Listen to the interview: Download (mp3) or Stream (m3u)

Kris Hicks: My name is Kris Hicks. My company is called FYD Productions, which is Follow Your Dreams Productions, a television show for young people to empower them with their dreams.

Social Edge: Can you tell me a bit more about how that got started and what your passion is and what brought you to that?

KH: I've been searching all my life and I've done everything in life and been very successful at most of it. And one day I found that I wasn't as successful and I basically dropped to my knees and said, "Why am I here and what should I be doing for the world?" And I heard three little words: "Follow your dreams," and immediately wrote the television program for kids.

Every child that comes into this world has a gift to give to the world. We're given special talents and dreams, and what we need to do is learn to listen to that and then do what we're here to do and not what the world wants us to do.

So the concept is to empower young people with their dreams, their special uniqueness, and turn them out into the world to change the world. To do what we're doing here today! That's why I'm here. That's why I contacted the Skoll Foundation and they said, "Come."

SE: What have you gotten out of it? What have been your favorite parts and what are the highlights for you?

KH: There is so much I've gotten out of it! A lot of it has been validation of what I'm already doing which is really wonderful to know, that you are on the right track and you are doing what is right--not what is right for you--but what is right.

So, I've gotten a lot of validation. I've gotten a lot of good feedback from the people that I've been talking to. I think I found the answers to get the project rolling on a worldwide basis now. I think we're there. And I'm very happy about that.

But most importantly it's the optimism and positiveness that I want to sell to the children in the project. The future of this world doesn't depend on social entrepreneurs changing it. The future of the world depends on us creating the future social entrepreneurs that will affect the change.

In the last speech by Pamela Hartigan, she made mention of the fact that we're really not changing very much and she's worried that this will be a flash in the pan. She said, "Approach the youth." That's what I'm going to do. I'm going to bring up the next group who won't have to try to change it--they're going to create it. That's what I want to do. That's why I'm here and it's great. It's just a wonderful program; I hope it continues. I'm here every year!