Happy New Year from the team at Green Media News! Let’s get right into it with a peek behind the curtain for 10 questions with the man at the center of our operations, Green Media News founder Dylan Welch. In this interview, Dylan recaps our last summit, some takeaways from the last year, along with his plans for 2024. Eagerly awaiting next steps!
1) Let’s recap here, how do you think the last London Summit went? What were you most impressed with, and do you see any opportunities to build upon for next year?
It went well, as good as expected. I wanted it to be in person but due to a few different things happening in my personal life I ended up making it a virtual event. While the in-person events are more impactful for the networking aspect, I believe more people were able to access the event from around the world and learn from leaders in London that they may not have normally had the chance to hear from. I was most impressed with one of the speakers, Josef Moris, who is building an electric airplane for short distance flights around Europe. Next year I hope to make it in person and bring more people together.
2) What’s in store for next year with the Green Summit? Any big ideas?
I will continue to do the virtual events, and do them more frequently. The virtual event tickets cost less for people to tune into, as well as less of a time commitment, so people from around the world can get more content and value from the leaders we are connected with at Green Media News.
3) Who would be your dream interviewee/key speaker?
I’d still like to interview Elon Musk. He was the original person to really rally people around a renewable energy and cleantech future. Unfortunately, in the past few years he went from “genius hero saving the planet” to “billionaire Twitter/X guy”. Seeing his fall from grace in the public arena has been interesting to watch. He became the richest person in the world touting the future of humanity, to being hated by a lot of people. I think he made a huge mistake buying Twitter. 1. Because it was a huge waste of money. 2. He hasn’t handled it well at all, and now a lot of people no longer look at him as the “savior of humanity” as people once did. I’d like to learn more about his decision to purchase it, and if he regrets it.
4) Tell us more about what’s in store for your Green Expeditions….
My true passion is traveling around the world and seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. I’d like to combine that passion, with my passion for sustainability, and bring people to hard-to-reach places for once in a lifetime experiences that also give back to the places we visit.
5) Here’s a goldie: If you had 1 billion dollars to commit to climate action/clean tech projects, how would you direct it?
It only takes a 100×100 mile square plot of solar panels to generate all of the electricity needed for all of the United States. I think it would take a huge amount of money, infrastructure, and ambition to make it happen, but it is possible. Then I would take what is left over and invest $1 million in as many small start ups as possible to help smaller entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.
6) What’s the most interesting story/article/feature/fact you can remember from this year?
One interesting business we’ve featured is allgram. They have developed an app that combines all of the most popular communication apps – iMessage, email, social media, Venmo, etc, but it is hosted through blockchain, rather than server farms. By doing this, all of your data is private, and you are not constantly fed ads and having data stolen from one app you use and then seeing an advertisement for something in another app. I enjoy social media and staying up to date with my friends and people I am interested in, but I have noticed a major degradation in the quality of the apps, due to them trying to make as much money as possible. I would like to see them be successful so we all have a way to stay in touch with people in this global world, but not be taken advantage of or fed information we don’t want to see.
7) What are you currently reading?
Shantaram, by Gregory David Roberts, about his experience breaking out of an Australian prison and moving to the slums of India.
8) You’ve interviewed quite a bit of successful guests over the years in the sustainability/climate action/positive uplift space. Obviously, everyone is different, but can you share some of the common features or habits you think many of these guests share that makes them successful?
I’ve noticed they all have a few qualities in common:
1. Started their own business. Not an easy endeavor, it takes patience, ambition, and balls, to break out of the 9-5 lifestyle to build something themselves.
2. Always learning – going to conferences, reading, higher education, etc.
3. Scaling their business – they have found ways to grow and scale up their business to have a massive economic impact around the world.
9) If you could give any advice to your younger self (or someone just getting started in this space), what would it be?
Invest in bitcoin in 2017. Start training Jiu Jitsu when you were six. Invest in real estate when you were 17. Just kidding. My very bold advice to my younger self would be to skip college and find a job in the field you want to work in, and gain hands on experience directly from mentors and leaders, and when you are ready venture out on your own. College is extremely beneficial, but I believe with the internet making it possible to reach more people, learn anything you need, and build a business easier than ever, you could get a jump start on building your business.
10) Any updates to share for 2024?
My goal this year is to focus on my health. Setting aside time every day to workout hard. I am alternating between Yoga, Boxing, Jiu Jitsu, and lifting weights. In terms of www.Green Media News, we will continue to run events and host podcasts for people interested in sustainability and make the world a better place!
Dylan, thank you for sharing. Tune into the next Green Summit, The Green Summit: Venture Capital.
