[rank_math_breadcrumb]

Asha De Vos | The Legacy Project

Marine Biologist

About

Asha De Vos | The Legacy Project has published several key research publications on Sri Lankan blue whales, which have led to this population being designated as a species in urgent need of conservation research by the International Whaling Commission (IWC).

The IWC has since invited key Sri Lankan government personnel to participate in whale ship-strike related meetings to gain a broader understanding of the problem. Asha is also an invited member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission’s Cetacean Specialist Group.

Her efforts to bring attention to the unusual Sri Lankan blue whales and the threats they face have been showcased internationally by Channel 7 Australia. She is also a guest blogger for National Geographic.

Asha is a TED Senior Fellow, a Duke University Global Fellow in Marine Conservation and was recently selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

She is currently a post-doctoral scholar at the University of California Santa Cruz, where she is working specifically on reducing the problem of ship-strike of blue whales in Sri Lankan waters.

Asha De Vos | The Legacy Project

Asha De Vos is Driven By | A desire to leave the world a better place than I found it, an overwhelming sense of curiosity and a need to break stereotypes.

A Key Talent | Persistence ~ a never give up attitude. Roadblocks and setbacks are an inevitable part of life. When faced with them, I try to figure out what I can learn from them. How I can turn them from negatives to positives or how I can make them work for me rather than against me. The challenges never end, but if you persist and deal with setbacks rationally, I guarantee you will end up a winner.

Principles I Live By | Be a good citizen of the world, be humble, be mindful and ensure you are not having a negative impact on anything or anyone, and ALWAYS HAVE FUN.

Critical Skills I Develop | Story-telling, team leadership skills and meditation.

Lessons I Have Learned | I’ve learnt many things along the way but if I was to pass on my lessons of life, here are the most important ones. First, do what you love. It doesn’t matter what you do but just make sure you love it; second, never give up, no matter how many people question why you are doing it, if you are passionate about it and are not having any negative impacts in the process, just keep pushing – even if things begin to look and feel a little bleak.

Every cloud definitely has a silver lining; third, build up a fan base of those who respect, love and care for you and keep them very close. They will be the ones who will help you face your biggest challenges, and trust me when I say there will be many; fourth, challenges are temporary because there are always ways around or over them.

Remember, tough times don’t last, tough people do; fifth, step outside your comfort zone and live outside the box; the world is a beautiful place with lots more opportunities for exploration and fulfillment. Embrace them; sixth, always have an open mind and be willing to learn. There is something to be learnt from everyone and everything and learning is what helps us grow; and, finally, do not lose track of your roots and where you come from. Always stay humble.

Performing At My Peak | To stay at my peak I try to maintain a healthy body and mind. To do this I make sure I get good rest, exercise regularly, take breaks to rejuvenate myself, do the things I love, surround myself with people who nurture me and consciously work to cultivate and maintain a positive mindset.

My Future Dreams And Ambitions | My dream is to be a voice from a part of the world that is rarely listened to, speaking on behalf of a part of the planet that is often overlooked.

The Best Advice I’ve Received | When I was very young my father told me “you can learn something from everyone” – never let ego get in the way of a precious learning moment.

The Legacy I Would Like To Leave | I want youth from the developing world to realise that they can live out of the box, pursue bigger dreams and be whatever they want to be. That everyone has potential but it’s how you harness it that helps you stand out.

Asha De Vos | The Legacy Project want to leave a legacy of equality and change the perception of women in the global south. I want to create niches and pathways so other dreamers face less challenges and have more opportunities. I want to leave a legacy of increased awareness and caring for the ocean. I want to leave the world a better place than I found it.

Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and click here to view THE LEGACY PROJECT

Interview Questions

[everest_form id="26923"]

View further interviews.

The Legacy Project

Mark graduated with a BCompt degree from UNISA in 1993. After some years as a commodities trader, he decided to pursue a goal of becoming an entrepreneur, which skill and strength he has applied over the past several years in spearheading Blue Label’s impressive organic and acquisitive growth and international expansion. Together with his brother […]

The Legacy Project

Lance Brown author of “The Driver of Change” is a living testament to his “Creating Opportunities” philosophy and presentations. Growing up in Mitchells Plain, a Cape Town suburb where dreams rarely stretch beyond one’s street corner, Lance dared to reach for the stars. From a small seed of a basic job as a delivery driver […]

The Legacy Project

Swaady Martin, is an Ivorian entrepreneur, prides herself as a custodian of Africa’s rich culture and history. And she preserves it with style. After an eventful, high-flying 11-year career at GE, where she held leadership positions in several divisions across the world (including acting as the Director for Sub-Saharan Africa of GE Transportation and acting-CEO […]

The Legacy Project

Elana Meyer is a former long-distance Athlete from South Africa. She won the silver medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. Elana is South Africa’s fastest Marathon runner to date. My Definition Of Success | Success for Elana Meyer is to follow your heart and get others to do the same! To become the […]

  • Sporting Legend
The Legacy Project

Nigel Saval was motivated by his love for surfing and the pivotal role that this sport played in his life, he started the 9 Miles Project in 2013 with the vision of improving the community. The project works with the youth of Strandfontein, Bayview, San Remo and surrounding informal settlements in the Western Cape and […]

John Smit

John Smit TLP was one of Rugby’s most successful players of all time. He was the captain of the South African Rugby team (with an astonishing 111 caps), leading the Springboks to World Cup glory in 2007 and was inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame in 2011. He is currently the CEO of Sharks […]

  • South Africa
  • Keynote Speaker
The Legacy Project

Alyson McGregor is a graduate of Boston University School of Medicine and Brown University Emergency Medicine Residency. Dr. McGregor is the Director for the Division of Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine (SGEM), formerly Women’s Health in Emergency Care, at Alpert Medical School Department of Emergency Medicine and Co-Director for SGEM Fellowship. Dr. McGregor is […]

The Legacy Project

Asha De Vos | The Legacy Project has published several key research publications on Sri Lankan blue whales, which have led to this population being designated as a species in urgent need of conservation research by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). The IWC has since invited key Sri Lankan government personnel to participate in whale […]

Disclaimer
The profiles and images embedded on these pages are from various interviews conducted by The Legacy Project.

These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.

Our Mission

We are your partner creating memorable and engaging experiences that go beyond the event itself.

© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME