Feb. 17, 2023 – The WSLA Alumnae Group announced this year’s stellar sustainability leaders in a live and virtual Women in Sustainability Leadership Awards (WSLA) ceremony February 16, 2023, during GreenBiz at the Scott Resort and Spa in Scottsdale, AZ.
The new WSLA Class of 2023 joins the most powerful women at the forefront of sustainability who are making a difference in the world by initiating lasting change. No other organization recognizes highly accomplished women in sustainability from such diverse, global, and multi-professional segments that impact sustainability.
Over 60 people attended the uplifting live ceremony while many others joined virtually worldwide. The awards started with an introduction by emcee Rochelle Routman, WSLA Alumnae Group’s President and Chairperson of the Board, toasting lead Diamond Sponsor HMTX Industries with a signature WSLA basil gin gimlet as she welcomed the new winners into the WSLA fold. Said Routman, “The awareness of this award continues to climb upward at a very quick pace because of the authenticity and credibility of the winners. The women in this network have dedicated their lives and careers to sustainable outcomes for this planet, and the mentoring work that we do to support one another helps all of us continue to expand our capabilities and influence for the greater good.”
The evening’s entertainment featured Indigenous Enterprise, a collective of champion dancers and singers from Canada and the United States that have traveled worldwide since 2015. Its mission is to preserve Indigenous culture through powwow song and dance performances with the goal to progress the cultural understanding and competency of Indigenous identity through film, fashion, and dance.
Keynote Speaker Celia Jones, Global Chief Marketing Officer, FINN Partners, was joined by Heather Clancy, Vice President & Editorial Director of GreenBiz Group, for a fireside chat. They discussed how brands and organizations can craft purpose-driven communications that drive bottom-line impact while earning the trust and respect of all stakeholders from employees and customers to the media, influencers, and investors.
Said Jones, “I’m thrilled to join the WSLA Awards in honoring the incredible women at the forefront of sustainability. Now more than ever, courageous leadership, a commitment to core values, and communications savvy are critical to navigating these tumultuous times. We must share stories that fuse logic and emotion, data, and humanity. We must take actions that prove our words, and ultimately earn the trust of all stakeholders — from employees and customers to shareholders and investors. Whether you’re a corporation, nonprofit, NGO or individual, mapping your genuine sense of purpose to your message is the key to driving meaningful impact.”
Commented Lisa Colicchio, WSLA Alumnae Group Vice President, “I’m very proud that each year we continue to expand the diversity of industries represented by our award winners. I hope women leading in other sectors such as nonprofits, social justice, climate science and beyond are inspired and will apply next year. The diversity of WSLA is our strength and we are all united in the urgent fight against climate change.”
And the winners are….
- Lucia Athens, first Chief Sustainability Officer, City of Austin – champion for groundbreaking achievements supporting municipal sustainability for the cities of Seattle and Austin; author of The Sustainability Revolutionists, Building an Emerald City
- Jessica Bailey, Co-Founder, President & CEO of Nuveen Green Capital, a leading provider of sustainable CRE finance
- Alex Cattlelan, Chief Technology Officer, Brunswick Corporation – responsible for advancing ACES (autonomy, connectivity, electrification, and shared services) strategy and maintaining Brunswick’s technology leadership in the marine industry
- Nancy Clanton, CEO of Clanton & Associates, a lighting design firm specializing in sustainable and regenerative design
- Anisa Costa, Chief Sustainability Officer, Rivian – catalyzing and scaling programs and impact while communicating strategy and purpose to diverse constituencies and audiences
- Lindsay Dahl, Chief Impact Officer, Ritual – for this traceable supplement brand, spearheading the brand’s sustainability, impact, traceability, and advocacy work
- Meredith Elbaum, Executive Director, Built Environment Plus – educating, researching, advocating, and leveraging group genius to further BE+’s mission
- Jessica Hellmann, University of Minnesota – Executive Director and Ecolab Chair in Environmental Leadership at the Institute on the Environment, as well as Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior
- Sarene Marshall, Chief Sustainability Officer, Galway Sustainable Capital (GSC) – responsible for evaluating the ESG risks and benefits of investments, and measuring, reporting on, and improving sustainability performance of Galway’s portfolio
- Samantha Sims, Vice President, ESG, Warner Music Group – Established WMG’s global ESG platform, drives strategy, sets targets, co-founded the industry’s first working group to tackle climate change
ABOUT THE WSLA ALUMNAE GROUP
WSLA Alumnae Group is comprised of over 100 of the most influential women and WSLA Awards recipients who have become a powerful force in creating a more sustainable world. The group’s summits, service activities, and mentorship opportunities are paving the way in sustainability and for future leaders in the field. For more information, visit https://www.wsla.global
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PRESS CONTACT: AT WSLA ALUMNAE GROUP:
Susan Bang Rochelle Routman
HMTX Industries HMTX Industries
917-991-9714 (404) 717-1538