Justin Heath’s story begins with a door knock — and leads all the way to a globally recognized wildlife conservancy. A Southwestern Advantage alumnus who sold for ten summers beginning in 1999, Justin now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Ol Pejeta Conservancy, the largest black rhino sanctuary in East and Central Africa and home to the last two remaining northern white rhinos on the planet. His journey reflects how the principles of sales, leadership, and service continue long after the summer.
From Southwestern Success to a Life in Kenya
Now 45 and living in Kenya, Justin is a proud citizen of the country he calls home. After attending high school in South Africa and graduating from Edinburgh University, he returned to Kenya with his wife — also a Southwestern Advantage Alumni — to raise their two daughters, now aged 18 and 15.
Justin’s path has woven through both sales and conservation. Early in his career, he joined the family business running conservation areas in the Maasai Mara. Today, he leads efforts at Ol Pejeta Conservancy, where his work bridges environmental impact with sustainable business.
A Decade with Southwestern Advantage
Justin began his Southwestern Advantage journey as a freshman, selling in San Diego with the Highlanders. Over ten years, he achieved extraordinary success — including being named the #3 experienced salesperson company-wide during his best summer. He also helped expand Southwestern’s global reach, opening new operations in Brazil, Peru, and South Africa.
“Those early summers taught me everything from how to close a sale to how to read body language and guide a conversation,” he says. “But even more valuable were the skills I developed in recruiting and leadership.”
Through building teams and leading by example, Justin learned the importance of trust, value creation, and perseverance. “Convincing someone to travel to Nashville with no guarantees takes a rare level of credibility — and that’s something I’ve used in every role since,” he explains.
Launching a Career, With Help Along the Way
“I couldn’t have sold that first summer without borrowing money from Robin Mukherjee, the Highlanders’ leader,” Justin reflects. “Robin and my OL, Matt Maguire, gave me the start I needed, and I owe them a huge debt of gratitude.”
That initial act of belief and support set him on a course that would shape his professional life — and eventually ripple into conservation work impacting tens of thousands
A Business With Global Purpose
Today, Justin’s role at Ol Pejeta Conservancy blends business acumen with global stewardship. The conservancy is owned by a trust but funds a large share of its operations through two primary business streams:
- Tourism: Ol Pejeta hosted nearly 120,000 visitors last year and supports nine hotels and lodges.
- Agriculture: The conservancy integrates East Africa’s largest improved cattle herd into the ecosystem alongside rhinos, lions, and elephants — accepting small losses to predation as part of a sustainable model.
Ol Pejeta is not only the largest black rhino sanctuary in East and Central Africa, but also the only place in Kenya to see chimpanzees, cared for in a sanctuary that rehabilitates animals rescued from the black market. It holds some of the highest predator densities in Kenya while maintaining a thriving livestock program.
“We’re very much a social enterprise,” Justin explains. Ol Pejeta raises millions annually to support strategic efforts like water security, expanding rhino habitats, and funding community development. In 2023 alone, they built 10 classrooms, acquired land for a new high school, and awarded 395 full-ride high school scholarships — all in partnership with their global supporters.
Ol Pejeta also seeks to support the people living around its borders, ensuring wildlife conservation translates to better education, healthcare, and infrastructure for the next generation of wildlife guardians. Now more than ever, conservation is inextricably linked with the livelihoods of local communities.
Beyond that, the conservancy plays a vital role in environmental education and global awareness. “We host 30,000 school children a year, offer reduced entry for 60,000 Kenyan citizens, and welcome visitors from around the world who come to see the last two Northern White Rhinos on Earth,” Justin says.
Ol Pejeta is also home to East Africa’s largest Black Rhino population (180), alongside 90 lions and more than 500 elephants living in their natural habitat.
Lessons That Last
For Justin, the lessons from Southwestern Advantage didn’t stay behind when he left the company at age 29. They’re alive in every conversation, every strategic plan, and every community partnership he builds today.
“Being at the coal face, adding value, leading with integrity — those are things that never stop being relevant,” he says. “Southwestern taught me that.”
Want to learn more about the Southwestern Advantage program and the alumni making a difference? Visit our website to explore how our mission continues to grow around the world.
