BIG Questions Institute Update

November 11, 2025, No. 193 (Read Online)​

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I’m Here Because of Jane Goodall

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I’ve just wrapped up two-plus months almost continuously on the road, supporting educators in Beijing, Bangkok, Istanbul, Virginia and Chicago, and spanning Colombia to British Columbia. In the midst of these months, I got to see Dr. Jane Goodall in person in New York, just one week before her passing. As the accolades and remembrances have poured in from around the world, I wanted to share my own ”Jane story.”

Jane Goodall changed my life.

I met her on the Amtrak train from Philadelphia to New York in 2005.

The train was sold out and my husband and I were among the last to board and find a seat. We ended up at the end of the last car - where the two seats face each other like a restaurant booth, while the rest of the seats are all in rows. Right after we sat down, two older women sat across from us. Before the one right across from me sat down she pulled out a stuffed chimpanzee from her bag and put it on the table between us, as if she was staking out her territory. It took me a long 60 seconds (or so) to register what was happening, as I stared right at her.

At the time, our eldest daughter, Layla, was doing a 7th-grade biography project on one of her heroes, Dr. Jane Goodall. Since Layla had shown me some of her findings, I knew much more about the Peace Ambassador and primatologist than even just a month earlier. So I couldn’t believe it - Jane Goodall and her personal assistant and 30-year traveling companion, Mary Lewis, were sitting directly across from us. As it registered, I realized we had uninterrupted face-time for nearly two hours, in a time before social media and ubiquitous smart phone use - so we weren’t lost in scrolling or facing down.

So I waited. I didn’t want to bother them. In my mind, I waited a LONG time, an interminable time. (I even walked to the washroom to whisper-scream into my phone to Layla - “I’m on the train with Jane Goodall!!!!”) In my husband’s telling, I sort of pounced. Anyway, I introduced myself, told her what a hero she was to our daughter (and me), and shared an idea that had been nagging at me for over two years, starting when I was in China as part of a trade delegation and we happened to be there on the first anniversary of 9/11.

Jane listened with curiosity and invited me to tell her more.

“There’s so much othering taking place in the world now, after 9/11. This is planting fear and separation; but I know that what our kids need is MORE authentic understanding and connection with the world, not less. Parents need a guide to support them to raise children who are good global citizens, who can be ‘at home in the world.’ We don’t want them to fear the world; we want them to embrace it and find joy.” I fumbled to explain.

In her gentle way she encouraged this idea, sharing her experience that how a society treats its animals is a sort of gauge for how it treats its people; and ultimately, a proxy for peace and prosperity. That her work with and for nature is a way to work toward world peace; people are an extension of nature; and we must help change attitudes of people, if we are to benefit the planet.

I took this all in. Coming from her the ideas felt brand-new and wondrous in their profundity.

If not you, who?!

I also mentioned my misgivings about writing a book, which she encouraged, and told me “if not you, who?!” Maybe she said this to everyone, but I believed there was a reason I got to hear this from her - and ran with her encouragement.

Prior to this encounter I only was compiling resources because I felt passionate about this project, but the actual writing seemed too overwhelming. I was beset not only with imposter syndrome, but I didn’t know where to begin. After all, I wasn’t a “writer,” so how could I write a book that felt so important? This was the book I wanted to buy. Jane encouraged me - with such a gentle, clear, kind manner. It solidified a journey that ultimately resulted in the 2009 publication of my first book, Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World, and kicked off my work with educators. Throughout the process of researching, writing, and publication with Random House, Mary (on behalf of both of them) stayed in touch with me. When the cover art was being created and an early version of the manuscript was ready, Jane and Mary read the book, and Jane sent this blurb:

The first part is featured in the sunshine on the book cover.

When I saw her in New York on September 24, 2025 at the Templeton Prize dinner, she seemed strong and clear - physically and mentally - during her insightful, off-the-cuff remarks. “We humans are part of this natural world. So often now we’re divorcing ourselves and our children from the natural world,” she said. “If we don’t understand nature, we won’t want to protect it. And this is a huge mistake…”

I know she had no plans to slow down, as only the day before her passing I received an email to schedule a potential visit with her in Washington, DC for the following Monday, October 6.

She leaves me (and my work) with a legacy and some lessons I’d like to end with:

• If you work with purpose, on something you believe in unwaveringly, this gives meaning to what you do for your entire lifetime!
• Professional generosity and sincere encouragement can make a huge difference in someone else’s life -- practice these even toward those you don’t know well.
• We cannot separate our humanity from one another or from the natural world. This profound idea of oneness, once understood and practiced, has the potential to transform life on earth. Jane dedicated her time to young people, to pass along this message, and I hope that we can continue to carry this urgent message forward with students.

What is a lesson you gained from Jane Goodall?

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What we are reading

UNESCO just released its new paper on Education for Human Flourishing. In the coming months we will be dedicated to diving deep into various perspectives on flourishing and would love to hear your perspective, or if you’d like to join a conversation on the report or other perspectives on flourishing, please be in touch!

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