Our Mission

Our Story

Founded in 2011, Women in Cleantech & Sustainability is a nonprofit 501(c)6 organization made up of more than 5,000 professional women and men building the green economy.  Our members range from students and entry-level professionals to Founders, C-Suite executives, and investors.

Lisa Ann Pinkerton founded Women in Cleantech & Sustainability in 2011, to create a Bay Area community to give women a sisterhood to thrive in and spotlight the remarkable women (and men) whose work is building our future green economy.

By 2013, Women in Cleantech & Sustainability was officially established as a nonprofit 501(c)6 organization, and a board formed to grow the organization beyond its early stages. In 2014, the first WCS Talks was held. The TED-style conference established a top-tier stage for women to share their professional stories, career tips, and industry expertise. In 2016, the Jobs Board and Mentorship programs were established to further foster Women in Cleantech & Sustainability members on their career paths. In 2018, WCS Talks held the first female-focused pitch competition for early-stage startups at WCS Talks.

In 2024, Sara Eve Fuentes was promoted to Chairwoman where she will focus on WCS’ continued expansion and influence in sustainability and circular economy. Sara is the Founder and President of Smart Waste, a women-owned and operated start-up with a focus on waste technologies, waste systems, and vendor management for zero-waste programs. She is also the co-host of Trash Magic!, a podcast about the circular economy for the everyday person.

“From volunteering for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability at 29 to being promoted to Chairwoman, my journey is focused on turning the seemingly unrealistic into reality,” said Sara Eve Fuentes, Chairwoman of WCS.

Sara is known for her grassroots approach and inspirational leadership, with a deep-rooted passion for sustainability. As she prepares to lead WCS into a new chapter, Sara will use her passion, skills, and innate ability to unite people behind a common goal to expand WCS’s impact in empowering women in cleantech and sustainability. Sara’s leadership approach lends itself to community and inclusivity, with plans to extend WCS’s reach to under-represented communities.

Today, Women in Cleantech & Sustainability is home to over 8,000 community members internationally, with local chapters in the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles. Our members consist of all genders and range from students and entry-level professionals, to founders, C-Suite executives, and investors.

Women in Cleantech & Sustainability aims to meet once a month to network and learn the latest industry developments, as well as to attain new business and personal skills from speakers and panelists. Topics covered include renewable energy (solar, wind biofuel, etc), water, smart grid, biomass, carbon reduction, sustainable transportation, energy efficiency, sustainability, green buildings, and many other technologies that aim to make our world a cleaner, more sustainable place.

DEI Initiatives

In the development of our goals to bring more Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into WCS, we are deliberately and consciously focused on building our community and thinking about how we use our influence to grow, serve, and lift up. 

After a deep look at our organization, community, and sphere of influence, we recognize we have a lot to celebrate. Since 2011, Women in Cleantech and Sustainability has made a measurable impact on gender equality and women’s empowerment in this industry, particularly in the Bay Area. However, we have more work to do. In response to the call for action on racial injustice, we feel our influence can be put to greater use. Our organization is expanding to ensure the community we create in the next ten years is diverse and inclusive, while cultivating a sense of belonging for anyone.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Goals

As always, this work cannot happen without the dedication from and collaboration with our community. We all must rise to this challenge and build this movement together. We welcome your thoughts and suggestions on how to continue stepping towards a more sustainable future. 

Please reach out to our Chairwoman, Sara Eve Fuentes (saraf@womencleantechsustainability.org) to strengthen these efforts and promote change in our community, or send us your ideas on people and organizations you think we should collaborate with to ensure these goals are met and exceeded.

Getting Involved

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability wouldn’t be the success it is today without the dedication of our volunteers and generosity of our sponsors. If you’re interested in getting involved with Women in Cleantech and Sustainability in meaningful ways, there are plenty of opportunities!