Innovate for Impact NYC 2025 - Climate Week Panel Discussions
Innovate for Impact – Climate Week NYC 2025 Edition
Innovation in Action brings together changemakers across business, culture, health, and energy to showcase how action is happening now. From SMEs proving small can be mighty to women reshaping investment, young entrepreneurs driving solutions, and cultural leaders inspiring change, every session highlights real-world examples of sustainability in practice. With a musical interlude by Costa Rican artists Manuel Obregón & Grammy-winner Tapado Vargas, plus deep dives into well-being and the energy transition, this half-day program is designed to spark ideas and equip leaders with pathways to act.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS AGENDA
9:00 – 9:10 AM | Opening Remarks – “Innovation in Action: Stories that Inspire Change”
By Cristina Calvo - CEO at Overview Effect and Green My Experience
9:10 – 9:40 AM | “Small But Mighty: SMEs Driving Global Impact”
SMEs make up 90% of businesses worldwide and are proving that action is possible at every scale. This panel highlights small enterprises turning sustainability into profitability, resilience, and influence.
Moderator:
Stuti Jalan - WIN & MD, Crosshairs Communication New Delhi, India Founder
Speakers:
Selena Sandhu - Chief Communications Officer at Purposefy
Susan Hunt Stevens - Founder & CEO at Tessi
Liané Thompson - CEO at Aquaai Corporation
Aimée Christensen - CEO at Christensen Global
9:40 – 10:10 AM | “The Multiplier Effect: Women, Capital & Global Impact”
Women are both moving money and building companies — reshaping the investment landscape. This panel brings funders and founders who show that investing in women is not only equity but a powerful driver of innovation, growth, and measurable impact.
Moderator:
Jody Weiss - Founder of Women Funding the World
Speakers:
Elisa Miller-Out - Managing Partner at Chloe Capital
Rosemary Sagar - Principal and Chief Investment Officer at Sagar Family Office
Samantha Ory - Co-Founder at 8 Pillars Capital
Carine de Meyere - CEO and Founder at Women of the World - Hurry Up Group
10:10 – 10:45 AM | "Next Gen in Action: Young Entrepreneurs Shaping Impact Now"
Featuring the innovators of the Re-Gen program of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, this panel showcases young entrepreneurs already turning bold ideas into real solutions. The next generation is not waiting — they are shaping impact today.
Moderator:
Sarah Endline - CEO and Founder of DearSarah and Executive Fellow & Entrepreneur in Residence Emeritus at Harvard Business School
Speakers:
Célia Roussin - Entrepreneur, Founder of Pépite Raisin
Yara Yousry - Architect, sustainability advocate, and entrepreneur, Co-founder of Texula
Adhitya Raghavan - Entrepreneur and engineer
Elena Martínez Martínez - Oceanographer, marine biotechnologist, and blue economy entrepreneur, co-founder and CTO of SOS Biotech
10:50 – 11:20 AM | “Culture as Catalyst: Travel, Sports & Music Driving Change”
Culture moves faster than policy. This session shows how travel, sports, and music can shift behaviors, inspire awareness, and mobilize collective action at scale.
Moderator:
Sarah Endline - CEO and Founder of DearSarah and Executive Fellow & Entrepreneur in Residence Emeritus at Harvard Business School
Speakers:
Ronella Croes - CEO at Aruba Tourism Authority
Guadalupe Rodriguez - CIO at Talipot
Hector Zapata - CEO at Tripping Cool
11:20 – 11:25 AM | Sounds of Pura Vida: A Musical Pause for Action
A short interlude with Tapado Vargas (3× Grammy winner) — music rooted in Costa Rica’s Pura Vida spirit, reminding us that creativity fuels renewal and action.
11:30 – 12:00 PM | “The Great Energy Flip: Innovating through Contradictions”
Energy demand is soaring with AI, infrastructure, and electrification. This panel explores how to reconcile the contradictions of today’s energy transition: optimizing existing systems while accelerating new solutions — innovating responsibly in a world that needs it all.
Moderator:
Prosper Amuquandoh - Co-Chair of Diplomacy PIC at Harvard Kennedy School & energy expert
Speakers:
Clinton Libbey - Founder and Managing Director at Kumi Analytics
Debbie Gajkowski - CEO at Vulcanest and the Society of Family Offices
Gautam Barua - Founder at Aclaria Partners
Dominic Frongillo, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Elected Officials to Protect America
12:00 – 12:25 AM | Fireside Chat – Taking Action Now
A 25-minute conversation with a leader actively reshaping their sector — translating ambition into measurable, scalable results.
Phoebe Tickell - Founder-Director at Moral Imaginations
Cristina Calvo - CEO at Overview Effect and Green My Experience
12:25 – 12:30 PM | Closing Reflections – “From Inspiration to Impact: The Actions Ahead"
By Cristina Calvo - CEO at Overview Effect and Green My Experience