“What If?” Lightning Talks

At this year’s conference, we are opening the stage to a select group of student speakers who will deliver short, powerful lightning talks built around one central provocation: “What If?”

What if emotions were the missing piece in climate action?

A decade leading IDEO's climate work taught Nazli that moral appeals aren't enough. Now she's asking what happens when we stop fighting human nature and start designing for it.

What if adaptation isn't about building walls — it's about deciding what to transform?

Parker pioneered green building in China, led sustainable operations for a tech giant, and invested in climate infrastructure across three continents. Now he's researching why markets can't price the risk everyone sees coming.

What if AI could actually help the planet?

A tree-hugging realist who spent five years in BCG's energy and climate practice. Nico’s AI skepticism has evolved into something more interesting: cautious optimism.

What if imperfection was the point?

A mechanical engineer who took multiple shots at decarbonizing steel. Now building Climitra, a precision biofuels company for steel, Shubhankar is learning to let go of the perfect and build what's possible.

The session will be hosted by Alicia Seiger GSB alum and lecturer, author of Settling Climate Accounts, and director of the climate program at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. From advising governors to co-founding Stanford's Sustainable Finance Initiative, Alicia has spent two decades working at the intersection of climate, finance, and policy.