, New Zealand, Alexia is the Agility Lab’s Regional Lead for the Asia Pacific Region at The Nature Conservancy. She is focused on supporting conservation teams with Adaptive Management and the Asia Pacific Region with Portfolio Management. Alexia thinks in systems, uniquely finding connections across processes to integrate and align initiatives across the organisation.

An experienced innovator, strategist, and facilitator, Alexia previously worked with New Zealand's leading innovation and research consultancy, creating human-centered solutions.  Alexia specialises in people-centered conservation, organisational culture and behavioural change, and helping conservation teams drive accelerated, equitable, and enduring positive impact.

“In my early career, I wrote a poem about seeking to bring innovative methodologies, typically locked up in the private sector, out from behind ‘shiny glass doors.’ I am passionate about supporting teams and organisations to unlock their potential to drive positive impact supported by innovative, agile ways of working.”

August is co-founder and Managing Director of The Agility Lab, a TNC initiative that supports conservation teams in making accelerated progress to scaled impact. The team does this by: 

1. helping conservation teams operationalize Adaptive Management, 

2. helping leadership operationalize Portfolio Management, and  

3. providing strategic and implementation support for TNC’s highest impact teams, including the allocation and management of TNC’s $120M Accelerating Impact Fund. 

Formerly, August managed TNC’s partnership with Techstars – The Sustainability Accelerator. This first-of-its-kind partnership harnessed entrepreneurial energy and technological innovation in the service of solving the world’s food, water, and climate challenges. 

Prior to that, August helped launch TNC’s India Program as the team’s Associate Director. Before India, August managed TNC’s global Board of Directors. August has a dual-degree M.S. in Conservation Leadership, an innovative interdisciplinary master’s program, from Colorado State University and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.

“Experiment on!”

Becky is a program manager at The Agility Lab, supporting TNC Africa and consulting on emerging technologies to enhance conservation efforts.

Becky’s background is in helping nonprofits build their teams and increase their impact. Before TNC, she worked in social sciences research and executive leadership in software development, focusing on human-centered service and system design. She LOVES being a “bridge builder” in relationships and ideas, developing partnerships, and nurturing high-performing, inclusive, and collaborative team cultures. She was a founding board member of a nonprofit dedicated to conserving the sagebrush steppe ecosystem along the Oregon, Idaho, and Nevada border.

Becky holds a Master of Science in Natural Resource Management, a Master of Science in Experimental Psychology, and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

In her spare time, she grows for local native plant networks and wanders the desert collecting seed with local organizations for restoration projects.

“More ears over more answers. Listening, listening, listening, and jumping in wherever you are valuable to the team initially can relieve some pressure and create forward progress.”

Christine joined The Nature Conservancy as one of The Agility Lab’s Scale Pilot Entrepreneurs in Residence (EIRs) and today works as the Scale Pilot’s Program Manager to support other conservation teams with their EIR assignments. Christine spent the first five years of her professional career as a software engineer in San Francisco before taking an intentional career pivot while obtaining an MBA at Dartmouth (cold months in New Hampshire are a great way to force reflection).

Post-MBA, Christine went through the startup journey as the founder of two companies, learning deeply what it means to build with the user in mind at every step of the way, as well as many other powerful lessons. Outside of work, Christine’s second job is being in the outdoors at home in Boulder, Colorado, through ultra/mountain running, rock climbing, and, of course, backcountry skiing.

“At The Nature Conservancy, I'm continually exposed to diverse backgrounds and expertise, unlike any other sector. Every day presents an opportunity to learn about fascinating aspects of conservation or intriguing ways to solve hard problems. Whether it be how beavers are master engineers of ecosystems or how we can build creative funding structures to support conservation work, every day is a continuous learning opportunity that inspires me to expand my knowledge.”

Diego has nearly two decades of expertise in strategic planning across diverse sectors such as nature conservation, innovation, businesses that operate within planetary boundaries to achieve both well-being and profit, marketing, and community building. With a knack for developing projects and plans that can be then adaptively managed, Diego excels in leading organizations and teams in multicultural settings. 

He often extrapolates his understanding of living systems to address the complex realities that teams and organizations face, offering solutions grounded in a systemic, regenerative approach. He is currently The Agility Lab’s Latin America Regional Lead.

“At TNC, 6,000 of us work daily to solve problems humanity has created. This reality makes our work uniquely complex, often bringing frustration, uncertainty, and self-doubt. As the TNC team, we are called to first change the behaviors that led us here. That’s why I believe in approaching our mission as life itself does — adapting to sustain it. I do this work because it’s where I feel best equipped to help our organization achieve a thriving planet for all life, including humanity.”

In addition to being a co-founder and Program Director with The Agility Lab, Emma has a decade-plus of experience as an entrepreneur, facilitator, and community organizer. Before coming to TNC in 2019 as a consultant, she founded Boulder.Earth, an entity focused on place-based community capacity building around climate action.

Other snapshots from her career include serving as a campaign manager for multi-million-dollar ballot initiatives advocating for safer distances between fracking sites and public spaces, developing and teaching a course for leading in times of disruptive change titled “What Would Nature Do?,” and facilitating all over the world with clients like the World Bank and the UN. She and her husband, Charlie, recently moved to Eugene, Oregon.

“When folks ask me to describe my job, the first thing I say is, ‘It’s my dream job,’ and I mean it. Working to support the passionate, intelligent, caring folks at TNC in their work to protect, steward, and rematriate the land, air, and water upon which all life depends … it is an honor, and it is my life’s work!”

As Program Manager at The Agility Lab, Gayatri works closely with TNC’s North America and Global conservation teams, strengthening their ability to deliver accelerated impact using evidence-based learning and adaptive management practices for their strategies. 

Before joining TNC, Gayatri worked as a strategy consultant for a number of years, advising leadership and C-suite executives from a range of industries, including healthcare, philanthropy, technology, and education. As a consultant, she helped companies and organizations leverage human-centered and social science research methods to support strategy, innovation, and organizational change. Her early career also included work with international organizations such as the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, UNICEF, and the International Rescue Committee. 

Gayatri holds an undergraduate degree in Economics from Vassar College and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School. 

“It is a privilege to collaborate with TNC’s conservation teams as they address some of the most pressing and complex challenges of our time. By embracing continuous learning and adaptive management, I am confident that TNC can drive solutions that lead to enduring, transformative impact for our planet.” 

With 20-plus years of leadership and executive experience working across multiple cultures, Guillermo now guides leaders and their organizations to unleash the power of human relationships. At The Agility Lab, Gafurt utilizes his expertise in coaching teams within Latin America and developing products to truly meet the needs of conservation teams on the ground.

By helping people strengthen the “soft” skills that are needed but often neglected, Guillermo is adept at building teams and leaders who foster trust, innovation, transparency, agility, and flexibility to achieve their goals and dreams. 

“As my way to contribute to the world, I've decided to devote my energy to helping individuals and groups achieve their fullest potential. Facilitation, to me, embodies the essence of co-creating spaces where the joint power of diverse perspectives converges, innovative ideas flourish, and collective solutions to complex challenges emerge.”

Jess is a co-founder of The Agility Lab and an experienced entrepreneur, facilitator, and strategist. Most of her career has been spent in the private sector, both in starting her own companies and supporting other growing organizations with leadership roles in product, operations, and strategy. In a previous life, she worked as a LEED-accredited urban designer tackling strategic problems in the public realm.

Based in Denver, Colorado, Jess is the Scale Director at The Agility Lab, dedicated to supporting conservation teams on their journey to scale.

“Like everyone at TNC, I wake up each morning hoping that the work that I do makes even a tiny dent in the biodiversity and climate crises. That's why I believe scale matters, not just to reach our 2030 goals, but to have a hope of a more livable planet.”

As the Global Portfolio Priorities Director at The Agility Lab, Jesse leads TNC’s efforts to drive resourcing and support for our annual conservation priorities while managing TNC’s existing portfolio of work in the $120M Accelerating Impact Fund. 

Formerly, Jesse led regenerative agriculture initiatives for international development organizations and previously managed two multi-country initiatives with TNC’s Regenerative Agriculture strategy in Central and South America. Prior to that, Jesse worked for the TNC Mexico country program and TNC’s global Office of the President. Jesse has a dual-degree M.S. in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University and El Colegio de la Frontera Sur.

“Having worked at other organizations and returned to TNC, the people continue to amaze me. Their drive, intelligence, and willingness to laugh and be vulnerable are remarkable. It’s been enjoyable reconnecting with this diverse set of colleagues.”

Josh Goldstein is a Senior Scientist for Strategy Development in TNC’s Chief Conservation Office. In this role, he develops frameworks, methods, and tools to support conservation teams in developing and adaptively managing impactful and equitable strategies for nature and people. His work with The Agility Lab focuses on TNC’s Conservation Portfolio Management process, which supports managers in allocating resources to the highest impact work to achieve TNC’s 2030 Goals. Outside The Agility Lab, Josh is part of the Conservation by Design team, which stewards TNC’s method for developing and improving conservation strategies.

For over 20 years, Josh has worked on projects around the world to mainstream the incorporation of nature’s benefits to people in policy, planning, and business contexts. From 2017 to 2022, Josh served as the director of the Bridge Collaborative, a global partnership building evidence, methods and leadership to develop solutions across the environmental, public health and sustainable development communities. His research has encompassed topics including developing and applying new approaches for ecosystem services mapping and valuation, designing payments for ecosystem services, and quantifying conservation return-on-investment.

Prior to joining TNC, Josh was an assistant professor of ecological economics in the Department of Human Dimensions of Natural Resources at Colorado State University. He received his Ph.D. in environment and resources from Stanford University in 2007.

“The challenges we face for biodiversity, climate, and sustainable development are immense. Yet I’m filled with optimism, because I work every day with passionate, energetic, and innovative colleagues who embrace the challenges and are reaching for a better future.”

Program Manager

Molly is a human-centered leader and coach drawing from nearly six years of experience using agile frameworks and tools to help teams thrive. As the Agile Coach with The Agility Lab, she guides the team to make evidence-based decisions and practice continuous improvement of their products and ways of working. She is passionate about creating culture where folks can show up as whole humans, authentically bringing themselves and their unique gifts to the work.  

“One of the cornerstones of the Co-Active Coaching model and my work is that people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. For me, Agile approaches are all about people and empowering them to do great things together and thrive as a team. Being able to apply these principles in the conservation space and with the brilliant people at TNC feels like some of the most important work I could be doing on the planet right now!”

Pam is a Brazilian consultant who, in addition to providing her expertise as a TNC Agility Lab Senior Coach, works with big companies to put together resourceful teams to solve complex problems. She focuses on sustainability and environmental issues, social impact, and fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion. Facilitating comes as a passion to Pam, and she thrives in developing solutions by organizing brilliant minds to collaborate and create impactful solutions.

“At TNC I can make a meaningful impact in the world, fostering to positively contribute to global well-being, leading to more inclusive and effective solutions. This work is not just about projects, it's about making a long-lasting difference in the lives of individuals and leaving a positive imprint in the world.”

Sarah is passionate about problem-solving. Before joining The Agility Lab in 2022, Sarah worked for 10 years in the private sector, leveraging agile methodology, human-centered design, business strategy, and innovation techniques to create products that solve real-world problems. She has built products that have gone from zero to millions of users. In her role as a Program Director, Sarah is responsible for stewarding The Agility Lab’s guidance and tools for adaptive management and portfolio management. She always aims to approach her work with empathy, curiosity, and the humility to create what is needed to enable impact. 

“Working at TNC is more than just a job to me. It is an honor to contribute to this work, which I see as having the greatest potential to relieve human and non-human suffering, alongside an organization full of the most talented and big-hearted folks."

One question has motivated Zach's work over the last 25 years: What enables teams to solve humanity's hardest challenges while doing the best work of their careers? He has explored that question in startups, nonprofits, higher education, and large companies in the various roles of founder, executive, investor, board member, teacher, advisor, coach, manager, facilitator, and individual contributor.

“Learn, Do, Teach, Learn — when learning something new, don’t skip the two middle steps, they are the most important ones.”