By Luis Gerardo Carvajal, Co-Founder & Chief Future Officer of  BIOECTUR

olunteering in the rural communities of the Sierra of Puebla, Mexico, as a middle school student was a transformative experience for me. The region’s natural beauty contrasted sharply with the social and economic inequalities faced by its people. Despite being rich in natural resources, the communities struggled to maintain a decent lifestyle that respected their traditions and identity. This experience ignited my passion for creating positive change through sustainability and innovation.

As I grew older, my commitment to sustainability deepened. I pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Mechatronics Engineering, which provided me with a strong technical foundation. In 2018, I had the opportunity to volunteer in sustainable agriculture in Canada with Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF). This hands-on experience gave me a practical understanding of sustainability from the ground up and reinforced my belief in the importance of sustainable practices. In 2020, I was trained as a Climate Reality Leader by Al Gore, which further fueled my dedication to climate action. Around this time, I also began giving talks, sharing my insights and experiences with audiences worldwide.

One of the most significant milestones in my career was co-founding the startup Hydrop. We developed a hydrogen-based, large-scale energy storage system and secured funding from Siemens Energy Ventures. Taking the project to a physical MVP test was a testament to our team’s perseverance and innovation in addressing global energy challenges.

Currently, I serve as a Senior Sustainability Manager at Siemens Energy, where I lead the global strategy for the “Transformation of Industry” business area. This role covers industrial sites worldwide, focusing on reducing emissions and assessing climate risks through effective mitigation strategies.

Another proud achievement is co-founding CL-AI-MATE, a project that integrates art, AI, and sustainability to innovate climate communication and promote climate action. We are developing a platform for sharing stories and creating in-person workshops that combine art, climate action, and storytelling. This initiative is close to my heart, as it merges creativity with sustainability—two of my core passions.

Equally important is my role as co-founder and Chief Future Officer of BIOECTUR. Our mission is to create educational content about biodiversity in Latin America. We’ve developed biodiversity profiles for five countries—Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Costa Rica—and are working to communicate the richness of our region’s biodiversity to inspire others to help preserve it.

Throughout my journey, I have faced several challenges. One of the most significant is the overwhelming nature of climate change and its impact on mental health. As someone with ADHD and eco-anxiety, I have experienced firsthand the toll that activism can take. This inspired me to deliver a TEDx talk, where I shared my experiences and strategies for managing mental health while advocating for sustainability.

What motivates me to continue working in this field is my strong belief that innovation is powered by creativity—a renewable resource. We’ve already seen how innovation can transform sustainability: for example, solar panels have become over 100 times cheaper while improving in efficiency, making them the most affordable energy source in history. I believe that technology, combined with human drive and social impact, is the key to our future.

My journey—from volunteering in rural Mexico to working on global sustainability initiatives—has been guided by a commitment to meaningful change. Whether through engineering, advocacy, or creative projects, I remain dedicated to using my skills to address global challenges, inspire collective action, and help ensure a healthier planet for future generations.