What if the most powerful lever for saving the planet isn’t a new technology — but a mindset shift at your current job?
In this transformative episode of ABCs for Building the Future, host Robert sits down with Louisa Henry — executive coach, former product leader at Gusto and Airtable, and creator of the podcast Any Job Can Be a Climate Job.
Louisa shares her personal evolution from Fortune 100 product roles to climate activism — and makes a compelling case that we don’t need every job to be in climate tech. We need every worker, in every role, to think like a climate changemaker.
If you’re a founder, technologist, or executive searching for purpose in your work — this conversation is a masterclass in reimagining your role, your rituals, and your ripple effect.
1. From Chase to Change: Louisa’s Climate Awakening
“I was looking at my annual plan and realized — this isn’t aligned with my values. I’m not doing what matters most to me.”
Louisa's career was a blueprint of tech success: Airtable, Gusto, JPMorgan Chase. But the pandemic, a family tragedy, and a growing internal dissonance pulled her in a new direction.
After walking away from a promising health tech job offer, Louisa leaned into uncertainty and grief — and emerged with clarity. Climate wasn’t just a cause. It was her cause.
Reflection: If you’ve ever felt misaligned with your work, Louisa’s pivot is a reminder: discontent can be a compass, not a curse.
2. Why Any Job Can Be a Climate Job
“You don’t have to work at a climate startup to be a climate leader. Every company has an impact — and every employee has influence.”
The central thesis of Louisa’s new podcast — and mission — is disarmingly simple: climate change isn’t someone else’s job.
Whether you’re in finance, marketing, product, or HR, there are always leverage points: policies, vendors, product energy consumption, company culture.
She shares a powerful story of one ad tech employee who asked, “Where is our biggest energy waste?” The answer led to a new, greener, faster product — and a shift in company direction.
Reflection: Don’t underestimate your domain knowledge. Climate action isn’t just about values — it’s about understanding systems, incentives, and change from within.
3. The Power of Presence: Rituals That Rewire the Mind
“If you can be present in every moment — that’s the secret to life.”
Louisa’s leadership transformation is inseparable from her spiritual one.
A key turning point came when she embraced mindfulness practices — daily journaling, 5:15 AM meditations, walking meetings, and "stop and be" tattoo-level clarity.
Meditation gave her something the corporate world rarely does: meta-attention. The ability to notice what she was paying attention to — and decide where it should go.
Reflection: Founders and execs often optimize everything but their own mind. Presence is a performance enhancer — and an ethical compass.
4. Building Climate-Conscious Community from the Inside Out
“We don’t need every company to be a climate company. But we do need every company to care.”
Through her podcast and in-person events, Louisa is building a growing ecosystem of climate-conscious professionals — not activists outside the system, but intrapreneurs reshaping it from within.
At SF Climate Week, her founder circles were oversubscribed within hours — a sign that leaders are hungry for connection, clarity, and courage.
She also calls out the tension between capitalism and sustainability — and how meaningful change often begins with "non-obvious" allies inside the system.
Reflection: The climate movement isn’t just about information. It’s about belonging. If you’re lonely in your convictions, find your circle — or create one.
5. Your Micro-Choices Create Macro Change
“The world is soft clay. You can mold it.”
Louisa offers practical pathways to climate action:
* Audit your team’s resource consumption
* Advocate for greener vendor policies
* Influence product energy usage
* Shift budgets — personal or professional — toward regenerative systems
* Practice intentional consumption (wait 24 hours before every online purchase)
* Remember: eco-anxiety is real. Be kind to yourself.
You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to start.
Reflection: Real impact isn’t one heroic act. It’s consistent, aligned micro-decisions that compound into culture.
🎧 Resources and Further Listening
* Louisa’s Podcast: Any Job Can Be a Climate Job
* Are you a senior leader or founder navigating pressure, growth, and culture strain? Louisa can help!
* Her episode on climate action from within ad tech (with Gabe): Listen here
* 30 Day Free Trial for the Meditation app she recommends: Waking Up
* Book on attention and meditation: Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
* Foundational environmental insight: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
