The entrepreneurial story that led to the founding of Ocean Rescue Alliance International is a profound journey rooted in personal passion, purpose and perseverance. The founder, Shelby Thomas, a Florida native, was deeply influenced by a childhood spent exploring nature and engaging in activities like surfing and diving, which fostered a profound connection with marine life.
This early fascination with the natural world evolved into a professional pursuit. A pivotal moment came in 2018, when Thomas collaborated with an artist who had created a mermaid sculpture. Initially intended for personal display, the sculptures potential as an artificial reef inspired the idea to use art as a medium for marine conservation. This led to the creation of Ocean Rescue Alliance International, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring marine environments through innovative, art-based methods.
The Ocean Rescue Alliance International (ORAI) is a marine conservation and restoration organization that implements innovative techniques to restore marine environments. The organization uses artificial structure to enhance marine environments, build marine habitat, conduct restoration, protect coastlines and connect communities through art.
Through this journey, Shelby has demonstrated how personal passion and a deep connection to nature can drive innovative solutions to environmental challenges, said her staff. The organization continues to grow, aiming to restore marine environments, protect coastal communities, and inspire others to reconnect with and protect the natural world.
Under her leadership, ORAI has successfully deployed over 280 artificial reefs, outplanted 30,000 corals, and developed eight novel restoration applications. These projects demonstrate her ability to translate scientific research into tangible, impactful solutions that address critical environmental issues. Through ORAI, Thomas has made significant strides in preserving and restoring vital marine ecosystems. Her work helps protect biodiversity, enhance marine habitats, and safeguard coastal regions from erosion and storm surges.
Thomas has received various awards recognizing her leadership and contributions to environmental conservation, including accolades from marine biology societies and environmental organizations, business awards like the womens Stevie Awards as an executive of the year, innovator of the year, thought leader of the year, and more. Thomas is most proud of her recent TED talk to share her framework of how to connect to nature and help find innovative solutions to restore marine life.
The most important attributes of successful leaders today include situational awareness, adaptability, vision, integrity and effective communication, said Thomas. Situational awareness helps leaders understand and manage their own emotions while empathizing with others, assessing each situation, and regulating reactions, she said. Adaptability enables them to navigate and lead through constant changes and uncertainties.
