Leading for impact and shaping the future of climate action

The 2025 Climate Conference’s theme, Now & Next, aimed to capture current developments in climate innovation, policy and financing in addition to the future ecosystem of success required to scale and further commercialize climate solutions across industries. 

For the student organizers of this year’s conference, it was more than an event — it was a transformative journey that welcomed classroom insights with real-world impact. Learn more about how they not only brought meaningful dialogue to campus but also clarified their paths as future change makers in the climate sector across industries and borders. 

Kellogg: What was the most rewarding part of organizing the Climate Conference, and how did the experience shape your perspective on leadership and collaboration?

Eric Bragg: In organizing the conference, our team’s goal was to bring an event to Kellogg that opened people’s eyes to the challenges and opportunities in the climate sector. The feedback from the event that students and alumni shared with our team confirmed that we achieved what we set out to do. Knowing that we, as a lean team of 23 students, were able to bring new ideas and inspiration to the Kellogg community gives us great pride in the work we did over the past year.

The event would truly not have been possible without the support of students, faculty and alumni who were not only able to help us coordinate the day-of successes but also introduce us to folks who could accelerate our vision for the event. Bringing these groups together, connecting passionate individuals and maintaining warm relations was paramount to creating a successful conference that could enrich the student body.

As I think about our own team, giving confidence to one’s ideas and recognizing milestones was a great way to continue to motivate everyone to keep pushing until the finish line. As an example, we included a “weekly kudos” in our team meetings to acknowledge those who put in the extra effort.  

Kellogg: Was there a particular moment — a speaker, conversation or challenge — that deeply resonated with you or shifted how you think about climate action in business? 

Sergio Monroy: One of the most memorable moments for me was hearing from Diego Mesa, the former minister of energy and mines of Colombia and deputy division chief at the International Monetary Fund. As someone who grew up in Colombia, it was incredibly meaningful to hear a leader from my home country speak so thoughtfully about the role of emerging markets in the global energy transition. 

Diego spoke about how smart policy incentives can spark innovation in energy, especially in countries like the United States. I was struck by how sophisticated Colombia’s energy markets actually are — something I hadn’t fully appreciated before. He also made an important point that often gets lost: emerging economies are too often left out of climate conversations, even though they’re critical to the global solution. 

Meeting someone I’ve long admired, who has shaped energy policy on a national and global scale, was a real honor. His words reminded me why I care so deeply about this work and reaffirmed my commitment to one day return to Latin America and help build the energy future our region deserves. 

Kellogg: How has the school’s curriculum on social impact and sustainability — both in and out of the classroom — prepared you to take on a leadership role in planning this event? 

Erica Ng: Working on the conference while taking social impact and sustainability classes created a powerful feedback loop that deepened my learning and leadership. I had the opportunity to shape two panels for the 2025 conference, and I felt incredibly lucky to dive into the topics through conversations with speakers and Kellogg faculty who moderated the sessions.  

For example, while building a panel with Professor Megan Kashner, I explored sustainable agriculture practices and gained valuable insights into the kinds of partnerships required to finance sustainability initiatives across the supply chain. These experiences helped me ask sharper questions in class — whether I was conducting due diligence on startups or interviewing business leaders for experiential learning projects. 

Looking ahead to the 2026 conference, I feel energized and supported by our faculty. Our executive board has been fortunate to take spring classes with professors who are not only thought leaders but also generous collaborators.  

I took Professor Aaron Yoon’s ESG reporting and investing class and Professor Maria Ibanez’s new sustainable supply chains class alongside several other members of our climate conference team. We’d leave class each day buzzing with ideas for panel topics and questions we would want to ask prospective speakers.  

What I’ve learned in the classroom has made me more confident and excited to shape content that will push the conversation forward at next year’s conference. 

Kellogg: In what ways has organizing the conference influenced your career aspirations or clarified how you want to drive impact once you graduate from Kellogg? 

Bragg: This conference demonstrated the depth and breadth of opportunities in the climate sector. In conversations with fellow students, alumni and industry professionals, it was clear the opportunities to be engaged in this sector are endless. From new market mechanisms to drive decarbonization efforts to scaling early-stage technologies that can have significant impacts across hard-to-abate industries like transportation, climate roles abound. 

As I think about my path forward, I recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all to this challenge in climate and that bringing together policymakers, financiers, technology innovators and corporations will be essential. I hope to help bridge the gaps that currently exist across these entities and continue to scale solutions where needed.  

Ng: Coming to Kellogg, I knew I wanted to explore how my skills could contribute to addressing climate change and organizing the conference helped me sharpen that focus and deepen my understanding of where I can make the most impact.  

Working on the conference gave me a front-row seat to these intersections and allowed me to engage meaningfully with leaders and peers who are actively shaping the future of energy and sustainability.

It not only expanded my knowledge across a wide range of topics but also helped me build a community I can lean on as I navigate my next steps. It reinforced that driving climate impact will require collaboration across sectors, and I’m excited to be part of that bridge-building effort. 

Kellogg: What advice would you give to future and current students who want to lead or help launch mission-driven initiatives at Kellogg?

Bragg: Kellogg students and the broader Northwestern community have a vast array of experiences and insights into climate initiatives. Tapping into this knowledge base is essential in order to bring together an impactful and memorable event.  

Additionally, never underestimate the willingness of the Kellogg student body and alumni to lend a helping hand. We had folks proactively volunteer to speak, sponsor and network with individuals before asking them ourselves. And this is what makes Kellogg unique — the selflessness of individuals in our community to get involved and pursue or advance their passions in any way possible.  


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