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WildTeam and Zapnito - A Panel with Adam and Thirza

WildTeam's Adam Barlow and Thirza Loffeld joined me to discuss their Zapnito-powered community - WildHub - the ins and outs of what it takes to foster a community of highly engaged members, and the challenges that COVID has posed to the conservation sector.

Sep 02, 2020

Charles Thiede, Adam Barlow & Thirza Loffeld

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Video Transcript

Charles: Hi everybody.

It's Charles CCO and co founder of . And I'm here with Adam Barlow

from wild team and Tirzah Lohfeld from wild team as well, who runs the,

uh, the wild hub, which is powered by zap, you know, welcome you guys.

Charles: I'd love to just get a very quick introduction.

Um, on you on you both.

And we'll talk a little bit about wild team, uh, wild teams and the wild hub.

Um, Theresa, do you want to start just a quick, maybe talk

a little bit about your PhD too.

Thirza: All right.

Thanks so much for inviting us, Charles.

It's really nice to be here.

Um, so yeah, I have a background mainly in, um, great ape conservation and I

was studying that behavior for quite a while, uh, in captive settings, as well

as into wild, um, but made a switch to study conservationist in stats.

So, um, and that's also, um, what I do my.

But I, yeah, focus on in terms of my PhD.

So that's about the professional learning, um, of those who work in conservation and

also the capacity building around that.

And that fits in really nicely with my current role for a while, team UK, which

is, uh, as community manager for wild hub.

So our global community of conservation professional,

Charles: and Adam.

Adam: Yeah, thanks.

I'm the executive director at Weill team.

And, um, for my current position, I was working on target conservation in Nepal,

Bangladesh, Thailand for about 20 years.

And, um, so decided after many mistakes and learning many

things during that process, I thought I could be more used to.

Conservation by helping, uh, other conservationists get,

get better at what they do.

So that's what we do here.

Charles: Well, maybe there's a wild team.

Um, how, what was the, the main inspiration?

Was it really just about helping other conservation or what was the driver

for kind of creating the, the model

Adam: and your approach?

It was basically a, a few of us got together.

We thought, how can we have the most amount.

Of impact we possibly could because we tried the, uh, the being on the

ground and the kind of individual kind of hero work of, you know, being out

there and, uh, dealing with the issues on the ground as individuals, which,

uh, was great and fulfilling and had it had an impact, for example, in

Bangladesh, uh, uh, the, some of the bonds, we, we made a difference there.

We saw how well the difference was between, uh, our, what we could

achieve, which is based on our skills and because, and through many years

of just failing at conservation, making no difference whatsoever.

And then we w we kind of hit a point where we were making a difference.

We're saving tigers.

What was the difference between those two States?

Um, uh, if we can package that up, give that to others.

And we'd be able to help, um, conservation of wildlife all over

the world, not just one site and one species, would it Elle to fundamentally

change conservation for the better?

So that's what we got passionate about.

Why we created Welty

Charles: and conservation is this across, I mean, is this, is this

across all creatures great and small or needs to, to tigers, I guess, is that.

Adam: Yeah, well, all the things, all the skills or the costume we built is, uh, can

be applied to any type of conservation.

It could be someone, um, working on, uh, pangolin lens or a humpback

whales or butterflies or anything.

It doesn't matter.

We give them the skills that will enable them to have more

impact for what they care about.

So, and so we kind of live vicariously through them.

You know, we give them, we enable them to have more impact and than we care

about the great work they're doing and that the difference they're making.

Charles: awesome.

I definitely would love to hear more about kind of how you measure

that, um, in terms of wild hub and maybe that's, that's a good segue.

You're kind of the mastermind behind wild hook hub.

And we talked a couple of years ago about creating that love to hear about,

you know, why wild hub came to be and how that's an extension of a wild team.

And then maybe I'll hand it over to Theresa, but I don't know if you can

just give us a understanding of why you developed an online community

as an extension of that vision.

Well, we started off with a training workshop, which we still do.

Um, but at the moment, what we can give to the world of conservation

is limited by our own time, our own intellectual capabilities.

And it's also a bit slow.

We create a best practice, takes a few years.

Then we do some training in some subjects.

So at the moment, we're just leveraging our own intellectual

capacity for conservation, but there's a whole, you know, um, crowd of.

Uh, amazing conservation knowledge and practical lessons that people can, uh,

learn from and benefit from for their own work that we don't know about.

Um, so wild hub was a way of accessing and leveraging everyone's knowledge

and experience with the benefit of conservation to make conservation from a

traditionally, uh, quite old fashioned.

Um, slow learning sector to something that learns really fast adapts,

really fast, improves really fast, uh, and just spreads, uh, knowledge

and understanding throughout its members, just almost instantly.

Uh, and that's the idea of wild hub, this online community of global conservation

professionals that can just interact.

You know, I've got a problem.

I don't know how to deal with this human wildlife conflict or

elephants crushing around villages.

Uh, breaking down, uh, villages, hot seating, their crops, the

religious or spiritual killing them.

And then someone from another country can say, this is what worked for us.

And you can just accelerate conservation so fast

Charles: in that,

Adam: with that medium of this online community.

So that's, that's why it was kind of unnatural and very exciting

extension of the, uh, the training work we started with.

Charles: Awesome.

It's such a great.

Kind of case study in terms of, um, collective intelligence and

the harnessing of collective intelligence across the peer group.

And that's kind of really what we try to help our binds with.

Um, but really at the hub of the, the hub, if you will, is, uh, Tirzah right.

And, uh, your role as the hub master, I guess, um, there's

a D it would be awesome.

I think for possibly some of our newer clients that to hear a little

bit about day in the life of as a community manager, And what you do,

um, hurting the big cats, so to speak.

Um, and I had to throw that one in there and, uh, and, and just kind of

understanding, you know, your role from start to finish very quickly.

And then I'd love to hear a little bit about, you know, the, the launch and

then the post COVID world of the hub.

So maybe we can start with that.

Thirza: Um, I guess my day to day, well, we're very much in the

establishment phase of our community.

So it's focusing on growing a community and with growing, I don't

just mean the numbers of people.

Um, we're currently with 950 members.

And these are across 50 or so different countries, 30 of these

countries are in there global South.

So that's quite important for us as well because that overlaps.

And when you go to both South countries overlap with, um, areas

with high biodiversity, um, But, um, I think, um, so next to growing the

community, it's, um, it's very much about having that engagement on the

platform within our community as well.

So kind of converting people that are new to the community to become

regulars, become confident in how our community works, what we can mean.

Um, to them in the daily work, uh, and how contributes to the community itself.

So it's very much about I'm introducing them, making them feel welcome.

So creating that openness and that's kind of where I see my role comes in.

So openness in terms of being able to share the lessons learned

and not just things that worked.

And, um, so that were successes.

But also the failures and the think Adam touched upon that early already.

Um, it needs a certain openness among our members and a safety within our

community to be able to share that.

But it's actually really important to learn from one another and not.

Just continuously reinventing the wheel, wherever we do conservation in the world.

Um, so yeah, that's me, it's building relationships, creating that

openness, giving people confidence to, uh, find their, um, you know,

find their support in our community.

Um, but also kind of building upon their motivation to help others.

Cause I think many of us really like to help others.

Um, uh, but we often maybe lack the.

You know, to know how, how to do that best, especially

when you're on new terrain.

So I got community.

So for me, um, and our core members really it is for, uh, you know, to

reach out to new members and give them that confidence to say, well, actually

we have this activity that I think.

Maybe of interest to you, which you'd like to contribute, or, um, maybe

you'd like to write, um, a contribution about this, uh, area of your expertise.

Cause I think it could really be a benefit to the rest of our community.

Um, and all of that is kind of to be more collaborative, so working towards

common goals and conservation, so to have that kind of impact in mind.

Charles: Awesome.

Um, and I guess, I mean, that sounds.

And there's obviously an art and a science to that.

So what, what would you say is if, you know, if there's a new community manager

or an existing community manager, what, what is the kind of two or three, um,

how, you know, the, how you do that?

Cause obviously encouraging contribution, openness collaboration.

What would you say is sort of the two or three tips to, uh, driving that.

Thirza: Hmm, I would say focus the numbers.

I know I we're quite proud of our numbers, but it's not so much about the numbers.

It's more about the engagement.

So I would say focus on building a core of active members, um, in day

can help you shape the community.

And we sold out really nicely.

Last June when we organized our first wild hop festival,

which was organized by members.

Um, and so we had 10 sessions over the course of four days, and each

of these were organized by, uh, one of our members and they led that.

So yeah, for me, my role was purely just to support that.

Um, and I think that was really, um, uh, made me feel that we're.

We're actually truly a member of that community, which is what we strive to be.

Um, so I think focusing on that core, building that core, uh, group of members

that you know, that they feel confident taking the lead in certain activities,

um, But also, um, let people know on those activities that I feel passionate about.

So we, we don't always get to, we do in our daily jobs, what we feel

most passionate about, or maybe not the majority of our time.

And I think our community actually, um, can kind of, um, bridge that gap a little

bit in that, you know, Um, whatever they feel passionate about, we can facilitate

that if that's the benefit for the growth or the greater community, basically.

So, you know, then it's just my role to make sure that they feel confident

in doing that and that they have to tools to do lead on those things

that they feel passionate about.

Um, and also give them the autonomy, I think is really important to do that.

Um, and then, you know, when stat goes successfully, it actually.

Makes them feel more connected to our community and that sense of competence,

autonomy, and also sense of connection that really fits into people's

motivation to engage in your community.

Charles: Awesome.

Um, yeah, that, that's great.

And I think the big takeaway for me is.

Don't focus on the numbers, focus on the people, you know, the right people.

Um, I think that's such a particularly in today's world of tic talk and YouTube

and LinkedIn and, um, you know, it's all, that's all volume for advertising.

Um, whereas it's the right people in the right place.

Um, so that's awesome.

Um, I'm a big fan of EO Wilson without getting into, um, getting into a

collective intelligence of ant, but, you know, just kind of leveraging.

The collective intelligence of your peer group, it sounds like you're, you

guys are doing a really good job of that and that contribution is coming

back in terms of the hub itself.

Um, I'd be curious, it's about what you, what you kind of saw before

senior year 18 and what you've seen after seeing 19, there's been kind

of a change in engagement, um, uh, or what, what has changed, I guess had

any impact on the community itself.

Thirza: Well, we started in the middle of it or not actually in the

beginning of lockdown in the UK.

Although we weren't quite ready yet.

In terms of our platform developments to open our community,

it was in a perfect state.

We felt it was really timely to give people, to provide that space for

people to come together and talk about these challenges is particular

challenges in times of COVID-19.

And, um, so I think, um, Our numbers within the course of what is it?

Four to five months having reached 950 members, I think, as a result of that,

but that need for people to come together and feel more connected to the rest of

the world because of a loss of connection, maybe in their daily lives with, you

know, coworkers for not being able to go to the office or, um, anything like that.

So I think, um, So you have, it can't really comment on before basically,

but I think for us, it was really timely to open our virtual doors

during lockdown to provide that space.

Um, and just having that open, honest conversation about what

this means to everyone in their, in their respective jokes.

Charles: I love the, I love the analogy of open our virtual doors.

That's pretty, I'm going to have to use that.

I'll credit you, but Adam, do you have any, any thoughts on that at all?

Um, in terms of , if that's maybe not just around the hub, but what, what,

how will conservation be, um, changed or impacted by this move to more of

a virtual kind of way of working.

Adam: Yeah, I think, uh, uh, COVID-19 is affected the, the sector and this

kind of a means to enable conservation in kind of a fundamental kind of way.

I think we're seeing, because people now can't, um, travel

well, basically international.

Conservationists education let's say in the States or UK.

And they, they normally go over and do their PhDs, or we'll do

projects in other countries, uh, and channel funds to those projects.

They can no longer do their work as normal.

Um, so you're really seeing how old fashioned and kind of fragile

the conservation sector is like suddenly Narcan travel then.

What's going to happen on the ground.

Oh, you know, maybe not much.

And that's really exposing a few different things.

It's really exposing it kind of a power balance.

Um, uh, an unequal power balance in conservation between the large

international organizations that have all the funds and control effectively

the strategy of conservation, what, what they think is important to do, how to

do it, and the people that generally.

Do the conservation that live in the areas with loads of biodiversity.

That kind of have to do what, you know, the money is provided for a while.

Not really, uh, gaining, you know, national capacity of themselves to

carry out the work that they want to do.

So, uh, never, everyone's kind of panicked, I think, panicking a bit.

You've seen things like in the, uh, sea turtle world, uh, lots of the

conservation efforts are built on.

Funds coming in from international volunteers or international expertise who

just vanished, they finished it overnight.

So now the whole model of how to sustain themselves, how to do conservation,

how to fund it is collapsing.

Whereas some other kinds of sea turtle conservation organizations

that I've already trained up nationals and are run by nationals and,

um, a much more sustainable lives going along business as normal and

conservation of sea turtles that are not being, uh, negatively affected.

And this is reflected.

I think in what people are starting to talk about on Walt hub, I wasn't

expecting, um, and Theresa was more aware of this and me, but it's all

about, you know, um, these kinds of power balances or equity between different

nationalities, different people of different backgrounds, gender, and race,

and how that, why wasn't aware of it.

It doesn't affect, it's not just something to solve.

Uh, for the justice between, you know, indigenous, it also stops

conservation happening effectively.

It stops giving the conservation tools and that the people that want to want to

have those tools and are there to use it.

And that's one of the really interesting things that has emerged as a really hot

topic on the hub around this issue of equity and inclusion and conservation.

Charles: right.

And I, and I guess it's all about empowering the local communities, as

well as giving them that, that you know, that, um, incentive model, um,

to, to drive conservation locally.

Um, and how, I guess, w w assuming, you know, we're still in, we're

still in this mode for another 12.

Maybe 18 months, things change in terms of travel.

What is the future of conservation Adam in your, from your perspective,

, Adam: it's a shift from, uh, eight, 10 gigantic conservation organizations with

millions of dollars with, with tentacles all around the world, which are doing

great, great work shifting from that.

To, uh, an army of small national conservation organizations that create

dynamic, innovative, effective solutions that are best suited for to local

conditions that benefit both the wildlife there and the people working for wildlife.

I was saying there'll be a big, you know, shift the wishing the start off.

We won't see that transformation in a kind of covert timeframe,

but I think the COVID will.

Uh, accelerator.

It was one of the benefits COVID in amongst all the, all

the negative consequences.

Charles: And so in that conversation is coming up in the, in the hub.

And that, and that surprised you, it sounds like.

Adam: Cause you know, I didn't really think about it very much.

You know, I feel like personally, you know, I'm the, you know,

um, I've got good motivation.

So I'm going off and trying to help people.

And I fly over and worked for 10 years in Bangladesh, build up

and team, and I was a problem.

So, uh, there isn't a

Charles: problem for me.

Adam: So, you know, there might be a problem for others that are

trying to do conservation and what it really want to do it.

And you don't get access to, uh, the skills and tools and networks that

they need to do what they want to do.

So, um, That's what's kind of emerged and it's emerged because we're, whereas, as I

said, we're kind of member led it's up to the members, what they want to talk about.

So if I had designed.

Uh, well, we allow people to talk about on the hub.

Uh, we would be, you know, we wouldn't even see that.

Uh, but instead the members are saying, you know, this is important to us.

And we're getting article after article about, uh, those

issues, which is fascinating.

I'm learning from them a lot.

And I think there might be key to,

Adam: to a lot of things in conservation, how to make it better.

Which I didn't know before I thought it was all kind of looking at it more.

I saw it more functionally, you know, and I walked at what to do

in a practical sense, you know, how to raise money for that thing.

And without thinking about the people involved and their involvement, uh, and

Charles: how they're, uh,

Adam: able to influence what they're doing or not, or be involved if they want

Charles: to be interesting.

And it's interesting how a community can kind of.

Start to shape itself.

Um, and, and to shape the conversation based on, you know, the boundaries being

broken up, which is obviously your role is so key to that, because it just doesn't

happen magically by itself, you know?

And, um, I guess I'd be curious about your terms of what, what your

biggest learning is in this process.

And I, I mean you, and you don't have to answer this or you can

answer it, but I'd be interested in.

How it maybe has impacted your PhD work as well in terms of your mindset.

Thirza: Um, yeah, very much aware of the gap that we have between, um, the academic

world and the conservation practice, which I was already aware of because my

background is in conservation practice.

And then I think I went back to academia.

Um, but yeah, I'm even more driven now to, for my, uh,

whatever results from my PhD, too.

That it becomes valuable to practice or that it has some

impact or application that is.

Um, and I think, do you know, the people that have helped me along the way in

this research have made that possible?

So I, I saw those trends already are these issues popping up in, in, in my research

of, uh, the importance of building capacity locally, because things change

and that can be, you know, global crisis is it could be anything, you know, from,

uh, Also on a national scale, local scale, we had where I used to work in Indonesia,

70% of the, the city being flooded and the work just stopped, you know?

So there's things that come up that you need people there on the ground.

And, um, and you can't just rely on an external expertise, nor

would you like to it's about ethical considerations, you know?

Um, so I think, um, Yeah, definitely.

It kind of goes hand in hand my PhD with wild hub.

Um, I think you're right in saying that it doesn't emerge automatically.

Uh, and we did do, um, a member survey in 2019 to already

identify some of these big.

Topics like capacity development, like diversity, equity and inclusion.

Uh, so that's, that was our starting point, right when we started,

when we opened our virtual door.

So I think, um, but more so I see that in a row and all

the other platforms around me.

Conservation professionals communicate those same, um, topics

come up and that, so, you know, it's reflected in our community as well.

And for me, yeah, to pick out, uh, some individuals that can continue

to contribute to that and the rest of it will go or organically as well.

So people reach out to me and, you know, see how they want to contribute.

Um, I think for me the next steps and that's something that, um, you

know, it's kind of part of my journey.

And, and lessons learned for a while to become more accessible for now.

It's yeah, predominantly English language.

Um, and not everyone.

Um, you know, Has that, uh, you know, the English language skills.

So there's some language barriers, but also the information technology

skills to feel confident to contribute to the conversations

that we're having in our community.

So we just recently started our wild hub coaches, which again, building

on that core, uh, of members.

Um, we identified a few things, vigils who, you know, they're

motivated to help others very much so.

And they also have some skills that fit into that.

So they, you know, they're proficient in other languages, for example,

or they pick up the technology around our platform very quickly and

they're very easy to communicate.

Or to, to, you know, to connect with basically they're available as well.

So we, he, you know, we're starting that now.

And the aim is for our platform in there and information on that

and the activities to become more accessible in different languages.

Other people from different cultures feel more, um, Included

in our conversations as well.

And so they can get more familiar with what we do.

Um, so yeah, that's something exciting happening in the next

few months, uh, as we develop.

Charles: Awesome.

I love that idea of having wild, wild coaches, um, and definitely let us know

how we can help on the accessibility side.

I guess, um, and you both can answer this, but, um, I like to believe that

most people care about the environment.

Um, and they care about conservation, not just, not just tigers, but

also, you know, across the board.

Um, but they, they don't really know how to help.

Um, and you know, some of us are, have day jobs and, you know, do want to help.

And I was just wondering.

Beyond your conservationists on the hub.

Um, how can maybe our community get involved or how can, you know,

somebody like myself get more involved, um, in conservation, um, and you

know, maybe help the hub as well?

Adam: I think, um, yeah.

The skills outside of the sector, uh, desperately needed, you know,

conservation has a built on, uh, the main skill set being, uh, ecologists,

you know, people that can study and research and understand the wildlife.

We're trying to save, you know, essential information, but

that doesn't change anything.

Now you've got a lot of information about what they need now, what

we're going to do about it.

Well, how are we going to change things?

And then that comes down to.

Fundamental skills that are not taught in universities or very well in the

sector about creative organizations, raising funds, communicating, changing

people's behavior through, through social marketing, um, you know, influencing

the world that these are not easy to come by or accessible, uh, skill sets

or knowledge basis that conservation is, you know, uh, Readily can come access.

Instead, we generally try to reinvent the wheel, make stuff up on the

side of our desks, thinking it's a bit simpler than it probably is.

And there are so many experts out there and these, uh, uh, different

areas of work that could form how conservations do things have

effect on us or what they're doing.

So if conservation has got, you know, a hundred grand to do a

communications campaign to change how.

Uh, people, you know, their purchasing decisions on, on goods based on, you know,

plastic packaging or something like that.

Um, you know, you can use that under your waste that a hundred thousand

pounds on an ineffective campaign or with some expert advice could make some real

measurable change in people's behaviors.

So how they get involved?

Uh, I think, um, Would be to, uh, we need to get better reaching out to

experts in those fields and kind of have them as a kind of guest members

on the hub to give insight into the better specialist's knowledge.

And so, you know, I don't know much about gorillas, but I know a

hell of a lot about making a, uh, you know, a social media campaign.

Uh, you either raise funds for conservation or to, um, Create

a community or, or whatever, and this is how you do it.

These are the four central things you should get.

And I think the more of that wouldn't have,

Charles: uh, I think

Adam: that would really benefit.

And I think there must be a huge amount of waste when people, when organizations

do get the grants and they, you know, then they spent a lot of money on expensive

consultants and things like that.

And I, you know, I've seen that in the, in the NGO space a little bit.

Um, whereas having, I guess I'm more of a business.

View on things and keeping things lean as well and learn learning

from maybe a leaner approach, I think would be interesting also.

That's really interesting.

Um, and do you let us know how we can, you know, how we can help, um, you

know, in terms of anything we can, we can, we can provide, um, I think I

was just wondering if there's anything else, any other thoughts it's around,

um, maybe the future of the hub or.

What else do you guys would want to see from, uh, zap Nieto?

Um, uh, before we end the panel,

Thirza: Can I just add those?

I think so in terms of how people can add to, or help conservation is

finding a scope that works well for you.

So whether you actually work in conservation professionally, or not even,

you know, creating a space for high chokes in your garden, if you have one, uh, can

really help or like a local wildlife, I think because with conservation, we

often talk about, you know, the global challenges, uh, the issues that are all

connected, which makes us feel quite overwhelmed at times, whether you're.

It conservation professional or not.

And so, you know, the sense of powerlessness can come up and we

talk a lot about that within the conservation world, but I think equity.

So for people in society that like to contribute to conservation,

that feeling can come up.

So finding something within your environments that you care about, um,

Can, you know, can already open doors for you to contribute to conservation.

It doesn't have to relate to tigers or to gorillas can also be local wildlife

or supporting local organizations.

Um, I just find that, yeah, that works for you.

And then if you can be part of, we have a bigger network that, you know is maybe

nationally or even internationally.

Collectively can make that impact bigger.

So, um, that's just what I wanted to add.

Charles: Yeah, that's awesome.

And I think also as consumers, like knowing.

Yeah, we have a lot of power as consumers, um, which could also have

an influence on a very macro view.

Charles: Do you guys, are you, do you guys have sort of, of tips or things that you

guys, um, will have on the hub for those, you know, those types of organizations

that w where you can help locally?

Is that part of the scope?

Thirza: Not yet, but it is something, uh, it's an interesting thought.

And I think, uh, as we grow as a community, It will

probably pop up somewhere.

I think, um, we already had some early discussions with, uh, professionals

that are in different sectors that would like to contribute to

conservation and maybe creating a space for them to say, Hey, this is me.

These are the skills that can offer to conservationists or to conservation

programs and organizations.

And so a bit of a matchmaking, um, space, if you will.

Um, which, you know, I think, uh, can really, um, Strengthened the

sector basically, and everyone in it.

Cause like Adam says, you know, we have so many expertise that we need that are

not traditionally conservation related.

Um, uh, but also it can sort of thing organizations for them to

be able to reach out or other to conservation organizations.

So businesses reaching out to conservation organizations

can be really important there.

So to say, you know, we have that expertise of, of social marketing or we

have some graphic designers who would like to donate some of their time.

Um, um, so yeah, I think in the future, hopefully we can create that space

for people to come, come together.

Charles: Yeah, and I'll make sure we have a link to the, to the hub

and maybe some of our, you know, kind of customers and community

members will also, uh, take a look.

Um, and I just say, I guess I'd love to hear a little bit about, you know, some

of the things, some of the strengths you found with working with us and

anything you would like to, you know, we, we really like to be as transparent,

not only about, you know, the awesome.

Technology and features, but also about any gaps as well.

Cause I think we're always learning.

It's important, um, for a technology company to always be

learning and changing and adapting.

So we'd love to hear that.

I don't know Adam or Teresa, if you either one or both, uh, can take that turn.

I know you're hands on.

Thirza: Yeah, and I think it's been a really great journey.

Um, what I really appreciated, uh, is, um, you know, how 72 and the team

and Stephanie to provided me with a good framework to, to start this

platform too, um, you know, develop it.

So it's a very clear process behind it.

Um, and there was a, a lot of, there is a lot of support basically.

Um, and I did Philip.

Really valuable relationships with different team members within zap me.

So, so I think, um, the first few months have been, you know, that that

contact was quite, uh, intensive, uh, where we had every week we had contact,

um, or like meetings to touch base.

But in between, we also had a lot of emails going back and forth.

Um, Which was great, cause that was the support that I needed.

Cause I don't have a background in it and I, you know, you feel empowered

to actually move this forward.

Um, and I think there's also a lot of openness as you know, you now bring up,

you'd like to learn, uh, within your company and, and that's what I felt.

It's an experience as well.

So it meant a regular points.

I was asked for feedback and, and um, I really felt that I was

taken seriously and that was.

You know, transparently communicated, whether that could be a priority

now or maybe later, or whether other clients experienced the same.

Um, and now we're actually in a bit of a phase where.

Um, you know, things are going quite well with the platform with the community.

Um, and so to connect is a bit less frequent, but, you know, I

still feel very much supported.

So if anything pops up, I know who to reach out to.

Um, and I think the team is really responsive and, um, very excited

as well, because it's so nice.

Every time I reach out to you, you say Alex or Laura, or to Gina.

Uh, I give, you know, I share with them how things are going with the community

and, and I feel they're genuinely happy for us that, uh, you know, things are

really developing and blossoming gravy.

Charles: Awesome.

Really appreciate that.

Um, yeah, I mean, we, we, we kind of say, you know, we

really care about the quality.

We're not just, we're not about volume.

We really want to make an impact in our own, own small way around

collective intelligence towards.

Something that matters.

And obviously what you guys are doing really matters.

And so we're really excited to have you guys on board, um, and see the

future of conservation and the hub.

Um, I guess just to kind of wrap it up, um, you know, kind of the,

some of the takeaways for me were really this idea of, um, yeah.

Bringing people together and letting the community.

Um, have habits own voice.

So not just kind of dictating as kind of Adam was saying, but

learning from the community as well.

So Adam, you had a mindset, um, that shifted a little bit because of the

community, which is pretty awesome first versus kind of driving it, um,

completely off your, uh, historical perspective, I guess, in your, you

know, what you've gone through.

And I guess in terms of, you know, opening the virtual door is I really love that.

Um, the idea of.

You know, it's not about numbers.

Um, and it's about creating openness.

So those are kind of the takeaways.

Adam, do you have any other kind of thoughts or Theresa?

Do you have any thoughts on as this, as a wrap up final, final words of wisdom or

Adam: is it yeah, really well.

Thirza: Yeah, absolutely.

Charles: Well, I'm going to end there.

Thank you both.

Uh, Adam Tirzah for, um, engaging in our panel and I'll share this.

Out to the community.

Um, and if anybody wants to, um, get a ho get a hold of the hub, it's,

um, wild Hubdoc community, um, and you can find all the cool stuff and

content on wild hub, the community.

Multiple Contributors

Charles Thiede, Adam Barlow & Thirza Loffeld

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Thirza Loffeld

almost 5 years ago

Thanks for sharing Charles! It was great to connect and share our lessons learned on our journey of building an online community - together with Zapnito's amazing team!

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