The ADS Blog

100 feet. 80 feet. 60 feet. When we left off, a male lion was charging directly at me in the Okavango Delta. (Find Part 1 of the story here.) Basta fiercely whispered, “DON’T RUN!” I had my binoculars laser-focused on the lion. He was so close I could see every rippling muscle. I did not move. Not one part of my body. I was a statue with binoculars. Well, a statue whose heart was thundering in her chest. The lion skidded to a halt, raising a cloud of dust around his massive paws. Then he turned, walked around a bush, stopped on the other side, and stared straight at me. Through my binoculars, I looked directly into his golden eyes. I will never, ever forget that moment.  I stared right into the golden eyes of one of the world’s fiercest predators. I felt so alive.  So awed.  So dazzled. He

“Lion!” “Stop!” “Don’t. Move.   Do. Not. Move.” Basta, our normally soft-spoken and practical-joker Botswanan safari guide, vehemently whispered those words. By a stroke of magnificent fortune, the moment he said “lion!” I raised my binoculars to my eyes. The urgency and force with which Basta’s said “don’t move”  had me utterly frozen (and in full transparency, hoping I did not peepee myself). We were on a walking Safari in the bush of the Okavango Delta. 100 feet in front of us, a male lion seemingly vaporized out of the grassland and bushes. Each time we went on a walking safari with Basta, he started with a security briefing whose general theme was: when confronted with wildlife, do not run!  The security briefing went like this: you will know elephants are angry when they shake their ears and stomp their feet and raise a bunch of dust. If they charge, their

🚨 The Hidden Footprint Your Business Can’t Ignore The average website produces more CO2 than a full washing machine cycle every time it’s loaded. As a business committed to social responsibility, you already prioritize ethical sourcing and energy efficiency in your operations. Now, it’s time to look at your most visible asset: your website. 💻The Carbon Cost of Code Every time a user loads a webpage, energy is consumed. This consumption happens on their device and within the data centers hosting your site. The internet has a surprisingly large carbon footprint, rivaling the aviation industry. ✅ Accessible Design is Lean Design Accessible websites, by necessity, prioritize efficiency. They require cleaner code and streamlined content to ensure fast loading times. This makes them easily understandable by screen readers and efficient for low-bandwidth users.  Lean design doesn’t mean plain design; it means purposeful design. Focusing on a clear hierarchy and efficient loading

Their patrol area used to see hundreds of snares per day. Now? Just 1-2. The Black Mambas—an all-female, unarmed anti-poaching unit in South Africa—aren’t just fighting poachers; they’re showing the world the unwavering power of conviction. Their story is a masterclass in leadership, from saving wildlife to achieving what seems impossible. What gives you the strength to stand by your mission, even when it demands immense personal sacrifice? The Power of Unwavering Conviction This summer, I met the Black Mambas—the world’s first all-female, unarmed anti-poaching unit in South Africa. They patrol the Greater Kruger National Park, driven by their commitment to conservation. Their results are nothing short of astounding. Since they were formed in 2013, snares in their patrol area dropped from hundreds per day to just 1-2. And incredibly, no rhinos have been poached in their region. A Complex Leadership Challenge Their success is a powerful lesson in conviction,