Emily is an un-apologetically optimistic GenXer - leading others to speak compassionate truth & make change for the better. With more than two decades of experience, she is a seasoned non-profit executive and dynamic speaker whose work is dedicated to innovative projects & progressive causes - from public education to the arts to funding scientific research - raising over $30 million over her career. As a Teaching Fellow from Meredith College, Emily began her career working in public schools - both in the classroom and as a district-wide leader for English/Language Arts education. Her passion for bringing entrepreneurial concepts to reality took shape when she launched a communications & startup consultancy. In 2008, she began supporting the new national non-profit Cookies for Kids' Cancer and went on to become their first Executive Director. She currently sits on several non-profit boards and served as School Board Vice Chair during the pandemic response, with a key role in metrics-based opening and closing decisions. As Chief of Start Up, Emily will lean into her proven track record for turning an idea into operational reality for the most important issue our world has faced: the climate crisis. She is motivated by CEO & Founder Heather's White's vision for helping everyone see their personal role in climate action. Her favorite #OneGreenThing is spending time outdoors with her family - either snow skiing in West Virginia & Montana in the winter or enjoying water activities year-round on Lake Norman, where her family resides outside of Charlotte, North Carolina.