Alumni
Stories

Clean Energy

Matt Timmins

tem Energy

Customer success at the frontier of energy markets and CDR

Matt Timmins spent over 10 years building customer success at scale in SaaS, most notably as Director of Global Scaled Customer Success at Culture Amp, before turning that expertise toward the energy transition.

"I joined the LFA Fellowship to deepen my understanding of climate solutions and how to drive real-world impact. The program gave me far more than technical insight, it connected me with an incredible community of peers, mentors, and collaborators tackling renewable energy, carbon removal, and system-level change. The structured guidance, peer learning, and exposure to innovations across the climate landscape helped me translate insight into action, sharpen my strategic thinking, and understand how to measure meaningful outcomes. More than anything, it reinforced the importance of equity, climate justice, and customer-driven impact, values I carry into every partnership and decision."

Climate Finance

Lasya Nadimpally

Anthill Ventures

Investing in the cities and technologies that will define how we live

Lasya Nadimpally leads Urban Tech at Anthill Ventures, overseeing investments and programs across clean energy, circular economy, and urban transformation.

"I had joined the LFA Fellowship to build more depth in and conviction around climate solutions and investments, and the Fellowship gave me more than just that; it gave me a community to share, network, and build with."

Climate Finance

Nick Moy

Climate & Land Use Alliance

Making large-scale climate initiatives actually work, across five continents

Nick Moy has spent his career making large-scale initiatives actually work, aligning people, processes, and resources across five continents to deliver results that hold.

"The Fellowship helped me better connect the operational and development work Ive done for years with the broader climate ecosystem. It provided the scientific grounding and cross-sector perspective needed to contextualize my skills and abilities and understand the intersection of project management, strategic planning, and climate solutions at both a global and local scale."

Climate Resilience

Kerri Barnes

Climate X

Building the partner ecosystems that bring climate risk intelligence to market

Kerri Barnes has spent years building partner networks that unlock new markets and accelerate product adoption in SaaS, most recently at Akeneo and Klaviyo during its hypergrowth phase leading up to its 2023 IPO.

"The Fellowship showed me how my experience in scaling partner ecosystems could meaningfully align with my long-term ambition to accelerate climate action. It deepened my systems-level understanding of climate challenge, sharpened my interest in climate adaptation, and highlighted how core business skills (such as partnerships and go-to-market strategy) play a critical role in scaling climate technology businesses."

Food & Agriculture

Jessi Roesch

Downland

Founder of Downland, working to keep U.S. farmland in agriculture

Jessi Roesch is the founder of Downland, a fintech startup working on one of U.S. agriculture's most concrete near-term problems: over 1.

"Terra.do gave me the scientific foundation and the guardrails I needed to move from banking into climate work without getting lost in the enormity of it all. It was like having a fenced yard where I could explore freely but stay focused - learning the systems, meeting the people doing real work, and building the confidence that my finance background actually belonged in this fight. The structure and the network made my career transition feel possible, not just aspirational."

Industrial Decarbonization

Chiaki Nakajima

Impact Science Ventures

Commercializing industrial deep tech between the U.S. and Japan

Chiaki Nakajima is a Venture Fellow at Impact Science Ventures, focused on helping industrial and deeptech companies move from laboratory to market through commercialization strategy and cross-border partnerships between…

"Climate innovation requires more than breakthrough technology - it requires aligned capital, strategic partnerships, and the ability to navigate complex industrial systems. My Learning for Action Fellowship experience helped me connect those dots and step confidently into the climate tech ecosystem with both rigor and purpose."

Circular Economy

Heather Alvis

Electra Network

Founder of Electra Network, closing the end-of-life gap in renewable energy

Heather Alvis launched Electra Network out of the LFA Yaks 2023 cohort. The company addresses a concrete gap in the solar industry: what happens to solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and tires at end-of-life.

"LFA gave me the scientific grounding and community I needed to move from concern to action. By speaking up, doing the readings, and letting peers challenge my thinking, I developed an idea around a real-world, unaddressed problem (solar panel circularity) that became my company, Electra. The Fellowship rewards participation. If you lean in, it informs you deeply about the intertwined climate issues, it changes what youre capable of building, and connects you with people who can help."

Climate Communications

Tristan Copley Smith

Panoramic Labs

Connecting climate storytelling and strategy at Panoramic Labs

Tristan Copley Smith is launching Panoramic Labs, a venture combining storytelling and ethnography to surface climate challenges and opportunities.

"The Learning for Action Fellowship helped me see the full landscape of climate innovation - not just the problems, but the pathways for meaningful intervention. It sharpened my ability to connect creativity, technology, and strategy in ways that can move systems at scale. Beyond the work, the people I met - future collaborators, advisors, and peers - became an enduring network of support for my ventures and ideas."

Clean Energy

Michaela Milenovska

BC Hydro

Growth marketing for the energy transition, now at BC Hydro

Michaela Milenovska is a Marketing Product Development Specialist at BC Hydro, helping evolve how British Columbia's public utility engages people around the energy transition. She came to the public sector from ev.

"The Learning for Action Fellowship helped me understand the climate landscape and where I can realistically contribute. It shifted my thinking from shiny new technologies to where my marketing and growth skills are actually needed right now - helping proven clean solutions reach adoption and scale. The programs focus on action (e.g. vision letter, practical exercises) directly shaped what Im doing today. Just as valuable was the community, which has already led to new collaborations and a business idea in progress."

Climate Finance

Duval Van Zijl

Holocene

Co-founder of Holocene, investing in early-stage climate tech across Africa

Duval Van Zijl co-founded Holocene, an early-stage climate investment firm focused on Africa, where he has analyzed hundreds of climate tech ventures, closed 14 investments, and worked directly with founders navigating e…

"LFA gave me the frameworks and connections to see climate as a systems problem - and more importantly, the pathways for meaningful intervention. It sharpened my ability to align investment, strategy, and entrepreneurship in ways that move African climate solutions forward."

Climate Tech

Sílvia Coimbra

Overstory

Leading product at Overstory, using satellite imagery to track the planet's forests

Sílvia Coimbra leads the product team at Overstory, a climate tech startup applying machine learning to satellite imagery to track forests and vegetation, helping reduce wildfire risk and improve infrastructure resilienc…

"I gained a system-view of the climate solutions landscape, which allowed me to understand where I would like to spend my energy. Finding a community of peers I could connect and share thoughts with helped me navigate the transition. Lastly, the course had a lot of moments to stop and think critically - it was not just about getting more information but to reflect on what that information means to you."

Climate Resilience

Rajat Kukreja

Univ. of Toronto India Foundation

Connecting Indian climate founders with global research and institutional support

Rajat Kukreja leads the Entrepreneurship & Innovation vertical at the University of Toronto India Foundation (UTIF), connecting Indian climate founders with global researchers, labs, and enabling institutions.

"It really helped me connect my own background to how I could contribute meaningfully. And the community aspect was huge for me - being part of a network of passionate professionals and having access to mentors and collaborators really made a difference. Plus, having that LFA tag definitely adds a layer of credibility and trust within the network. Overall, Im really glad I took the leap and decided to enroll."

Climate Policy & Equity

Whitney Bembenek

SF Public Utilities Commission

Workforce and small business programming at the SF Public Utilities Commission

Whitney Bembenek is Senior Community Development Specialist at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, where she designs and runs workforce and small business programming that connects local workers and businesses…

Built Environment

Ha Vu

Arbor

Staff software engineer at Arbor, building for a more flexible energy grid

Ha Vu is a Staff Software Engineer at Arbor, contributing to technology that supports the energy transition through flexible consumer demand.

"Five years into my climate journey, I still find myself reaching for the knowledge, support, and connections that I gained from the Learning for Action fellowship on a daily basis. The foundation I received enabled me to go on to model solar panels and optimize building operational emissions. The lessons on climate justice, climate resiliency, and alternative economic models expanded my imagination for a better, more just world for everyone. Above all, the passionate folks I encountered gave me a sense of community, energy, and most importantly, hope, to show up for even more difficult times ahead."

Clean Energy

Prakhar Agarwal

Optiwatt

Principal product manager at Optiwatt, making clean energy choices effortless

Prakhar Agarwal is Principal Product Manager at Optiwatt, a company that integrates with EVs and utility providers to optimize energy use, reduce grid strain, and lower EV charging costs.

"As a software professional, I knew I wanted to build products that mattered in sustainability, but I didnt yet understand the full landscape - or where I could contribute most meaningfully. The Fellowship opened up the entire problem space for me: the possible solution pathways and the deep interconnections between sectors."

Climate Finance

Varsha Ram

Gilde Healthcare

Investment professional at Gilde Healthcare, working on climate and decarbonization

Varsha Ram Balapa is an investment professional at Gilde Healthcare, with a background in industrial ecology, climate strategy, and decarbonization.

"The Learning for Action Fellowship was such a pivotal experience for me. It helped me see how my background in sustainability and engineering could tie into the bigger picture of climate action. I loved the mix of perspectives from entrepreneurs to policy folks and how every session pushed me to think more systemically about solutions. What really stayed with me is the community. Even years later, I still find myself reaching out to fellow alums for ideas, collaborations, or just a dose of inspiration. Terra.do gave me not just knowledge, but a network of people who truly care about making an impact and that continues to shape my work every day."

Climate Resilience

Rachel Miller

Gowanus Canal Conservancy

Development director at Gowanus Canal Conservancy, funding climate resilience in Brooklyn

Rachel Miller is Development Director at Gowanus Canal Conservancy in Brooklyn, leading fundraising strategy for an organization working to adapt the Gowanus neighborhood to the impacts of climate change.

"Not only did LFA give me greater fluency in the drivers of and solutions to climate change, even more importantly it motivated me to make the leap Id been considering for years. By the end of the program I was able to chart out my best pathways for career transition and understand where I could make an impact. The deeply caring culture of the program and the support network it provides both during and after were lifelines for me."

Sustainable Travel

Dennis Tietz

Google

Building Google's sustainable travel partnerships from Zurich

Dennis Tietz is Strategic Partnerships Development Lead for Google's Travel Impact Model and Scope 3 emissions initiatives, based in Zurich.

Carbon Markets

Kristin Bisagna

Climate Impact Partners

Revenue operations at Climate Impact Partners, helping climate solutions scale

Kristin Bisagna is Revenue Operations Director at Climate Impact Partners, a B Corp, where she works cross-functionally to align data, strategy, and revenue operations so the sales team can focus on building client relat…

Circular Economy

Caroline Westberg

IE University / Sustainable Transition Hub

Building the ecosystems and communities that climate entrepreneurs need to grow

Caroline Westberg co-runs the Sustainable Transition Hub at IE University, working at the intersection of circular entrepreneurship and climate innovation.

Climate Policy & Equity

Varna Sri Raman

Fish Welfare Initiative

India Programmes Lead at Fish Welfare Initiative and Dr. Manmohan Singh Fellow

Varna Sri Raman brings two decades of work on livelihoods, public health, education, gender, food systems, and climate resilience to two current roles.

Built Environment

André Meurer

Building Decarbonization Coalition

Director of Product at Building Decarbonization Coalition

André Meurer leads digital initiatives at the Building Decarbonization Coalition, including The Switch Is On (https://lnkd.in/gn7VEche) and the BDC platform for decarbonization contractors.

Clean Energy

Cameron McDonald

Voltus & The Green Beta

Sales Director at Voltus and co-founder of The Green Beta

Cameron McDonald spent eight years leading sales and account management teams at Wunderkind and Tropic before deciding to redirect his commercial skills toward the energy transition. That decision led him to Terra.

Clean Energy

Supriya Booth

Torrey Strategies

GTM executive and founder of Torrey Strategies, working across climate and clean energy

Supriya Booth is a GTM executive who has built and led high-performing teams across sales, business development, partnerships, marketing, customer success, and revenue operations: from seed stage through Series B and bey…

Industrial Decarbonization

Jamie Wolfe

Northvolt

Gigafactory Launch Director at Northvolt North America

Jamie Wolfe is Gigafactory Launch Director at Northvolt North America, leading operational readiness for Canada's flagship battery facility while supporting strategic initiatives across five factories globally.

"I truly believe people work for people. Either we want to make a change to impact our community, our kids or just work in a great team each day. I try to make a positive impact every day on my peers, on our team here at Northvolt and I also want to be a great role model for my son in the work I do, how I do it and what I work on. At the heart of every hard thing we need to, I ground myself in my whys."

Climate Workforce

Amber Riedl

OHKW Klimajobs

Co-founder of OHKW Klimajobs, building vocational training for the energy transition

Amber Riedl co-founded OHKW (Ohne Hände keine Wende) and Klimajobs, a venture transforming vocational education to accelerate the renewable energy transition.

Circular Economy

Shalini Bharat

Nadhi-SheForClimate

Founder of Nadhi-SheForClimate and The Kind Business

Shalini Bharat is the founder of two interconnected climate ventures. The Kind Business helps companies design and optimize circular business models.

Climate Workforce

Colin Bryan

The Carbonauts

COO of The Carbonauts, helping Fortune 1000 companies build climate capability

Colin Bryan is COO of The Carbonauts, where he leads sales, operations, and project delivery.

Circular Economy

Malini Kannan

Nūl Global Technologies

Co-founder of Nūl Global Technologies, reducing overproduction in fashion

Malini Kannan is co-founder of Nūl Global Technologies, a fashion technology startup using agentic AI, data science, and machine learning to help global fashion brands move toward zero-waste production.

Climate Tech

Benjamin Seidman

NuCurrent

Leading sales and partnerships at NuCurrent, working on connector-free hardware

Benjamin Seidman leads Sales and Partnerships at NuCurrent, the wireless power company working to replace connector-based charging with sealed, wireless product designs.

"Terra.do grounded me in the science and urgencybut more than that, it became made clear that climate needs builders. It clarified where I could plug inand gave me a cohort I can still lean on years later."

Clean Energy

Ivy Sheibar

WattBuy

Chief Business Officer at WattBuy, helping homeowners make cleaner energy decisions

Ivy Sheibar is Chief Business Officer at WattBuy, helping homeowners make smarter, cleaner energy decisions through proprietary data, insights, and marketplace tools.

Climate Tech

Manav Goel

Meta

ML Tech Lead at Meta, applying machine learning to civic and climate challenges

Manav Goel is an ML Tech Lead at Meta, where he develops scalable machine learning models to address civic and climate challenges across the Facebook ecosystem, mentors engineers, and drives long-term strategy for social…