Vanessa Thompson
Founder of The Sustainability Experts

Vanessa Thompson, the Founder of The Sustainability Experts Group and esteemed host of a globally acclaimed podcast, brings together influential figures shaping sustainable solutions. Notable guests on the show include Olympian Venus Williams, Rockefeller Foundation's Dr. Raj Shah, Viral Activist Leah Thomas, and other influential voices. Thompson stands as a 30 Under 30 winner recognized by the Global Gurus and is set to release her upcoming book, "Accelerating Innovation: ESG Breakthroughs for Your Business," in the Fall of 2024.

With a profound expertise in ESG Financial Analysis, Thompson has lent her strategic insights to some of the world's most progressive companies, including Google, United Nations Foundation – Data 2x Project, World Bank Group, The Nature Conservancy, and Joby Aviation. Her thought leadership extends to publications like The Huffington Post and Berkeley Economic Review. Vanessa has also conducted groundbreaking research alongside Nobel-winning author, Dr. Daniel Kammen, at U.C. Berkeley.

A distinguished alumna, Thompson earned her B.S. in Environmental Economics and Policy from the University of California, Berkeley, graduating Summa Cum Laude. Complementing her undergraduate achievements, she holds an MBA from Santa Clara University.

“Having gotten to know you and see your passion, I know you can tackle the greatest problems. You will make the difference, and be difference that we have all been waiting for.”

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, Former CEO of the World Bank

"You're passionate about what you're doing and I'm excited for you to find a way to have impact in the world and to do it in a way that's really specific to you and to this time."

Evan Sharp, Co-Founder of Pinterest

Recent News and Publications

Women Of Color Lead Gender Equality In STEM Education

By Rhett Power with Vanessa Thompson and Dr. Caroline Harper

Forbes: New Research On How We Teach STEM Is Promising

I have been writing these columns for a few years, and the focus is always on someone well
known and well established. In today's column, I have somebody that you probably don't know, and that's okay because you're going to know Vanessa Thompson. Vanessa is doing important research that will make a significant impact on how we teach STEM and how we get more young women into science professions.

USA Science & Engineering Festival

Vanessa Thompson was featured as a keynote speaker at the 2015 USA Science & Engineering Festival and her speech was sponsored by Lockheed Martin.

The X-STEM 2015 event encourages pre-teens to study science, technology, engineering and math. Vanessa shared her dream of Storybook Math and how she's built a company that is helping kids learn and love math in a new way.

Roots & Shoots Outreach Initiative

Dr. Jane Goodall invited ESG Economist, Vanessa Thompson, and her colleagues to lead U.S. National outreach to teens on environmental sustainability community program.

Goodall's initiative, called Roots & Shoots, convened at Disney's Office of Sustainability in Orlando, Florida to kick off this outreach initiative.

Berkeley Economic Review: Interview with Professor Meredith Lynn Fowlie

Vanessa Thompson, Editor at Berkeley Economic Review, sat down with Professor Meredith Lynn Fowlie to discuss market-based environmental regulations and their impact on society and businesses.

Refinery 29: 3 Things We Learned From A High School Math Whiz

Vanessa Thompson was interviewed by Christina Bonnington for Refinery 29 to talk about her work with Storybook Math and her passion for giving kids a second chance at learning, understanding and enjoying math.

News Stories

Vanessa Thompson Founder of The Sustainability Experts

Vanessa Thompson
Founder of The Sustainability Experts