Remembering Jane Goodall & Hope for A Healthier Planet

A Letter from One Mind CEO, Kathleen M. Pike, PhD:

Dear Friends,

Two years ago, I had the privilege of attending Davos—a mind-bending odyssey of leadership, power, ideas, wealth, possibility, and influence. People navigated the snowy sidewalks of that Swiss mountain town with uplifted spirits, and with the hope of harnessing all this potential energy for good. I met with business leaders to discuss workplace mental health, spoke in the main hall on a panel exploring the effects of social media on youth wellbeing, and listened to public figures pledge to expand equity and opportunity for those left behind.

I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland, both dazzled and disoriented by the spectacle around me. But without a doubt, the most magical moment of all was meeting Jane Goodall. She has been a hero of mine from before I graduated high school — a woman scientist who pursued knowledge with grace and tenacity, defying expectations and reshaping how humanity understands its place in the world.

Armed with only a notebook, binoculars, and boundless curiosity, she entered the forests of Gombe and revealed that chimpanzees, like us, feel, think, and form enduring bonds. Today, we say, “of course, everyone knows that.” But when she first set out, many scoffed at the notion and dismissed her work as folly.

At nearly ninety, she spoke with the calm assurance of someone who has seen humanity at its best and at its worst, and yet chooses hope over despair. Her words were urgent and luminous, full of wonder and conviction. Knowing there is still so much to do, she described Roots & Shoots, the organization she founded to bring young people into the fold, so that the work of caring for the earth will continue after she is gone.

Goodall’s commitment to the environment and conservation offers a profound parallel to the work of mental health. Both fields ask us to recognize interdependence, knowing that the wellbeing of one depends on the wellbeing of others. Both demand attention and empathy, calling on us to see what is overlooked, to listen deeply, to act with care. Both require the courage to imagine a healthier, more compassionate world and to build it step by step, even when the odds seem insurmountable. Both are too often ignored in the name of convenience or expedience. Yet time and again, experience proves that the most costly course, whether in environmental stewardship or mental health, is doing nothing at all.

As we approach World Mental Health Day, may Jane Goodall’s life and legacy continue to inspire us all to act for a healthier world.

Best,

Kathleen M. Pike, PhD
Chief Executive Officer, One Mind

World Mental Health Day 2025

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