Being an icon is still strange for Dr. Jane Goodall even after some sixty years in the spotlight.

“There’s me the icon. And then there’s just me. I’m the one who is here with you tonight.” 

So began Goodall, one of the most famous, world renowned, recognizable scientists in the world.

An icon, being ‘just Jane’. 

At the Bellco Theater, in downtown Denver, Colorado on March 15, 2023, in a one-night-only event sponsored by the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 5000 excited souls settled in to listen to this soft spoken powerhouse captivate the room.

What I found most impactful, energizing, and galvanizing about spending an evening with Goodall wasn’t just her incredible story, but who she was in telling it. 

Jane Goodall is a wholehearted storyteller sharing directly from her heart into ours.

She has a relentless openness and in your face authenticity. There’s no pretense or bravado. Goodall is relatable, self deprecating, funny, and easy to be with. 

On stage, Jane Goodall urged us gently to wake up, take a stand, and become change makers for the animals, the environment, ourselves, and the future.  Wearing her signature ponytail she combined steadfast will and curious compassion, creating a powerful picture of an exquisite life lived with purpose, and an unrelenting drive to make a difference, be of service, and leave this world a bit better than she found it. 

Goodall isn’t pie in the sky. She knows there are gigantic issues facing the world, but hope coupled with action are her marching orders—marching orders she elegantly, with humor and grace, implored the audience to embrace. 

She does this night after night, all around the world, traveling over 300 days a year.

Icon or not, Jane Goodall is real, humble and captivating. I hung on her every word. 

As an icon, Jane Goodall deserves to be celebrated during Women’s History Month. She has certainly made history. 

As ‘just Jane’, the regular, everyday woman who took the stage, she makes history too, asking everyday audiences to respect, nourish and protect all living things; showing us with stories from her remarkable journey that people, animals and the environment are all interconnected.

And, she showed no signs of slowing down. 

Activism drives her and the world needs Goodall to keep her foot on the gas, keep sharing her voice, keep demanding that people care. 

My favorite moment of the evening came at the tail end.

Goodall was born on April 3, 1934 and in a few weeks will turn 89. When asked what she wanted most for her birthday she said her wish was for the audience to stand (if, and only if, we really wanted to, and really would mean it) and say in unison: Together we can, together we will, together we must take action on behalf of all living things and planet we share.

All 5000 of us stood and vowed to do just that!

Together we can. 

Together we will. 

Together we must.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Jane Goodall!