We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jillian Morris. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jillian below.

Jillian , appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

The mission of Sharks4Kids is to create the next generation of shark advocates through education, outreach and adventure. Early in my career as a marine biologist, I started visiting classrooms. My mom was a teacher, and I had friends who were teachers, and they asked me to speak to their students. I was amazed at how much misinformation students had, and how much fear was mentioned in our conversations. I was equally amazed by how much creativity and optimism they had. Each visit gave me hope for sharks and the oceans.

I created Sharks4Kids to change fear into fascination by teaching students facts about sharks. Kids inspire me and give me hope, and I know they will do better than the generations before them. Healthy oceans need sharks, and we all need healthy oceans. Throughout education, first-hand experiences and connection to real people working with sharks, we are changing the conversation and empowering conservation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I grew up in a small town in Maine and spent a lot of time in the water as a child. My parents loved the ocean and we spent a lot of time at the beach. I loved crawling through tide pools and exploring. We traveled to Florida for my dad’s work and I got to snorkel. I saw a nurse shark while snorkeling when I was 8 years old. I was so excited and as soon as I got home, I got books from the library to learn more. I told my parents I wanted to be a marine biologist when I was 5 and it never changed. I worked out and chased that dream, making it a reality. I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted to do with my career, trying everything from research assistant to scuba instructor. I travelled the world doing research, diving, and filming. No matter what I was doing, I loved sharing sharks and the oceans with others. I wanted them to experience this incredible world in person or through my photos and videos. I combined my science background with my photo and video skills, and Sharks4Kids was born. It started as a passion project, but has evolved into a full-time career, and is precisely how I want to spend my time. It’s challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Kids continue to teach me, as I teach them. I love seeing them take action for sharks.

The most memorable moments are during our field trips when students see sharks in the wild, their fear melts away, and they become excited. I am honored to be part of that firsthand experience that can shape their life. These are the moments I am most proud of and where we are making the most significant impact. This is especially true with our programs in Bimini, The Bahamas. Students start with our classroom visits and field trips, and they are terrified. Many of them are working for the local dive shop, taking people to see sharks and teaching tourists about them. It’s a full circle moment, and it’s really special.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Being from a small town in Maine, I didn’t know anyone who was a marine biologist. The only people I knew who worked with animals were men who visited our school and did presentations. I got a National Geographic book at a yard sale, and Sylvia Earle was in it. It was the first time I saw a woman doing something I dreamed of doing. Throughout my career ( even now), I’ve been told marine biology is for men, and Shark science is for men. Scuba diving and filming are for men. I’ve been the only woman on more projects than not and have constantly been told no. Luckily, I am stubborn and didn’t give up. My parents are incredibly supportive, and I’ve had many amazing mentors. Now my husband is my biggest fan and helps me pursue all my dreams. By doing this, he is also teaching our daughter that women have careers, can be scientists, and can be in the field. I am thankful for their support. I’ve been told no so many times. I’ve cried, felt like a failure, and wanted to give up. I am happy I never have. I’ve worked hard and built a life I love and am proud of. I am not raising my daughter to see what strong and determined women can do.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I am someone who doesn’t like asking for help. I built my nonprofit from the ground up, and although I have co-founders, I wanted to do all the heavy lifting. I love what I do, and that means I work tirelessly to pursue my goals, this can lead to burnout. I still don’t ask anyone on our team to do anything I don’t do or have done, but I do let people help. I let people bring their skills and knowledge to make Sharks4Kids better. Learning to let go and let people help has been a hard lesson, but it’s made me a better person and it’ helped Sharks4Kids grow.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shark-girl.com/
• Instagram: @biminisharkgirl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SharkGirlJM/
• Linkedin: inkedin.com/in/jillian-morris-brake-76780014

Image Credits

Credits: Duncan Brake, Candace Fields, Ko Chuan Yang, Deano Cook, Sophie Hart, Felipe DeAndrade