Why Benjamin Mee is One of the Most Inspiring Speakers You’ll Ever Hear
When I think about risk-takers, entrepreneurs and leaders, very few compare to Benjamin Mee. You might know his story from the Hollywood film We Bought a Zoo, but the reality behind the headlines is even more remarkable.
Who is Benjamin Mee? And why did he buy a zoo?
While living in France and writing a book on animal behaviour, Ben made a decision that most of us would never even consider. He uprooted his family, returned to the UK, and bought Dartmoor Zoo – a failing zoo on the verge of closure.
When I asked him recently why he did it, this was his answer:
“I just looked into those animals’ eyes as I walked around, and I couldn’t not. It was like they were staring into my soul, and before I knew it, I was signing the paperwork.”
That decision changed his life. And what followed is a story of courage, resilience, and leadership in the face of enormous odds.
How did Benjamin Mee overcome adversity in his personal and professional life?
Shortly after taking on the zoo, Ben’s wife Katherine died from a brain tumour, leaving him to raise two young children while trying to rescue a crumbling business. At times, the odds were stacked impossibly high: financial struggles, regulatory challenges, and the everyday reality of running a zoo that desperately needed a turnaround.
Yet he kept going. And not only did he keep the zoo alive, he transformed it into a thriving, respected centre for conservation and community.
What makes Dartmoor Zoo unique under Benjamin Mee’s leadership?
Under Ben’s leadership, Dartmoor Zoo has become one of only five zoos in the UK involved in rewilding projects (breeding animals to be released back into the wild.)
The zoo also runs incredible programmes for SEND children and young people, giving them hands-on opportunities to learn skills and build confidence. The results speak for themselves: an astonishing 97% employment rate among the young people who’ve come through the programme.
This isn’t just a zoo anymore. It’s a place of innovation, inclusion and impact.
What leadership and business lessons does Benjamin Mee share as a speaker?
Ben’s talks are unforgettable. Audiences laugh, cry, and leave with a renewed sense of what’s possible. He doesn’t just tell a story, he brings you into it. And along the way, he highlights themes every organisation can relate to:
- Risk-taking – Buying a failing zoo? Few leaders have taken a bigger gamble. Ben shows why stepping into the unknown can pay off.
- Overcoming adversity – From personal loss to financial battles with the zoo, Ben’s resilience is a lesson in never giving up.
- Creativity & innovation – Saving a zoo takes ideas, ingenuity, and the ability to reimagine what’s possible.
- Entrepreneurship – Ben scaled a business he inherited in crisis and turned it into a thriving enterprise.
- Leadership – Today he manages a team of over 60 staff (and countless animals), proving that leadership is about trust, compassion and vision.
Why should you book Benjamin Mee as a keynote speaker?
If you want a speaker who moves people to tears, lifts them to their feet, and leaves them talking long after the event ends — Benjamin Mee is it. His story is extraordinary, but his message is universal: with courage, creativity and resilience, you can overcome anything.
