I used to measure success in cost savings and efficiency gains. My days were spent analyzing data, reassuring stakeholders, and ensuring goods moved smoothly from point A to point B. It was a career that made sense on paper – stable, well-paying, and rewarding. But over time, I started to feel a disconnect. I couldn’t shake the question: what impact am I actually making?

That question nagged at me, growing louder with each passing month. Then, in 2023, I decided to take a break. I left my corporate job and spent time traveling abroad, hoping to learn about myself and the world around me. Along the way, I explored the oceans I had only seen in documentaries, earning scuba diving certifications and witnessing firsthand the beauty and fragility of marine ecosystems.

Underwater, I found the passion I had been searching for and the clarity I had been chasing. Everywhere I looked, there was vibrant life. Schools of fish wove effortlessly through the water. Occasionally, one would stop to acknowledge me before continuing on its way. Corals, anemones, starfish, crabs, and urchins adorned the ocean floor, creating a mesmerizing tapestry of color and movement.

I felt such a connection to everything around me, like I was a part of it. I wasn’t just observing nature – I was immersed in it, welcomed by it. It made me question the role we choose to play in the natural world. Do we have to remain outsiders and disruptors? Or could we begin to see ourselves as part of a larger environmental community, with the responsibility to protect it?

Unfortunately, our impact so far has been detrimental. Coral reefs, which support 25% of all marine life, are bleaching and dying due to human-caused issues like acidification and rising ocean temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) projects that up to 90% of our coral reefs could disappear by 2050 if current trends continue. Key species are losing their habitats, shellfish can no longer form their shells, and populations are at risk of extinction from overfishing.

Our oceans are suffering, and we can’t afford to let that happen. Aside from being beautiful and full of fascinating life, the ocean supports humanity. It regulates our climate, produces oxygen, and provides food security for billions of people. It’s not enough to admire the ocean, we must act to protect it.

I am now a graduate student studying Ocean and Coastal Resource Management. In other words, how we govern, protect, and sustainably manage the ecosystems that exist in our oceans and where land meets sea. I’m learning about how we can build policies and practices that work with nature rather than against it.

Unlike my corporate career, where efficiency was the goal, this new path is filled with ambiguity and open-ended questions. The transition hasn’t been easy. It’s daunting to step away from a familiar world into one where outcomes are harder to measure and career paths are less defined. But I’ve also realized something crucial: my experience in the corporate world wasn’t wasted time, it was preparation.

Strategic thinking, managing complexity, and building partnerships are skills just as essential in conservation as they are in business. Professionals across traditional industries are uniquely equipped to take on environmental work, and shifting careers can lead to deeper meaning. That feeling I had underwater, of being part of something larger and worth protecting, is what continues to guide me.

Ultimately, the crises we face – rising temperatures, pollution, biodiversity loss – affect every single one of us, whether we realize it or not. Addressing them, protecting the systems that sustain life, should be an urgent global priority.

Healing the environment isn’t the job of scientists alone; there are broad, collective efforts to conserve and restore natural ecosystems. These efforts need storytellers to shift public opinion, analysts to track progress, economists to shape financial strategies, and policymakers to drive systemic change. In other words, they need people from every profession. They need you.

Critics of leaving corporate life may argue that stepping away from stability is a reckless move, one that sacrifices financial security and career progression. There’s some truth in that concern. But what’s often overlooked is the cost of staying: stagnation, disillusionment, and the feeling of contributing to something that no longer aligns with who you are.

Maybe the ocean isn’t your thing, and that’s okay. Our parks, forests, rivers, and wetlands need just as much attention. The skills, passion, and urgency required to protect each of these places are the same. What matters is choosing to engage, wherever your connection to the natural world lies.

Of course, not everyone can pivot careers, but purpose can also be found in staying. It can be found in pushing for sustainable practices, launching green initiatives, and advocating for policy changes within your company. You can also volunteer with, or donate to, environmental groups. Every action matters. Whether it’s by changing careers or embedding sustainability into your current role, you can be part of the solution.

If you’re seeking inspiration, just look around. I’ve found mine in countless people who work tirelessly and selflessly to protect our planet. One of the most meaningful moments of my journey so far was meeting Dr. Sylvia Earle at the Goldman Environmental Prize Ceremony, and having the chance to personally thank her. Though our exchange was brief, it left a lasting impression.

Dr. Earle has been a trailblazer in ocean exploration and conservation for decades. Her advocacy, research, and storytelling helped shape how the world sees and values the ocean. She is a personal hero of mine, and a reminder that change can begin with a single person. People like Dr. Earle, and so many others, prove that one voice, one career, one commitment can ripple outward and make waves. I’ve already experienced so many moments that reaffirm my passion for this work, and I know more inspiration lies ahead to keep me moving forward.

To anyone feeling stuck or unfulfilled, do yourself a favor and ask: does your current path align with your values? Does it make you proud? The world needs people who understand both business and sustainability, who can bridge the gap between commerce and conservation.

When I think about my future now, I feel incredibly optimistic. The challenges in protecting our ocean are enormous, but so are the opportunities. My journey is still unfolding, but for the first time in my career I know I’m moving in the right direction.

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About the Author

McKenzie Ploen is a graduate student in Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and a
former corporate supply chain strategist. She writes about sustainability, purpose-driven work,
and marine conservation.

A lot of the time, we humans like to consider ourselves unique, evolved, and somewhat separate from our animal cousins. We, however, have a lot more in common than we think. While our culture has historically had a negative attitude towards homosexuality, for over 1,500 species of animal, homosexual behavior is natural. Cetaceans (i.e., whales, dolphins, and porpoises) in particular have been recorded expressing an entire spectrum of queer behaviors. This group of species are considered more emotionally intelligent than humans, suggesting that their thoughts and emotions are more complex and developed than our own. Which leads to the question – what can whales tell us about human queer identities?

The Anti-Nuclear Family

While the Spice Girls may have coined the term Girl Power in the late 1990s, whales have been living this slogan since time immemorial. A society led by ‘single’ females is one that may be unconventional to us yet is traditional beneath the waves. Matrilineal social structures, where females are head of the family and a male’s main contribution is reproduction, is standard across many species of cetacean. Back when Northern Resident killer whale C1 (Namu) was accidentally captured in nets in British Columbia in the 1960s, and subsequently transported to Seattle aquarium in a floating sea pen, the media considered the whales following Namu to be his wife and children. In fact, these whales were his mom and siblings. Some of the first people to study killer whales also thought that pods were led by the largest male in the group (i.e., patriarchal), when in fact these males are in fact largely dependent on their moms for their whole lives. Whale families are more akin to human family structures led by single moms, lesbian moms, or moms raising their kids with a village of family and friends. There is something to be said about the world’s most emotionally evolved species being led by females.

‘Bromances’ and ‘Gal Pals’

As a lesbian, I have been victim of the ‘friends’ or ‘sisters’ generalization when my wife and I are doing something as basic as renewing our health cards or going out for dinner. This human bias also translates to the underwater world of whales. Killer whales typically stay with their moms their whole lives, but sometimes, male whales are seen outside of their immediate family group. There are instances of two or more male, adult killer whales travelling and associating with each other for years, like shark-eating Port with Starboard off South Africa, T128 (Flotsam) with T125A (Jetsam) in the Northeast Pacific, and W001 (John Coe) with W008 (Aquarius) off the west coast of Scotland. Whether these whales are together through circumstance (i.e., roommates) or more (i.e., lovers), these associations are typically labelled ‘brothers’ or ‘friends’. Similarly, female sperm whales are considered to form life-long friendships with other females. They are even known to share the equivalent of ‘inside jokes’ through unique dialects across generations, redefining our human standards of BFFs. As this species is deep diving, we as humans only get to observe this species for the brief moments they are at the surface, meaning there could be a lot more going on between these besties than meets the eye.

From assumptions to observations, whilst captivity limits the ability of whales to exhibit natural behaviors, it’s one benefit is the ability to observe whales up close and personal – for science. Lesbian sex between killer whales has been observed in captivity, and whilst the reason behind this behavior is not 100% confirmed, some scientists have suggested that same-sex genital contact in female dolphins is driven by their ability to feel pleasure via their evolved clitorises. Females however are not alone in this. Homosexual behaviors are more commonly observed between male whales (maybe because it is more obvious…). In western Australia, male bottlenose dolphins regularly take part in sexual contact with other males to strengthen long-term alliances and maintain social structure. Bottlenose dolphins off western UK waters have also been reported to exhibit similar behavior. Dolphins, however, are not alone in this. Humpback whales were in the news recently for exhibiting the same behavior off the coast of Hawaii. The first time that sex between two humpback whales was photographed and it happened to be between two male whales. Similarly, male killer whale ‘bachelor’ groups have been observed rubbing body parts together, including their “sea snakes”. Whilst we can only attribute physical sexual observations to whales due to the limitations of field research and our understanding, it is possible that whales exhibit more than sexually-driven attraction for the same-sex. Female humpback whales have previously been recorded singing (usually a trait exclusive to male whales) during the breeding season. Whether this is because the whale wanted to deter nearby male whales, attract a female, or because the whale identified as a male – we will never know.

It’s in Their DNA

An important part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ rainbow includes the ‘I’ – intersex individuals. As well as being born with sex characteristics that are not “typical” for male or female bodies, they are also more likely to identify as queer than non-intersex people. For humans, there is a general lack of research for intersex-identifying individuals, so it is no surprise that there is similarly an incomplete understanding in the world of whales. One of the earliest observations in cetaceans was of an intersex fin whale back in the 1960s, and in recent years, there have been numerous additional observations of wild intersex whales including common dolphins, beaked whales, beluga whales, and southern right whales. The era of DNA-based assessment of whales has driven the discovery of intersex individuals, showing that in cetaceans, intersex is more common than historically thought. Suites of DNA tests, when used in parallel, essentially show that XXY or XYY are possible variations of sex chromosomes instead of being considered ‘anomalies’ through a heteronormative lens. In my own research, we use these exact tools to try and figure out the sex of wild whales from the DNA they leave behind in their ‘wake’ – i.e., flukeprints. While this approach can tell us if the DNA signature is male or female (sometimes with ambiguous results), I am often left wondering how the animals perceive and identify themselves. Lastly, in the whale research world, if we do not know the sex of a whale we are monitoring, most refer to them as they/them – the singular pronoun. Gender-neutral pronouns exist in the animal world as they do in the human world and using them is really not that difficult.

So, there it is. A light-hearted look at the queer lives of whales and how it makes us think more about what it means to be in the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I of course caveat with the above as daring to look through a non-heteronormative lens (at the risk of anthropomorphizing), to get you thinking about how our queer identities are not all that different from our animal cousins. In fact, it is natural and should be celebrated as part of the diversity of life.

 

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About the Author

Dr. Chloe Robinson (she/they) is a scientist, conservationist, and science communicator. She currently holds the position of Advisor & Technical Lead for the Whales Initiative at Ocean Wise, where she leads conservation programs aimed at protecting vulnerable whale species. As a scientist, they primarily focus on developing and implementing environmental DNA-based approaches for closing data gaps on whales and their prey, having published 25+ peer-reviewed articles on the application of non-invasive methods for monitoring biodiversity. As a conservationist, she leads the Whale Report Alert System (WRAS), which reduces the risk of ship strike for large whale species across the west coast of North America. As a science communicator, she has won awards for their contributions to public engagement and science dissemination. She identifies as a gender non-conforming lesbian and a passionate advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in science. They have spearheaded initiatives such as a workshop series at the University of Guelph to increase 2SLGBTQIA+ visibility in STEM, a Pride seminar series at Swansea University, and the annual Big Gay Whale Watch on Vancouver Island. Chloe considers themself lucky to be an uninvited settler living, working, and playing on traditional territories of the lək̓ʷəŋən (Lekwungen) peoples (“Victoria’, Canada), where she lives with their wife, son, cats, and many whale neighbours.

The International SeaKeepers Society will host its highly anticipated Founders Event on Thursday, October 30, 2025, during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show—bringing together ocean lovers, conservation leaders, and marine enthusiasts to celebrate a shared passion for the sea.

This special evening will highlight two extraordinary honorees: Jimmy Buffett, posthumously recognized as the 2025 SeaKeeper of the Year, and Emily Cunningham, MBE, recipient of the 2025 NextGen Award. The Society will also celebrate the 2025 DISCOVERY Fleet, whose vessels supported vital marine research and education throughout the year.

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Event Details

Event:
2025 Annual Founders Event
Hosted by The International SeaKeepers Society

Date:
Thursday, October 30, 2025

Time:
7:00 PM – Cocktails
8:30 PM – Dinner

Location:
Pier Sixty-Six
2301 SE 17th Street
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316

Honorees:

Jimmy Buffett, 2025 SeaKeeper of the Year

Emily Cunningham, MBE, 2025 NextGen Award

2025 DISCOVERY Fleet, for their year-round support of SeaKeepers programming

RSVP Deadline:
Friday, October 24, 2025

Contact:
Email: Marjurie@SeaKeepers.org
Phone: +1 786.924.6209

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RSVP & Ticket Information

This is a ticketed event with limited capacity. RSVPs are required for entry. For ticket purchases or sponsorship inquiries, please contact Marjurie or visit SeaKeepers.org for details.

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2025 DISCOVERY Fleet Recognition

SeaKeepers will recognize the contributions of its DISCOVERY Fleet, a collective of vessels that hosted marine research, educational programming, and outreach around the world. The 2025 impact spans the following regions:

• USA, Headquarters
• Asia & Bangladesh
• United Kingdom
• South Pacific

Attendees will have an opportunity to explore each chapter’s achievements and the vessels that played a vital role in supporting SeaKeepers’ mission this year.

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