One of the highlights of the inaugural SXSW London was seeing renowned ethologist and conservationist Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, take the stage to discuss hope, humanity, and the future of our planet.
While chatting with broadcaster Tania Bryer, Dr. Goodall emphasized the importance of ethical leadership in technology and conservation and highlighted the inspiration she draws from young activists and responsible innovation for a sustainable future.
Here are three takeaways from that inspiring session.
Jane Goodall Talks About Impact and Making a Difference at SXSW London 2025
War and Conflict
“These young people can help us move forward and I think, you know, because I lived through World War II, it made a big difference for me. Today, we’re confronted by these terrible wars: Ukraine, Sudan and what’s happening in Gaza – that terrible, terrible, awful genocide. It keeps me awake at night and everyone is saying, ‘It’s terrible. It’s terrible’, but nobody is doing anything. And it’s going on and you watch what’s happening and it’s in Sudan, it’s Gaza, it’s Ukraine. It’s horrible and we thought after World War II, that’s it, we’ll never do it again. We’ve learned our lesson, but we haven’t learned our lesson.”
Making a Difference
“Remember, every day you live you make some impact on the planet. And you have a choice as to what sort of impact you want to make. And I think that really is the most important message that any of us can have. Because, you know, we can’t leave everything to the government. We can’t leave everything to big business. We must realize that we as individuals make a difference.”
Message of Hope
“More and more people are losing hope. And there’s no question we’re living in very dog times – literally, socially, environmentally. So I think the message for everybody is that this is a crucial time in human history. And the important message is we must get together. Every single one of us must do our bit. And people think, well, why can I do – I’m one person and the world is a mess. Yes, the world is a mess. None of us individually can sort it out. But every day, each one of us lives, we make an impact.”
These statements were made on June 2, 2025. Dr. Goodall went on to make appearances in Japan, Germany and Canada before kicking off her US tour in Detroit on September 8, followed by a stop in Austin on September 16. Sadly, she passed away on October 1 at the age of 91.
Featured image: Amy Martin Photography, Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0
