[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

Born and bred in Durban, Ken is known as one of South Africa’s biggest media legends. As a lover of homemade biltong and all things spicy, Ken is first and foremost a family man. Besides his latest venture, Nfinity, which constantly keeps his eye on the bigger picture, he has been involved in the start-up […]

The Legacy Project

Jhonathan Florez is a Colombian air athlete who has specialises in the disciplines of Skydiving, Base Jumping and wingsuit flying. In 2012 Jhonathan impressed the world when he broke 4 Guinness World Records, by making the longest jump in human history in both time and distance. Jhonathan passed away in Swtizerland in 2015 after he […]

The Legacy Project

Stuart Turner is hoping he’ll soon be able to see the more of the world from his bedroom. The quadriplegic computer expert is helping to develop technology that will open up new vistas for those unable to travel by projecting what he calls “the extensible self”. Flying a camera mounted drone using just his head […]

The Legacy Project

Daniel Humm is a Swiss chef and restaurant owner. He is chef/co-owner of Eleven Madison Park in New York City and a recipient of three Michelin stars. My Definition Of Success | Success is waking up every day and getting to do what I love most. Cooking is both my passion and my profession and, to […]

The Legacy Project

A Boston native, Asha began playing violin and viola at age six and is a graduate of the New England Conservatory Preparatory School where she studied privately with Boston Symphony Orchestra members Michael Zaretsky and Edward Gazouleas. In 2004, Asha moved to Los Angeles to pursue a full-time music career on her electric 7-string Viper […]

Carina Schmid Legacy Project

Carina Schmid Legacy Project is the co-founder and CEO of The Global Experience, a non-profit organization and international youth media network dedicated to increase the intercultural dialogue. Since being in high school Carina enjoyed exploring different fields of work, including media production, marketing and journalism. A trip to Namibia eventually changed her life and made […]

  • United States
  • Business
Desiree-Anne Martin Legacy Project

Desiree-Anne Martin Legacy Project believes in the inherent ability for anyone to change. Her mantra is that there is hope, always and she is a Change Facilitator and Inspirational Speaker. Desiree-Anne has her Postgraduate Diploma (with Honours) from UCT and is a Honorary staff member at WITS University where she is a consultant to the […]

  • South Africa
  • Keynote Speaker
The Legacy Project

Gary Kirsten is a former South African cricketer and the World Cup winning coach of the Indian Cricket Team. He played 101 Test matches and 185 One-day internationals for South Africa between 1993 and 2004, mainly as an opening batsman. He has recently established a cricket academy named the Gary Kirsten Cricket Academy (GKCA). Kirsten […]

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