2024 in Review: Top 100 Women in Sustainability
Men continue to hold 71% of C-Suite positions even though women represent 50% of people globally.
Bringing together varied perspectives and innovative thinking is crucial, especially in the sustainability sector where environmental challenges impact different demographics uniquely.
During 2024, Sustainability Magazine published two supplements: Top 250 Companies and Top 100 Women, with the latter launching in March to coincide with International Women's Month.
“Paving the way for future generations, these women are creating space at the table for new faces, growth and innovations,” says Georgia Collins, Director of Content Strategy at BizClik.
Glen White, CEO at BizClik, adds: “Sustainability and ESG at all corporate levels is a critical business practice to build resilience into the core functions that interconnect our environmental, social and economic systems, whilst balancing human needs with the health of the planet.
“This year’s Top 100 Women in Sustainability highlights the leaders who are dedicated to making a positive impact. BizClik and Sustainability Magazine continue to be proud to celebrate the successful women driving 'leadership and advocacy' across their industries and organisations.”
ClimateTech Digital has looked back on some of the leaders who topped the list.
10. Paulette Frank, J&J
Industry: Hospital & Healthcare
Revenue: US$80bn
Employees: 150,000
HQ: New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
CEO: Joaquin Duato
With a 27-year career focused on sustainability initiatives at J&J, Paulette has developed expertise in environment, health and safety (EHS), diverse talent management, championing women in STEM and sustainability.
She currently spearheads environmental sustainability programs at J&J, shaping strategic initiatives to enhance and expand beneficial environmental outcomes.
“As the world’s largest healthcare company, we have an opportunity to have a positive impact on the people we serve,” Paulette says.
9. Pilar Cruz, Cargill
Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Revenue: US$177bn
Employees: 160,000
HQ: Wayzata, Minnesota, USA
CEO: Brian Sikes
Throughout her 20-year tenure at food and beverage manufacturer Cargill, Pilar Cruz has held various leadership positions.
Now serving as Chief Sustainability Officer, she leverages her extensive background in business operations and global experience to provide diverse insights to the executive leadership team.
Pilar says: “As part of my role as CSO, we have developed and launched a clear strategy in three priority areas: climate, land and water and people. These priorities define our path to advancing sustainable supply chains and driving positive impacts in the communities where we work.”
8. Florence Jeantet, Danone
Industry: Food & Beverage
Revenue: US$29bn
Employees: 100,000HQ
HQ: Paris, France
CEO: Antoine de Saint-Affrique
Florence focuses on challenging conventional thinking at board and executive levels, transforming obstacles into strategic opportunities.
Having spent nearly two decades at Danone, her global experience in executive roles and strategic mindset positions her ideally to advance both sustainability and diversity initiatives.
“Embedding sustainability in business is not new at Danone, Florence says.
"Some 50 years ago, our CEO Antoine Riboud gave a landmark speech on how entrepreneurship and social and environmental responsibility can and must feed each other – the dual project.”
7. Robyn Luhning, Wells Fargo
Industry: Financial Services
Revenue: US$115bn
Employees: 226,000
HQ: San Francisco, California, USA
CEO: Charles W. Scharf
During her 12-year career at Wells Fargo, Robyn Luhning has played a crucial role in the financial service provider's development and achievements.
Appointed Chief Sustainability Officer in 2022, she draws on her background in CSR, environmental stewardship, sustainable development and strategic planning to advance the company's climate and sustainability goals while directing its environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives.
“Eventually, my path led me to Wells Fargo,” Robyn says.
“I appreciated Wells Fargo’s role as a leader in building sustained economic opportunity within local communities.”
6. Charlene Lake, AT&T
Industry: Telecommunications
Revenue: US$122bn
Employees: 150,000
HQ: Dallas, Texas, USA
CEO: John T. Stankey
Charlene guides a skilled team in fostering relationships and delivering beneficial results for communities, the environment and customers.
Motivated by AT&T's approach to addressing critical global issues – including education, environmental sustainability and economic opportunity – she combines her expertise in CSR, social innovation, ESG, strategic leadership and corporate governance with AT&T's technological capabilities to advance the company's mission through 5G implementation.
Charlene explains: “We want everybody in the company to really be looking at their jobs through this lens of social and environmental sustainability.”
5. Kara Hurst, Amazon
Industry: Technology
Revenue: US$574bn
Employees: 1,525,000
HQ: Seattle, Washington, USA
CEO: Andy Jassy
With a 30-year career in sustainability and ESG, Kara serves as Vice President of Worldwide Sustainability at Amazon.
Her professional journey spans local and federal government, global NGOs and leadership of a public/private venture in Silicon Valley.
In recent years, she has concentrated on fostering connections between science, consumer products, technology and sustainability.
4. Amy Brachio, EY
Industry: Consulting
Revenue:- US$49bn
Employees: 400,000
HQ: London, UK
CEO: Janet Truncale
Having worked in sustainability for more than 25 years, Amy Brachio advocates for diversity, inclusion and belonging, while bringing extensive experience in counselling global organisations on board and C-suite priorities.
In her role as Global Vice Chair of Sustainability at EY, she directs the consulting firm's sustainability and climate change strategy.
Amy says: “Sustainable thinking is no longer a differentiator, it’s a necessity. When it comes to sustainability and climate change, we all need to commit to being a part of the solution.”
3. Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft
Industry: Software Development
Revenue: US$227bn
Employees: 210,000
HQ: Redmond, Washington, USA
CEO: Satya Nadella
With two decades of experience in energy, sustainability and ESG, Melanie Nakagawa brings a diverse background spanning both the public sector and politics.
As Microsoft's Chief Sustainability Officer, she oversees the company's environmental sustainability programs and drives progress on its carbon-negative commitment through initiatives to remove historical carbon emissions.
“The private sector has unique resources that can support trailblazing initiatives to combat climate change and lead the world out of the climate crisis,” Melanie says.
2. Kate Brandt, Google
Industry: Computers and Information Technology
Revenue: US$2tn
Employees: 182,502
HQ: Mountain View, California, USA
CEO: Sundar Pichai
Kate has built an extraordinary career in the sustainability sector.
In 2014, she was named the first-ever Federal Chief Sustainability Officer of the United States by President Obama.
In this pioneering role, she guided the administration's efforts to set an example in reducing its carbon footprint.
Kate joined Google in 2015 as Sustainability Lead and assumed the position of Chief Sustainability Officer in 2018.
Over the past six years, she has spearheaded Google’s sustainability initiatives, including eliminating toxic materials from the supply chain, fostering healthier office environments, optimising energy consumption and championing a circular economy.
Kate says: “I had this early realisation of how important it is to preserve the special places we have left [...] there is still a lot of work to be done across the public and private sectors to facilitate the transition to a decarbonised global economy at the speed and scale required in this decisive decade.”
1. Kathleen McLaughlin, Walmart
Industry: Retail
Revenue: US$611bn
Employees: 2,100,000
HQ: Bentonville, Arkansas, USA
CEO: Doug McMillon
As Chief Sustainability Officer, Kathleen McLaughlin leads her team in driving economic opportunities, promoting inclusive growth, advancing sustainable practices across food, apparel and general merchandise supply chains and bolstering the resilience of local communities.
Under her leadership, Walmart achieved more than US$1.4bn in global contributions, including US$1bn in food donations in 2023 — an accomplishment she holds close to her heart.
Her expertise spans business strategy and transformation, sustainability, renewable energy, climate action, finance, mergers and acquisitions and competitive analysis.
Kathleen says: “At Walmart we like to spend a minute celebrating success and then get on with doing something even better.”
Make sure you check out the latest industry news and insights at ClimateTech Digital and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Sustainability LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today. Subscribe to the ClimateTech Digital newsletter.
ClimateTech Digital is a BizClik brand