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Millionaire Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett not slowing down yet: ‘I want marriage, kids, more books, another TV show…’-Rachel Corcoran-Entertainment – Metro
The entrepreneur gets personal.
Entrepreneur Steven Bartlett gets personal (REX / Metro.co.uk)
Dragons’ Den star Steven Bartlett, 29, on taking public transport to work, his pre-40 goals and how he’s hoping to help the planet.
Hi, what are you up to?
It’s my day off filming Dragons’ Den so I’m just catching up on work. During this period, my life is condensed into two days when I try and get everything done.
I have two businesses and I’m in the middle of two different fundraisers, and then we try to do about three or four podcasts a day at the moment.
Can you believe you’re mates with the Dragons, having watched the show as a kid?
I was 12 when it was first on TV and it’s still surreal to me, especially Peter Jones and Deborah Meaden, who have been on it so long.
I have moments where I look at them and think they are legends. They’ve been so overwhelmingly nice and supportive – they treat me like I’ve been a Dragon for
a long time.
Every time I step into the Den, I think about how I was watching it in my living room in Plymouth.
I have moments where I pinch myself and think, ‘What is going on in your life?’ It’s crazy.
How do you reconcile who you are now with where you came from?
My opinion of myself hasn’t changed at all. There’s a little bit more noise externally and it’s quite crazy being on TV – and with my podcasts, the reception they’ve got over the last 12 months has been a dream come true.
But I don’t feel like I’m a different person and neither do my close friends.
Steven co-founded social media marketing agency Social Change (Picture: AWEurope / REX / Shutterstock)
He never thought he would appear on Dragons’ Den, but here he is (Picture: PA)
You’re working with climate action platform Ecologi – why?
For so many reasons. They are trying to destigmatise how people think about climate change. There’s this prevailing narrative that to do something for the planet, you need to make great sacrifices. Ecologi show how small things can have a really big impact.
As individuals and corporations, we can manage our own carbon footprint and contribute to forestation to help reduce carbon pollution. I’ve been looking for small ways I can make better environmental decisions. I’ve got conscious over the last two years about the impact I’m having on the world.
What do you do?
I sold my Range Rover and I’m either going to wait until an all-electric version or my Tesla Cybertruck arrives. My house is also a studio so I have lots of podcast guests and a team working there and I noticed we’re using huge amounts of plastic waste.
I went to the Amazon rainforest two months ago and we were rowing through plastic bottles down in Peru. So I’m cutting back on single-use plastics and installing a new water system. I’m trying to prioritise getting public transport versus being driven for Dragons’ Den.
I invest in Huel and we’ve just launched Huelwear, which is all about ethical sustainable style from the ground up. I use Ecologi’s tools for businesses to track our overall carbon footprint and then offset it using the platform.
How do you pick who to interview for your podcast The Diary Of A CEO?
I think there’s been a 2,000 to 3,000% increase in requests for people to come on the show so we have to be quite clear about who should come on. I work out whether this person and the conversation might be valuable to my audience.
Is it going to be an engaging story? Do they have a story that is going to impart actionable advice? And are they likely to be honest and open with me?
Matt Hancock along with many other guests have appeared on Steven’s successful podcast, Diary Of A CEO (Picture: Steven Bartlett )
Considering all you’ve achieved by 30, what do you hope to achieve by 40?
Lots of things. I think I’ll be able to build a billion-dollar company in the next five years, which will probably end up being my biggest professional success.
I’d like to get married and have kids. I want my podcast to continue. I’m going to write at least one more book this year. I’m launching a fashion brand linked to the podcast, probably another TV show.
I want to DJ – I’ve been learning for about nine months and want to do shows up and down the country.
In July we’ll also be launching the Money School, which is a free school for kids from under-represented backgrounds where they can learn about investing, finance and everything in between.
Most people don’t realise how vital money management is until they’ve destroyed their financial situation, their credit or have tax problems.
Our Money School is endeavouring to teach young people about that and why spending all your money on shiny things won’t necessarily result in future wealth.
More: Sixty Seconds
When are you happiest?
When I have a clear sense of purpose professionally and I’m really enjoying my work. When I feel connected to my friends, my girlfriend and my family. And also when I’m healthy and taking care of myself.
I go to the gym seven days a week and try to be as healthy as I possibly can. So when all of those factors align, that’s my optimal happiness for me. And when it’s sunny.
Ecologi operates as a monthly subscription.
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