Meet LaDaryn Lockett

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful LaDaryn Lockett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

LaDaryn, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?

I’ve always prided myself on my ability to communicate my thoughts and ideas. I’ve grown up hearing how articulate and well spoken I am, especially about topics I’m passionate about. In school, I would often spend time with my science teachers, history teachers, and English literature teachers after class, further discussing nuances in the topic that day. I have always wanted to absorb more after a lesson, which I attribute to being a reason for my successes in life. I believe that to get to most places, we need to be able to listen and show interest in our peers. People like it when you demonstrate both. It has also been an advantage for me to be one of, if not the only, black person in these spaces of science and writing. People remember the talkative black boy among a group of children eager to assist with a paleontology expedition in Black Mesa State Park, or they remember the guest with the unusual name who came to shake their hand after listening to their public talk on climate change. I ask questions, and the answers I get often make me more interested and determined to reach new heights.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

It’s hard to pin me down with one project, which is one of my problems. It’s been a year since settling into San Diego, and I’ve made strides professionally working for nonprofits like Earth Discovery Institute and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. It has shown me how much I enjoy education and wildlife. On my own, I’ve been writing and am starting to do public speaking relating to conservation. This summer, on July 2nd, I will give a keynote speech on Human Influences on Coastal Drainage Basins at this year’s National Marine Educators Association annual conference in Lafayette, Louisiana. I’m thrilled to finally get my feet wet and put my skills to use on a public stage. I plan to use this opportunity as a launchpad into my speaking roles and a podcast/YouTube channel where I discuss similar topics about wildlife and what we can do to protect it. If you follow me on social media, be on the lookout for announcements related to these platforms because I believe it will be something special.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

More than anything, curiosity has impacted my journey the most, and any one of us has it. They say curiosity kills the cat, but it also led us to discover fire and penicillin, which have made mankind all the better for having curiosity. Something I’m trying more lately is being willing to have uncomfortable conversations to reach a means to an end. For example, I believe we live in a world where we would rather sit uncomfortably than confront a difficult situation. I’m guilty of this and would rather see my goals reached because I am willing to do something out of my comfort zone. I recommend that more people do this as well and start small. Perhaps it’s voicing your opinion to a friend or family member, or asking for a pay raise at work. I believe this could be key to impactful change in our personal lives. Lastly, prioritizing knowledge for the sake of knowledge would make for a better society. I often have to remind myself that just because I know something, it doesn’t mean others know the same thing, and that I don’t know or understand everything myself. Pursuing knowledge can be a fulfilling journey and should be a lifelong endeavor.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Absolutely! Like I said, I’m building a platform both out in the public and online for discussions about wildlife and conservation. I’m a one-man army, but if this interests fellow naturalists and scientists, I encourage folks to reach out and help me find an audience. Having a co-host for the podcast would be inevitable when it gets off the ground. Another project I would love to do someday is to produce a nature documentary, so if any videophotographers in the San Diego area are interested, I would love that opportunity. My email is ladarynlockett@gmail.com, or send me a DM on Instagram.

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