What I wish I knew 25 years ago
When I started Mongabay, I wasn’t thinking about building a global news organization. I just wanted to share my love for nature and make people care about what was happening to the world’s forests.
Back then, I didn’t know how to run a newsroom, raise money, or manage a team. I just kept going, driven by curiosity and a sense of urgency. Looking back, here are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:
🌿 Luck is underrated. Talent and hard work matter, but timing, circumstances, and the kindness of others often make the difference.
🌿 Success is rarely linear. Setbacks are part of the process. What feels like failure today might lead to something unexpected tomorrow.
🌿 Listening is an underrated superpower. The best insights often come from paying attention to the right voices.
🌿 Respect— for people, nature, and different perspectives—creates better outcomes.
🌿 Say thank you. Recognition doesn’t cost much, but it means everything.
Most of all, I’ve learned that meaningful work isn’t about individual achievement—it’s about the people who believe in the mission and carry it forward.
Mongabay wouldn’t be what it is today without the talented journalists, editors, and collaborators who have made it their own. Their work—exposing environmental injustices, telling stories from the frontlines of conservation, and amplifying voices that often go unheard—has had real-world impact. I’m grateful to be part of it.
If there’s one piece of advice I’d give to anyone starting something new, it’s this: Don’t wait until you have all the answers. Start with what you have, and figure it out along the way.
