Today we’d like to introduce you to Elliott Poulson.
Hi Elliott, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story started in West Philadelphia, and eventually we relocated to Delco right outside of the city limits. My parents were proud Philadelphians growing up so they naturally passed that pride along to me. That being said, Baltimore is where I consider my chosen family to be. One of my earliest memories of visiting Baltimore was a family trip we took (that seemed much further as a child, but then again, we were working from printed directions back then…). We stayed at the Inner Harbor and were amazed by the National Aquarium and other iconic landmarks like the Blacks in Wax Museum.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
As a city-dweller, I can say there have been a few potholes along the way, but I’m grateful to have always had a supportive community who have helped smooth the journey and been there to help me navigate the occasional “flat tires” that came with it. One of the most difficult chapters of my life thus far was supporting my mother in her final years alongside my father as her caregiver. Part of her care included relocating her to Baltimore. For context, she had never lived outside of Philadelphia, but she quickly grew to love Baltimore along with my father. She enjoyed the local cuisine, the energy of the city on Ravens game days, and being close to the water. The love and care she received in Baltimore from my friends, health care providers, and even her favorite diner made a really tough and uncertain road that much easier.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My professional career started off in retail. I had no idea how my first job as a grocery bagger would be foundational to my career. I learned the value of hard work, customer care, and more. After climbing the retail ladder in various customer-facing management roles, I was able to transition into Human Resources eventually attaining a Masters in Organizational Development. This was a career pivot that would eventually lead me to influencing and executing campus recruitment and employee experience initiatives at Fortune 500 companies. In my current role at World Wildlife Fund a conservation organization dedicated to creating a future where humans live in harmony with nature, I am proud to continue that work in the conservation sector, bringing me a deep sense of purpose and excitement as I learn and grow my knowledge of protecting nature, endangered species and their habitats.
As an example, one of my proudest areas of focus is on WWF’s BRIDGE internship program that aims to support early career professionals who are interested in environmental careers, but also for those who may not know yet if this is the field for them. It’s so rewarding to help people find their passion. You can learn more at WWF’s website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/about/careers/people-and-culture/bridge-internships/.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
As a budding conservationist myself, I have really found great value in the Nature Breaking podcast and our Sustainability Works blog.
Pricing:
- Anyone can be a conservationist! I encourage people to check out our website to learn more and take action at worldwildlife.org. And regarding pricing, we welcome donors at all levels to support our work. People can go to worldwildlife.org/donate to support global conservation efforts.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.worldwildlife.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/world_wildlife
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwildlifefund/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/world-wildlife-fund/
- Twitter: https://x.com/World_Wildlife?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/worldwildlifefund
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@world_wildlife
