Ana Gloria Guzmán-Mora is the executive director of Conservation International’s Costa Rica program , where she works with local communities and governments to help them meet their goals for protecting the planet.

Conservation News spoke with Guzmán-Mora about her encounter with the biggest fish on the planet, the communities that give her hope for Earth’s future and the limitless rewards that come from taking risks.

Question: What sparked your passion for ocean conservation?

Answer: Growing up in Costa Rica, I have been surrounded by nature my whole life. As a kid, I spent most of my time climbing trees and listening to birds in Costa Rica’s capital, San José. But some of my favorite childhood memories are my family’s summertime trips to the coast. I found the ocean to be this incredible and mysterious world, filled with life and energy.…