Aleksandra Dragozet

Founder of Sea Going Green

(Forbes 30 Under 30)

11 October 2019 8 Min Read

Aleksandra Dragozet on Charting a Course for Sustainable Tourism

It’s a pleasure to introduce you to Aleksandra Dragozet, marine biologist and founder of Sea Going Green, a sustainable tourism company striving to reduce tourism’s negative impact on the entire marine environment. Aleksandra’s mission to revolutionize an industry earned her a spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Europe 2019: Social Entrepreneurs list.

Aleksandra received her Bachelor of Science in Physical and Biological Anthropology and Environmental Biology from the University of Toronto and a Master’s in Aquatic Biology and Limnology from the University of Amsterdam. Before founding Sea Going Green, she was also a Junior Researcher for WWF Netherlands. So I can say that her diverse journey has taught her a lot.

Join me in learning how Aleksandra’s passion for travel and sustainability led her to run a successful business today. Hear her advice and wisdom and her future goals for the company!

The Logician

Hi Aleksandra, thank you for taking the time to do this interview with me! Can you tell us more about yourself? Who is Aleksandra Dragozet? What was the reason for choosing the career that you have already chosen?

Aleksandra Dragozet

I am a passionate marine biologist and the founder of Sea Going Green.

My international background (Croatian/Serbian/Canadian) sparked an early passion for travel which led me to Amsterdam in 2014.

There I completed an MSc in Oceanography and Limnology and worked as part of the WWF-NL team that lead a reintroduction program of rays in the North Sea!

Throughout my studies I have worked on a wide variety of projects including; the effects of heavy metal pollution on beluga whales in the St Lawrence Estuary; the adaptive potential of pteropods along a natural gradient of ocean acidification; and the genetic diversity of the Thornback Ray in the North Sea.

I have developed a wide range of practical skills and gained an understanding of both marine and freshwater systems.

I also worked in the tourism industry throughout my studies, so working on sustainable tourism is the way I merge my two passions together.

It is my love for traveling and the ocean that drives my commitment towards #sustainabletourism.

I believe that sustainable tourism through sustainable business is a key step towards protecting the integrity of the ocean and its biodiversity. Now is the time to #GoGreenForTheBigBlue.

The Logician

I want to take this opportunity to congratulate you on being among Forbes 30 under 30! It must have been a great honor! Have you ever thought you would get this far? How was that experience for you?

Aleksandra Dragozet

It was very exciting to be named on the Forbes 30 under 30 list!

It came as a total surprise, but of course, it is always an honor to get a shoutout for all the hard work that you put in.

I’ve learned that working hard and doing what you feel passionate about has its payoffs, so while there is still so much more to accomplish, I feel proud of my journey so far.

The Logician

Now, I would like to talk more about Sea Going Green. Before anything else, I would like to say your business idea is beyond incredible. How was your business born? How did you come up with the business idea? Can you describe your company in three words?

Aleksandra Dragozet

My personal mission has always been to find a way to make an impact in the two fields I’m passionate about tourism and marine biology.

That’s why I founded Sea Going Green. I wanted to work and consult in a field I knew well, so this was a natural fit.

After finishing my masters at the University of Amsterdam, I joined the ACE Incubator program, which helped me bring my idea to life.

Here I drew up my business plan, perfected my pitch, and received valuable business coaching. During the program, I was able to officially sign my first client, a very big name in the yachting tourism industry.

The Logician

Due to the reason many people struggle to find their passion in life, I am interested in how did you find yours? What do you think helped you the most to find precisely what you are ‘supposed’ to do?

Aleksandra Dragozet

For me, it was never a question of finding my passion in life, as I knew that I wanted to be a marine biologist for a long time.

It was more of how I could turn my passion into a livelihood that was a marketable service for prospective clients. Now that I’ve been able to bring it to life as a startup, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

The Logician

You are a very accomplished young woman. I guess it gets complicated and hectic at times. Therefore, what is the best time-management tactic that you use? How do you cope with pressure and failure?

Aleksandra Dragozet

There are many platforms that help manage tasks for me and my colleagues, so I can keep track of my progress and prioritize how I spend my time on tasks, for example, Asana.

Also, my calendar is the key to keeping me on task and organized.

I’ve learned not to be too hard on myself, it’s all a learning experience in the end.

Of course, there are some stressful moments around deadlines, but you just have to push through it and not get too hung up on just one thing.

I am also very lucky to have an amazing team and support system and network around me which I really feel like I can rely on, even when there are hectic times.

The Logician

What do you think all young people should know before starting their own business? Is there a checklist everyone should follow before making a significant step into the business world?

Aleksandra Dragozet

Have a strong support network, starting a business can be tough and there are some challenges, but it can give you peace of mind knowing that you’re surrounded by supportive people, who are cheering you on to succeed.

To start a business you need is an idea that you think fills a gap in the current market, some structure on how you plan on making money off that idea, a network/or the intention of building a network to help you realize your idea, and a milestone map of what you’d like to achieve in the next month, 6 months, year…etc. to keep yourself honest about your progress to see what is working is what isn’t.

Be ready to fail sometimes, and celebrate your wins!

The Logician

How would you describe a healthy working environment and why? When working in a team, what are the five most important things that everyone should consider?

Aleksandra Dragozet

A healthy working environment is where every team member feels like they are contributing to the company in their own way.

In order to have a strong team, it is important to keep the mentality that no one role is more important than another since the company is as strong as its weakest link.

Creating an environment where team members feel comfortable learning from one another makes for a good working atmosphere and helps to avoid “office politics” and other associated negativity.

Five important aspects to keep in mind:

Everyone has a different working/learning style and personality, respect that and work with it.
Choose team members that complement one another, communicate and work well together.
Create an atmosphere where questions are welcome and learning is encouraged.
Praise team members for their accomplishments and give constructive criticism when mistakes are made so that they can learn from it.
Build a team of people who believe in your idea as much as you do.

Remember to also have fun together!

The Logician

According to you, what matters in life? What do you do for fun? Who is the person you would not have made it without? Can you describe what happiness means to you?

Aleksandra Dragozet

Life is all about finding your purpose and contributing something positive to the world. This can, of course, include your work, but can also be the impressions that you leave on people and places.

Traveling and spending time with close friends and family is something that I really cherish. Getting to unwind and unplug from work from time to time is definitely necessary to celebrate your successes and recharge before diving back into work.

I can’t single out one person, rather my whole support system of friends, family, mentors, and colleagues who have been around since day 1 of Sea Going Green.

For me, I can describe happiness as feeling content in the present moment without worrying too much about the past or the future and just enjoying the ride.

The Logician

Where do you see yourself and your company ten years from now?

Aleksandra Dragozet

In 10 years I see myself further scaling Sea Going Green to make a bigger impact on the tourism industry.

In the next five years, I hope Sea Going Green has expanded to the Caribbean, South East Asia, South Africa, and Australia and that we have advised some cruise-ships to #GoGreenForTheBigBlue.

By this time, I would also like our API, Econavis, to be incorporated into some of the big marine navigation systems so that captains are equipped with the awareness and tools to avoid causing harm to marine habitats and species while out at sea.

Eventually, I want to move into cleantech to find a solution to up-cycle ocean plastics and find an innovative purpose for them.

The Logician

Finally, what is your life advice for everyone reading this interview? What can we all do to contribute to saving our planet?

Aleksandra Dragozet

Be conscious of your environmental footprint and start with small changes that help you “reduce, reuse and recycle” and travel responsibly.

Be proud and share your efforts to live sustainably with friends and family, which can encourage them to do the same! And please use your votes wisely, as politics have an impact on climate laws and regulations.

The Logician

Hearing how Aleksandra turned her passion for travel and sustainability into the successful business, she runs today is incredibly inspiring. Starting a business alone is never easy, but a strong support network, as you said, Aleksandra, is one of the most important things to have. One can learn so much from you, especially to look at the bigger picture and not prioritize money. There are more important things out there. I also know we will see bigger and better things for Sea Going Green, so I wish you the best of luck in realizing them!

The Logician

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Aleksandra Dragozet on Charting a Course for Sustainable Tourism

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