IoD Scotland Autumn 2021

Behind the desk: Jojo Mehta
Let’s tap into the world’s expertise
to solve the climate crisis
Name: Jojo Mehta
Position: Co-Founder & Executive Director
Company: Stop Ecocide International
(SEI)
Number of employees: 20
Short overview of organisation: SEI
is the driving force behind, and central
communications hub for, the growing
global movement to make ecocide an
international crime. Its core work is
focused on activating and developing
global cross-sector support for this.
Positioned at the meeting point of legal
developments, political traction and
public narrative, the team is uniquely
placed to support and amplify the global
conversation.
“I’m driven by a deep
moral sense that we must
protect our planetary
home, for our own
children and those of all
other species as well.
What is the greatest recurring
challenge you come across in your role,
and what’s your strategy for dealing
with it?
Lack of familiarity with the subject.
Making ecocide an international crime
is an incredibly simple concept, but the
positive impacts it implies are rarely
understood at first pass.
Deterring key decisions that will harm
the planet is just the beginning. Once
we explain, we see wonderful light bulb
moments! That never gets old.
Who, or what, drives you or inspires
you?
A deep moral sense that we must
protect our planetary home, for our own
children and those of all other species
as well. And the knowledge that it’s
possible, both through existing solutions
and those yet to emerge.
The imagination and expertise
required are sitting untapped in the
minds of pretty much everybody. All we
need to do is set the right parameters
and ask.
Ecocide law is that kind of parameter.
What is your long-term vision for the
organisation that you lead?
Awakening environmental
consciousness via a global legal
framework.
What keeps you awake at night?
Anyone undermining our work from
within the team. Luckily it’s extremely
rare, so I sleep very well.
What makes a good leader great?
Passion, vision, purpose, commitment,
warmth… and the ability to convey these
to others, both within the organisation
and to the world. Integrity – which isn’t
something that can be consciously
conveyed, people just feel it. Ability to
listen and learn from anyone – we all
have sparks to share.
Have you had a mentor, and what did
they add to your development?
Many! The best mentor relationships
become deep friendships. Lessons have
been valuable and sometimes painful –
learning not to hold on to being right is
a biggie!
Even leaders aren’t the finished
article. What’s next in your leadership
development journey?
No human being is a finished article.
That’s what’s so exciting – what an
extraordinary thing: to be a being of
consciousness, passion, intelligence and
imagination in a physical body and in a
living breathing world. It’s a lifelong job
of reconciliation and adventure, and for
all we know, this is the only place in the
galaxy where it’s happening. If that isn’t
worth protecting I don’t know what is.
What is the ‘next big thing’ that will
transform your sector?
Ecocide law (and not just our sector).
What piece of technology do you rely
on most?
My laptop – Zoom and emails are
a constant – but I try to spend some
time in a zero-tech zone every day,
usually with my bare feet in the grass.
It’s essential to connect directly to the
ground - it’s what sustains us all, in the
most literal sense. It reminds me why I
do what I do.
What is your favourite social media
platform, and what does it bring to your
business/organisation?
If I had to choose, Twitter and Linked-
In are probably most useful to our work
due to the connecting potential between
movers and shakers in the sector.
And I use WhatsApp all the time for
immediacy of comms, if that counts.
What needs fixed?
In the world? The rules of the game
– to prevent destruction of the natural
living world so that we can get on with
the serious and hugely inspirational
business of operating in harmony with it.
That’s what ecocide law can do.
What leadership advice would you give
your younger self?
Listen more. Question your
assumptions and trust your common
sense... feel for the place of integrity
inside yourself and act from there.
There’s nothing to prove and everything
to play for.
• For more on Jojo Mehta and Stop
Ecocide International see our special
IoD Conference report, starting from
page 28
More on Stop Ecocide International at https://www.stopecocide.earth
10 iod.com
Autumn 2021