Starbucks’ First CSO on Identity, Allyship, and Courageous Leadership | Michael Kobori

SF Climate Week Recap: Building Ecosystems, Community, and Climate Momentum

In this special recap episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, WCS Chairwoman Sara Fuentes, Farah Saeed, and Trish Pinnella. reflect on an extraordinary 10-day journey through San Francisco Climate Week 2026. The week was defined by movement-building, deep connection, innovation, and the growing power of community. From Oracle Park’s official kickoff with over 450 climate leaders to hikes through the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, our women-led pitch competition, film screenings, policy forums, repair economy workshops, fashion sustainability events, and joyful karaoke celebrations, this episode captures the full ecosystem of climate leadership in action. As WCS celebrates its 15th anniversary, this episode serves as both a recap and a rallying cry: the organization is not slowing down. With upcoming activations across Zurich, Pacific Northwest, New York, and beyond, WCS is continuing to build a global ecosystem for women climate leaders. Listen in for an inspiring, behind-the-scenes look at how climate week can become a launchpad for lasting community, innovation, and impact. ABOUT THE HOSTS Sara Fuentes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-eve-fuentes-6a620422/] is the Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and the founder of SmartWaste, a company focused on reducing waste generation and improving sustainable resource management systems. Farah Saeed [https://www.linkedin.com/in/farah-saeed-711b98/] is the Board Secretary of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan, where she works on strategy and innovation across the energy and sustainability sectors. Trish Pinnella [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishdavispinnella/] is a board member and Marketing Chair at Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, where she drives community growth and amplifies women leading climate solutions. Her climate work began in green building and renewable energy and now focuses on connecting technology, policy, community, and storytelling to accelerate climate impact. ABOUT WCS TALKS UNPLUGGED WCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global network advancing women’s leadership in climate, energy, and sustainability. Each episode features conversations with innovators, founders, and leaders working to build a more sustainable future. PRODUCED BY  Marieke McArthur [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcarthur/] for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. GET INVOLVED If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast ✔ Share the episode with someone working in climate, technology, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability: womencleantechsustainability.org [http://womencleantechsustainability.org]

The Power of Light: How a Simple Solar Lamp Is Transforming Lives | Nicole Watson

What if something as simple as a small solar light could change a child’s future? In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Trish Pinnella speaks with Nicole Watson, founder of the Iconic Earth Foundation, about how access to clean light is transforming education, safety, and opportunity for students living in off-grid communities. Through her program Watts On – Lighting Students’ Lives, Nicole and her partners are providing solar lamps to students in rural regions where electricity is unavailable. These lamps allow children to study after sunset, improve school performance, and help families feel safer at night. Nicole shares the powerful stories behind the program—from its early pilot in Kenya to expansion into Zambia and Uganda—and explains why such a simple technology can create ripple effects across education, health, and community wellbeing. The conversation highlights an important truth: sometimes the most transformative solutions are also the simplest. ABOUT THE GUEST Nicole Watson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-watson09/] is the founder of the Econic Earth Foundation and creator of the Watts On – Lighting Students’ Lives program. Her work focuses on renewable energy solutions that support education, safety, and environmental sustainability in off-grid communities around the world. Nicole combines her background in filmmaking and storytelling with on-the-ground humanitarian initiatives that deliver measurable impact. Learn more: https://econicearth.org/ [https://econicearth.org/] https://www.wattson.org/ [https://www.wattson.org/] LIGHT | Award-Winning Short Documentary Film on How Solar Energy is Transforming Students’ Lives:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=KzZIGK41Z9w [https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=KzZIGK41Z9w] ABOUT THE HOST Trish Pinnella [https://www.linkedin.com/in/trishdavispinnella/] is a board member and Marketing Chair at Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, where she drives community growth and amplifies women leading climate solutions. Her climate work began in green building and renewable energy and now focuses on connecting technology, policy, community, and storytelling to accelerate climate impact. ABOUT WCS TALKS UNPLUGGED WCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global network advancing women’s leadership in climate, energy, and sustainability. Each episode features conversations with innovators, founders, and leaders working to build a more sustainable future. PRODUCED BY  Marieke McArthur [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcarthur/] for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. GET INVOLVED If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast ✔ Share the episode with someone working in climate, technology, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability: womencleantechsustainability.org [http://womencleantechsustainability.org]

Regenerative Technology: Designing a Future That Supports Life | Jessica Groopman

What if the future of technology wasn’t just about faster systems, smarter algorithms, or bigger data but about supporting life itself? In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Sara Fuentes, Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and founder of SmartWaste, speaks with Jessica Groopman, founder of the Regenerative Technology Project. Together they explore how emerging technologies can move beyond extraction-driven models toward systems that restore ecosystems, empower communities, and create long-term resilience. Jessica brings an unusual perspective to technology analysis. Her journey began studying ancient stone tools of the Upper Paleolithic before moving into Silicon Valley’s world of digital innovation. That interdisciplinary lens led her to ask deeper questions about technology’s role in society, not just what technology can do, but who it serves and what systems it shapes. Their conversation explores the growing concept of regenerative technology technologies designed to strengthen living systems rather than exploit them. From AI and data infrastructure to place-based sensing technologies, the discussion examines both the risks and opportunities emerging in the next generation of digital innovation. About the Guest Jessica Groopman [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicagroopman/] is the founder of the Regenerative Technology Project, an initiative exploring how emerging technologies can be designed to support ecological restoration, community resilience, and regenerative economies. Her work focuses on systems thinking, technology ethics, and the societal implications of emerging technologies, drawing on experience as a technology analyst and strategist in Silicon Valley. Learn more at: https://www.regentech.co/ [https://www.regentech.co/] About the Host Sara Fuentes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-eve-fuentes-6a620422/] is the Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and the founder of SmartWaste, a company focused on reducing waste generation and improving sustainable resource management systems. About WCS Talks Unplugged WCS Talks Unplugged [https://linktr.ee/wcstalksunplugged] is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global community advancing women’s leadership across climate, energy, and sustainability sectors. Through candid conversations with innovators, founders, policymakers, and researchers, the podcast explores the ideas and people shaping the future of the clean economy. Produced By Marieke McArthur [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcarthur/] for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Get Involved If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast ✔ Share the episode with someone working in climate, technology, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability: womencleantechsustainability.org [http://womencleantechsustainability.org]

The Hidden Environmental Cost of AI and the Cloud | Susannah Hill

In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Farah Saeed sits down with Susannah Hill, co-founder of Cloud Sustainability Watch, to explore an emerging challenge in climate innovation: the environmental footprint of our rapidly expanding digital world. As climate solutions increasingly rely on AI, cloud computing, and large-scale data infrastructure, an important question arises: What is the environmental cost of the technology powering the energy transition itself? Today, data centers account for roughly 2% of global electricity demand and about 4% in the United States — a number expected to double by 2030 as AI adoption accelerates. These facilities also consume vast amounts of water for cooling, with some large centers using up to five million gallons per day. Susannah shares insights from her work helping technologists and organizations understand and reduce the digital emissions associated with software, cloud infrastructure, and AI systems. The conversation highlights how awareness, measurement, and smarter design choices can dramatically reduce both environmental impact and operational costs. RESOURCES MENTIONED * Cloud Sustainability Watch [https://cloud.sustainability.watch/] * Digital Emissions Checklist [https://cloud.sustainability.watch/wp-content/uploads/Digital-Sustainability-Checklist-July-2025.pdf] * Green Software Foundation [https://greensoftware.foundation/] * Web Sustainability Guidelines [https://www.w3.org/TR/web-sustainability-guidelines/] (W3C) ABOUT THE GUEST Susannah Hill [https://www.linkedin.com/in/susannahhill/] is the co-founder of Cloud Sustainability Watch, a nonprofit resource helping technologists and organizations reduce the environmental impact of cloud computing, AI systems, and digital infrastructure. She works at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and responsible software design, advocating for more transparent measurement and sustainable architecture across the tech ecosystem. ABOUT THE HOST Farah Saeed [https://www.linkedin.com/in/farah-saeed-711b98/] is the Board Secretary of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan, where she works on strategy and innovation across the energy and sustainability sectors. ABOUT WCS TALKS UNPLUGGED WCS Talks Unplugged is a podcast from Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global community advancing women’s leadership in climate and clean energy. Each episode brings you real stories and real solutions from the innovators, founders, policymakers, and leaders shaping the future of the clean economy. PRODUCED BY  Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help more people discover the show ✔ Share this episode with someone working in climate, technology, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability at: womencleantechsustainability.org [http://womencleantechsustainability.org]

Starbucks’ First CSO on Identity, Allyship, and Courageous Leadership | Michael Kobori

In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Sara Fuentes, Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Founder of Smart Waste, sits down with longtime WCS ally and sustainability leader Michael Kobori. Michael has spent decades shaping corporate sustainability at some of the world’s most recognized companies, including Levi Strauss & Co. and Starbucks, where he served as the company’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. In this conversation, he reflects on his journey as a sustainability leader, the importance of allyship, and the power of asking difficult questions inside large organizations. The conversation revisits Michael’s memorable appearance at WCS Talks in 2017, where he spoke about leading from the outside in, sharing insights from his experience as a Japanese American leader navigating identity, power structures, and empathy in the workplace. Together, Sara and Michael explore how allyship can create real change in organizations, how sustainability leaders can connect environmental work to human impact, and why mentorship and courageous leadership are essential for building a more equitable climate future. ABOUT THE GUEST Michael Kobori [https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-kobori-7a04b26/] is a globally recognized sustainability executive who previously served as Chief Sustainability Officer at Starbucks and held leadership roles at Levi Strauss & Co. His work has focused on advancing environmental stewardship, climate justice, and corporate responsibility. Today, he advises emerging climate startups, mentors young sustainability professionals, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Asia Foundation. ABOUT THE HOST Sara Fuentes [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-eve-fuentes-6a620422/] is the Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Founder and President of Smart Waste, a company helping businesses reduce waste and lower costs through smarter resource management. ABOUT WCS TALKS UNPLUGGED WCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global network advancing women’s leadership across climate, energy, and sustainability sectors. Through candid conversations with leaders, innovators, and allies, the podcast highlights the real stories behind the people shaping the clean economy. PRODUCED BY  Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. GET INVOLVED If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Share this episode with your network ✔ Leave a review to help more listeners discover the podcast Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and how to get involved: womencleantechsustainability.org [http://womencleantechsustainability.org]