From Game Ranger to Executive Leadership: Steve Johnson on Conservation, Community, and Emotional Intelligence

In Episode 38 of Risky Business, host Bryan Hattingh and co-host Jonathan Shaw welcome Steve Johnson, founder and CEO of Growth Leaders Africa. The episode opens with a poignant dedication to Bryan’s late lifelong friend, Clive Samra, and Jonathan’s late mother, Evelyn Shaw. Steve then shares his 45+ year journey in biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development across Southern Africa. He reflects on how a defining childhood experience at age 12 sparked his passion for nature and non-exclusion. He discusses his progression from a game ranger in Wankie National Park to establishing national parks in Bophuthatswana, advising regional SADC programs, and working with international bodies like the UNDP and WWF. The panel explores how the traditional philosophy of Ubuntu and community ownership are essential for sustainable wildlife management. Concluding the discussion, Steve highlights his transition into executive leadership coaching, emphasizing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and self-discipline under his guiding principles: "In all you do today, think of the greater good" and "Me before We."Find more at https://riskybusiness6.wordpress.com/ or https://www.cycan.co.za/