8 Creative & Sustainable Innovators You Should Follow For Earth Day (PART 2)
In part 1 of this blog, we covered some incredible innovators who have sustainability front and center of what they do. You can access part 1 of the blog here and learn about the impact they’re making in their own ingenious ways!
To continue recognizing and celebrating sustainable innovators, we want to highlight four more innovators who put sustainability at the crux of what they do.
5. ECO INNOVATION THROUGH REMOTE TEAMS
Professor Meghan Chapple, Sustainability Director at George Washington University
Meghan is motivated by the next generation of environmental advocates. She said she came to George Washington University because the students desperately wanted renewable energy on campus. It started small – a few sustainable courses, recycling on campus, etc. But she knew the university needed something big and different.
One of her most innovative projects was to purchase solar power for the university from a renewable energy provider, which reduced their carbon footprint by 20% right when it launched. The best thing about it – it inspired other universities to follow their example.
Find out more about Meghan’s Renewable Energy project and story here.
"If you do something big, real and impactful, people will notice and want to do the same thing."
6. ECO INNOVATION IN EDUCATION
Neil Yeoh, CEO, OnePointFive
Neil’s “aha moment” was simple – you need more than a sustainability expert to make sustainable progress. Over the past decade, he has examined sustainable problems from a range of perspectives: as an engineer, as a management consultant, and, more recently, as an investor in climate solutions. He founded OnePointFive to aggregate sustainable experts across multiple disciplines to provide a lower rate for remote, advisory talent when you need them.
Read about Neil’s 2021 Climate Outlook here.
“I believe that clients deserve the right talent to solve their particular sustainability challenges, without overpaying for expertise that does not fit their needs.”
7. ECO INNOVATION IN TECHNOLOGY
Ariana Gómez, Founder & CEO Technology for Impact in Mexico
Ariana tackles sustainability through education. She founded Technology For Impact, a consulting firm that aims to harness the power of impact strategy, advanced social and environmental sciences, future foresight and exponential technologies. She’s a consultant, international keynote speaker, board member, and entrepreneur who was named a Rising Talent by the Women’s Forum for the Economy and Society in 2016.
“I founded Technology for Impact as a result of a lifelong dream and the commitment and passion to change the world for the benefit of nature and humanity.”
8. ECO INNOVATION IN ENERGY & WOMEN-EMPOWERMENT
Araí Monteforte, Energy Sector Director at Tetra Tech
Araí is an engineer who dedicated her career to making a difference in advancing renewables, while also creating more opportunities for women in STEM. She leads the strategic direction for the Scaling Up Renewable Energy (SURE) Project, which advances policies and solutions towards a world that scales to green energy. She is also heavily involved in Tetra Tech’s International Development’s Engendering Utilities program, which aims to spark positive change within the global energy sector by improving gender equality at electricity utilities.
“I was told that this was a male field, that there were no tents or facilities for women, and that I would be better off looking elsewhere. Situations have improved globally, but as long as we have conscious and unconscious biases in what we say and how we invest in our companies and in our families, there is more work to be done.”
Learn more about Tetra Tech’s women in STEM program here.
"As long as we have conscious and unconscious biases in how we invest in our companies and in our families, there is more work to be done."
Missed first part of this blog? In part 1, we feature eco innovators in four more spaces:
-> 1. ECO INNOVATION IN HOSPITALITY
-> 2. ECO INNOVATION THROUGH COMMUNITY-BUILDING
-> 3. ECO INNOVATION IN A NONPROFIT
-> 4. ECO INNOVATION AT THE C-SUITE LEVEL
About the Author
Monica H. Kang
Monica H. Kang, Founder, and CEO of InnovatorsBox® and Author of Rethink Creativity is transforming today’s workforce through the power of creativity. She helps companies rethink culture, leadership, and team development by making creativity practical and relatable regardless of industry or job title. She has worked with clients worldwide including Fortune 500 companies, higher education, government, and nonprofits. Monica’s work has been recognized by The White House, Ashoka Changemakers, National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), and Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Prior to InnovatorsBox®, Monica was a nuclear nonproliferation policy expert. She holds an M.A. from SAIS Johns Hopkins University in Strategic Studies and International Economics and a B.A. from Boston University.
