Michelle Li

Michelle Li – Founder, Clever Carbon and Women and Climate

Michelle Li is a recognised global leader and climate champion and inspirational speaker.

Michelle Li didn’t just change careers; she answered a global call to action. Forging a path from the heart of Silicon Valley’s tech scene to the forefront of the climate movement, she brings a founder’s mindset and a disruptor’s energy to one of the most critical challenges of our time. Her journey from building software for giants like Salesforce and DocuSign to building a sustainable future is a masterclass in purpose-driven transformation.

At the core of Michelle’s work is a powerful, unshakeable belief: “A carbon-literate society will accelerate action and create better solutions at the speed and scale required for a thriving planet.” She diagnosed a key problem: the climate conversation was often too complex, too exclusive, and too intimidating for the average person. Her solution? To demystify climate action and make it accessible, engaging, and even joyful.

This mission ignited the creation of clever carbon, a startup that transforms carbon footprint literacy from a dry statistic into a vibrant, interactive experience. By making learning “hip and fun,” Michelle has empowered thousands to understand their impact and become confident agents of change.

Recognising that action flourishes in community, she founded Women and Climate, a global nonprofit that galvanizes a powerful network of women to connect, learn, and lead. It’s more than a community; it’s an incubator for collaboration and a testament to her commitment to inclusive, collective action.

Michelle’s magnetic energy and visionary approach have made her a sought-after voice on the world’s most influential stages, including TEDx, SXSW, Bloomberg, COP, and the United Nations. As the convener of the Carbon Newbie Summit during NYC Climate Week, she brought together titans like Mastercard, Allbirds, the NBA, and Mubadala to break down barriers to climate knowledge. Her insights are regularly featured by major media outlets such as ABC, CBS, FOX, Inc.com, and Politico, solidifying her role as a defining voice in the sustainability movement.

As a speaker, Michelle doesn’t just present; she connects and catalyzes. Whether keynoting, moderating, or serving as MC for the world’s leading brands, she has a rare ability to translate complex ideas into actionable inspiration. As Alissa Schipper, Google Senior Industry Manager, notes, “Michelle Li’s powerful keynote, “A brief history: Carbon Footprint Edition,” at Google’s Sustainability Summit in Berlin, was rated the best by attendees. What truly set her presentation apart was its fun, light, and unexpectedly different approach, making a complex topic engaging and memorable.”

Michelle Li is the rare leader who bridges two worlds—the relentless innovation of tech and the urgent, human-centered mission of climate action. She isn’t just talking about a better future; she is actively building the tools and communities to create it.

SPEAKING TOPICS

A brief history: carbon footprint edition

At the heart of it, overcoming climate change is a tale of resilience, innovation, perseverance, creativity, and storytelling. Michelle Li, a former Silicon Valley tech worker, will take you on a journey of discovery, sharing the pivotal role of carbon literacy in the climate crisis and exploring its transformative potential of measuring and changing carbon literacy to combat climate change. Her keynote explores how educating leaders, policymakers, and individuals can drive effective climate solutions by providing a solid foundation of literacy in a way that is hip, fun, relatable, scalable, and impactful. Her transformative journey from the average tech worker to becoming a Global Climate Champion will leave the audience inspired and ready for action.

From Silicon Valley to Global Climate Champion

How does a tech leader become a global force for climate action? In this powerful keynote, Michelle Li shares her remarkable journey from scaling giants like Salesforce to igniting a worldwide movement for sustainability. This isn’t just a story; it’s a blueprint for purpose-driven transformation.

Michelle reveals the actionable lessons learned while building her groundbreaking initiatives—clever carbon and Women and Climate. She unpacks how to apply a founder’s mindset to any challenge, build powerful communities from scratch, and turn personal passion into scalable impact. Audiences will leave with a compelling vision for a thriving, carbon-literate future and the inspiration to forge their own path of meaningful change.

From women’s empowerment to carbon dioxide removal and the energy transition, Michelle’s strong grasp of technical climate topics and broad understanding of the climate landscape make her an ideal speaker for your next event.

Michelle is also an engaging moderator, known for her thorough preparation and ability to connect with speakers and the audience.