“My main reason for hope is the young people… Everywhere I go, there are young people who are changing the world.” — Dr. Jane Goodall
The world lost one of its most iconic scientists and conservationists, Dr. Jane Goodall, on October 1, 2025. Known internationally for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees and her tireless advocacy for environmental stewardship, Goodall was also a transformative change leader whose work continues to inspire generations today. Her legacy resonates deeply with NCWIT’s mission to empower young people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, to lead change in their fields and communities.
In a 2020 NCWIT Conversations for Change event, NCWIT Research Scientist Brad McLain spoke with Dr. Goodall about her Roots & Shoots program and the power of young people to drive global transformation. “Roots and Shoots is about listening to the voices of young people,” she explained. “It is empowering them to take action. We’re training young people who can be leaders—leaders in academia and leaders in all of the different walks of life.”
That vision of leadership through empowerment mirrors NCWIT’s own efforts through programs such as Aspirations in Computing, which foster supportive communities for young technologists. Dr. Goodall’s journey also demonstrates how leadership can emerge through transformation. In 1986, she attended a scientific conference intending to deepen her research. Witnessing deforestation and the treatment of chimpanzees in captivity, she recalled, “I went to that conference planning on having this amazing time out in the rainforest, and I left as an activist. I just knew when I left that I had to do something.”
Throughout her life, Goodall emphasized that sustainable change requires engaging hearts as well as minds. “I don’t believe you can create change by arguing,” she said. “People immediately become defensive; they’re not really listening anymore. I think change must come from within. So my goal has always been to reach the heart, not to argue with the mind.” Her approach, comprising storytelling, compassion, and shared purpose, is at the core of effective change leadership.
When NCWIT community member Christina Lee asked Dr. Goodall for advice for young change-makers, she responded with characteristic clarity: “If there’s something you want to do, then you’ve got to work hard, take advantage of opportunity, and don’t give up. Is it your passion? If it is, then dive in and don’t give up.”
Goodall’s legacy is one of courage, hope, and action. She showed the world that young people are not just future leaders—they are leaders now. As NCWIT continues to support the next generation of innovators, her example serves as both a beacon and a challenge: to lead with heart, work collaboratively, and believe deeply in the power of change.
