Kate Brandt

“I was raised in Northern California amongst the tide pools and redwood trees,” Kate Brandt told Fortune. “From a young age, I’ve felt a reverence for nature and have dedicated my life to making sure we do everything we can to protect it for future generations.” Brandt’s mission led to several federal government climate-focused and environmental leadership roles in the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and the White House. But she would eventually make U.S. history. In 2015, Brandt was appointed by President Obama as the first federal chief sustainability officer overseeing the actions of “the single largest user of energy in the world,” she said. Now as chief sustainability officer at Google, Brandt directs and coordinates sustainability efforts across the tech giant’s data centers, real estate, supply chain, and product teams. The company, which first achieved carbon neutrality in 2007, has set a goal to be carbon-free in all of its operations by 2030. Brandt adds, “As a new mother, my commitment to this work has only grown.”