From a corporate career to marine advocacy: How Nathalie Gil found fulfilment in conservation
For Nathalie Gil, President and CEO of Sea Shepherd Brazil, life has been a journey of profound transformations. From a corporate career advising global giants like Nestlé and Shell to leading conservation campaigns that save marine species, her story is one of courage, passion and redefining success.
This is not just a tale of career change – it’s a lesson in listening to your inner compass, stepping outside your comfort zone and finding fulfilment in the most unexpected places.
The “Aha” moment: When values collide
While in London and still in a corporate
career, Nathalie lived a comfortable but unfulfilling life.
Growing up in Brazil’s countryside, Nathalie was encouraged to follow a conventional path: business school, a corporate career and financial security. Instead, she pursued social communications, drawn to studying how humans make choices and the cultural factors behind them.
Her corporate journey began in advertising, where she worked with some of the world’s biggest brands for over a decade. By her early 30s, Nathalie had achieved what many would consider the pinnacle of success: a director position at a renowned company in London, wielding substantial buying power, and influencing consumer decisions with her work. However, managing a sustainability project for Shell in 2018 became a turning point.
“I was doing great things but for the wrong purposes,” Nathalie recalls. Despite the external success, she hit rock bottom, realising her work did not align with her values. This realisation set her on a path to discover how she could contribute meaningfully to the planet.
A sabbatical beneath the waves
Taking a leap of faith, Nathalie booked a modest bungalow in Bali and embraced a year of discovery. Learning to scuba dive was a turning point. For the first time, she experienced a world untouched by human hands – a balanced, vibrant ecosystem existing in harmony. Yet, the beauty of the ocean was marred by floating plastic waste, a stark reminder of humanity’s impact.
Nathalie Gil in Bali during her first dive, which awakened a deep connection with the ocean.
This experience deepened her resolve. “I realised this ocean is being destroyed by people like me, through the choices we make every day”, she says. She set out to find volunteer work, determined to make a tangible difference.
Sea Shepherd: A call to action
Nathalie’s search led her to Sea Shepherd, a global movement known for its direct-action campaigns to protect marine life. Initially, she doubted her suitability – she had no nautical experience or activist background – but Sea Shepherd’s philosophy of valuing passion over expertise resonated deeply.
Within weeks, she was on a ship in Mexico, learning to tie knots, scrape rust off metal, and help to cook for the crew. Despite the gruelling physical labour, Nathalie felt a sense of purpose she had never known before.
Nathalie working on the Sea Shepherd
ship (with safety equipment).
“It doesn’t matter what job you do but why you do it,” she reflects. “I put my head on the pillow each night, exhausted but happy, knowing I was contributing to something meaningful.”
Turning knowledge into action
After volunteering, Nathalie realised her strengths in communication and strategy could significantly benefit the NGO. She discovered an opportunity to use her skills when she learned that Paul Watson, Sea Shepherd founder, expressed interest in launching a river dolphin conservation campaign in Brazil. Nathalie had the expertise needed to turn this vision into reality.
Nathalie and team analysing the cause of death of a river dolphin. Photo rights: Sea Shepherd.
Balancing a part-time job with a social business that paid her bills whilst she still volunteered to Sea Shepherd Brazil, Nathalie began researching threats to river dolphins and laying the groundwork for Sea Shepherd Brazil’s first major campaign under her leadership. This marked a pivotal moment in her journey – leveraging her corporate skills to create a meaningful impact in conservation.
Since becoming CEO in 2021, Nathalie has grown the organisation exponentially. Donations have increased tenfold from 20k dollars to over 260k dollars, the volunteer base has expanded from 100 to 1,400 people, and Sea Shepherd Brazil was named one of the country’s top 100 NGOs in 2024.
She is particularly proud of campaigns like the shark protection initiative, which raised awareness about the widespread mislabelling of shark meat in Brazil. “Seventy percent of Brazilians didn’t know they were eating shark,” she explains. “Now that number has dropped to 50%, and we’re still making progress, working on a lawsuit against the Government to demand action for the sharks.”
Redefining conservation
While Nathalie has found purpose in conservation, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. One of her biggest surprises has been encountering ideological divides within the conservation community.
“There’s this anthropocentric view of conservation – saving nature for it to keep serving humans,” she explains. “But true conservation is about recognising that we are just one species among many, and all individual lives have a right to exist.”
Nathalie champions a biocentric approach, focusing on protecting individual lives, restoring ecosystems and empowering local communities to become true stewards of their environment.
Advice for aspiring conservationists
For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Nathalie offers a refreshing perspective: “Don’t focus on finding your purpose. Start by figuring out what you don’t want to do, and let that guide you.”
She emphasises the importance of courage – what she defines as “fear with love” – and being open to unexpected paths. “Purpose isn’t a single, lifelong goal. It evolves. Allow yourself to explore, and let your purpose find you.”
Nathalie aboard a Sea Shepherd ship while thinking about the future of the planet. Photo rights: Sea Shepherd.
A future of hope
Looking ahead, Nathalie finds hope in the next generation. “We’ve never had so many people passionate about conservation,” she says. She believes in leveraging technology and ancestral wisdom to create a future where humanity and nature coexist harmoniously.
Her advice for everyone, regardless of their career, is simple: “We are the whole. Governments and corporations are made up of people. Every choice we make – what we eat, what we buy, how we vote – has the power to change the world.”
Nathalie’s journey reminds us that it is always time to realign our lives with our values. Whether you’re diving into conservation or simply making more mindful choices, every step matters.
Learn more
Would you like to learn more about Sea Shepherd Brazil’s work? Explore their website at www.seashepherd.org.br.
Are you curious about a career in marine conservation or perhaps even becoming the President or CEO of an organisation yourself? Check out Conservation Careers’ guides to Marine Conservation Jobs and Organisational Manager role profile.
Featured image: Nathalie Gil, after joining Sea Shepherd Brazil and finding fulfilment in life.
Author Profile | Fabiana Bernabe
Fabiana is a Marketing & Communications leader with 15+ years of experience crafting impactful strategies focused on health, sustainability and well-being. As a writer for Conservation Careers, she shares stories to inspire conservation action. Passionate about storytelling that drives change, she is committed to advancing sustainability and regenerative agriculture for a healthier planet. Connect with Fabiana on LinkedIn.