Three Voices on Leading the Future of Climate Action
The Zoom call flickers to life on a gray March morning in 2025, the kind of day where the sky seems to press down with quiet urgency—a fitting backdrop for a conversation about the planet’s fate. I’ve gathered three people (names changed) who don’t know each other but share a common thread: they’re shaping the next wave of climate action leadership. There’s Anika Patel, a sustainability strategist with a corner office at a consultancy, her desk cluttered with reports on net-zero frameworks. There’s Javier Ortiz, a tech innovator whose startup hums in a converted warehouse, where coders hunch over screens dreaming up Blockchain solutions for supply chains. And there’s Claire Nguyen, a leadership coach who’s trained CEOs and activists alike, her voice warm but edged with the steel of someone who’s seen dreams falter and rise again.
They’re here to answer a question that’s been gnawing at me since I read an article about turning sustainability into a global mission. What are the skills and knowledge required to be a leaders in Climat Action. I’ve asked them to think this through and share their process like they’re solving it live. What follows is less a debate and more a symphony—three voices that inspire the rest of us.
Step 1: The Starting Line
Anika Patel leans into her webcam, her glasses catching the light from a window overlooking Chicago’s skyline. She’s 38, with the steady gaze of someone who’s spent a decade translating climate science into boardroom strategies. “It starts with knowing the stakes,” she says, her voice crisp, like she’s briefing a client. “You can’t lead in this space if you don’t understand the systems—climate risks, ESG principles, the push for net zero. I tell my team: read the IPCC reports, study the TCFD guidelines, get the data under your skin. That’s step one.”
Across the digital divide, Javier Ortiz nods from his cluttered office in Austin. He’s younger, maybe 32, with a faded T-shirt and a restless energy that suggests he’s already halfway through his third coffee. “For me, it’s about the tools,” he says, tapping a pen against a desk littered with circuit boards. “Tech is the backbone of what’s possible—NLP to parse climate data, Blockchain to track emissions. Step one is dipping your toes in that water. Play with Python, mess around with a sandbox Blockchain. You don’t have to master it yet—just know it’s there.”
Claire Nguyen joins from a sunlit room in Seattle, her bookshelves lined with titles on psychology and change. She’s in her 50s, her presence calm but electric, like a teacher who knows the lesson’s about to click. “I start with the mind,” she says softly. “You can’t lead this fight without believing you’re capable. Step one is resilience—telling yourself, ‘This is big, but I can handle it.’ Vision grows from that seed.”
They pause, eyeing each other’s answers on the shared screen. Anika’s lips quirk—she likes Javier’s pragmatism. Javier shrugs, impressed by Claire’s depth. Claire smiles, sensing the harmony.
Step 2: The Craft
Anika adjusts her glasses, diving deeper. “Step two is the skillset,” she says. “You’ve got the stakes—now master the specifics. Learn how to assess physical climate risks—floods, heatwaves—and transition risks, like shifting to renewables. I’d tell anyone: study SBTi, get fluent in carbon accounting. It’s not sexy, but it’s power.” She recalls a recent project—helping a steel manufacturer cut emissions by 30%—and her eyes light up. “That’s when you feel it: the numbers turning into change.”
Javier leans back, his chair creaking. “I’d say get your hands dirty with tech,” he counters, his tone playful but sharp. “Step two is building fluency—learn Python to crunch emissions data, experiment with Blockchain to prove a supply chain’s green. I started my company because I saw NLP could sift through thousands of climate reports faster than any human. You don’t need a PhD—just curiosity and a laptop.” He grins, remembering late nights coding prototypes that failed until one didn’t.
Claire tilts her head, her voice cutting through like a breeze. “For me, step two is people. You’ll need to rally teams, pitch to skeptics, make sustainability real for them. Practice storytelling—turn stats into stakes. I once coached a young VP who won over her board by talking about her kid’s future, not just the company’s.” She pauses, then adds, “Communication’s your bridge.”
Anika scribbles a note—Claire’s onto something. Javier hesitates, wondering if he’s too tech-focused, but Anika chimes in: “No, it fits—tech serves the strategy.” Claire nods: “And people tie it together.”
Step 3: The Leap
Anika’s tone shifts, urgent now. “Step three is action,” she says. “Join a project—assess a firm’s emissions, pitch a net-zero plan. I learned more from my first client gig than any textbook. You’ve got to feel the messiness—data gaps, pushback, wins.” She remembers a factory tour, the smell of oil and steel, and the moment a manager thanked her for a solution that saved jobs and cut carbon.
Javier’s eyes spark. “Build something,” he says. “Step three is prototyping—code an NLP tool to scan climate policies, test a Blockchain for transparency. My first app crashed spectacularly, but the second one got us funding. Fail fast, learn faster.” He laughs, a sound that fills the room with possibility.
Claire leans in, her voice steady. “Lead now,” she says. “Step three is taking charge, even small-scale. Mentor someone, pitch an idea at work, rally a group. I had a client—a junior analyst—who started a green task force. Two years later, she’s running it. Leadership’s not a title—it’s a choice.”
Javier shifts, brow furrowing. “Does building distract from strategy?” Anika shakes her head: “It’s part of it—test the theory.” Claire adds, “And leading through it inspires.” Javier grins—he’s in.
Step 4: The Horizon
Anika’s voice rises, almost evangelical. “Step four is scaling,” she says. “Design solutions that ripple—industry-wide, policy-deep. I’m working with a retailer now, turning their supply chain green. It’s not one store—it’s a system. That’s the legacy.” Her hands gesture wide, as if she’s holding the future.
Javier matches her fire. “Tech scales it,” he says. “Imagine Blockchain tracking every product’s carbon footprint globally, or AI optimizing energy grids. Step four is pushing limits—I want my tools in every sustainability playbook.” His startup’s latest win—a contract with a solar firm—flashes in his mind.
Claire’s eyes soften, but her words cut deep. “Step four is people again,” she says. “Inspire a network—mentor the next leaders. I’ve seen it: one person’s spark lights a movement. Your impact isn’t just what you do—it’s who you lift.” She thinks of a protégé now heading a climate nonprofit, and her chest swells.
They sit back, the screen a mosaic of conviction. Anika sees Javier’s tools amplifying her strategies. Javier feels Claire’s human touch grounding his tech. Claire knows Anika’s systems need her vision. Their steps align.
The Echo
The screen goes dark, but the echo of their voices lingers. Together, they helped me understand that leadership of tomorrow will need urgency, enthusiasm, collaboration, and a learner's mindset.
The planet’s clock is ticking, but so is your potential. If you are looking to lead the next generation of climate action employees, step up because the future doesn’t wait, and neither should you.
