Aina Abiodun believes the people closest to a problem often know the most about how to solve it. That idea runs through her life and career, and it helps explain why she has become such a distinctive voice in Seattle’s climate tech space.

Born and raised in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Abiodun grew up in a country shaped by the fossil fuel industry at a time when the climate crisis was not yet widely understood. After her family moved to the United States during her teenage years, she went on to build her early career in New York, working in brand strategy for companies including Mattel, Puma, and Logitech. She later moved to Europe, founded a startup, and became the first Black woman to run a venture-based climate tech company in Germany. “I am driven by an unrelenting belief in the power of humanity to do better, to act better, to build better,” Abiodun says. “I know that can sound preposterous considering the news we hear every day, but I’m undaunted.”

After years of working across continents and sectors, Abiodun landed in Seattle to lead VertueLab, the nonprofit and venture fund that supports Pacific Northwest entrepreneurs developing technologies to help communities adapt to a warming world. “I see the Pacific Northwest as the pilot space for what is truly possible if we can take big leaps and lean into the future of this work,” Abiodun says. “If we can advance game-changing technologies while keeping the economic impact and equity top of mind, we will succeed.”

Interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Climate innovation

Every physical part of our world will need to change for humans to thrive as our world warms. That means how we get energy, how we build buildings, and how we source food and water. I am most excited about the climate entrepreneurs who take their cues from what communities need to adapt and thrive. At VertueLab, we are betting on folks who see value at the intersection of physical technology, real human needs, and the lived environment.

Equity

We know that the first people to experience problems have knowledge that the rest of us don’t have. Engaging and co-creating with them will help us find solutions that are far more creative, effective, and scalable than many people realize. When we take this approach to frontline problems, we are ultimately building resilience for everyone.

Lessons learned

Authenticity will never go out of style. Trust is the only capital a leader has. Acknowledge the humanity of people you work with, especially in tough times.

Leadership

In our society, women are expected to balance so many priorities, from professional to personal to the mundane. That makes us effective leaders of chaos, which every workplace needs. An effective leader in this moment is someone who can hold the difficult truths of the world we live in and still motivate and inspire teams to greatness.

Workplace advice

At some point in time, I have experienced every indignity related to gender in the workplace. There is no prize for suffering in suffocating environments where one’s talents and efforts are overlooked. Go work for someone who believes in you and will stand up for you. This is life changing.

Overcoming doubt

I find my way out of doubtful moments in two ways. First, I surround myself with trusted people who gut-check me to make sure I am reading the situation correctly and who are in my corner. We all need a cheer squad sometimes. Second, I like switching places with myself and asking: ‘If someone came to me with this identical problem, what would I say or think?’ It is remarkably effective in distancing yourself from feelings that might cloud facts.

Networking

Networking sometimes feels like a high school dance, and we are the awkward teenagers in the corner. I try my best to lead with questions that are not close-ended or directly related to work. Humans want to be connected to other humans. We are not nodes in a computer network. One of my favorite questions is: What have you seen, read, or heard lately that got you excited?

Community building

All community work starts with one or two very intentional connections. I have built meaningful communities just by asking a few women with similar interests if they would like to meet for coffee once a month before work. Women shoulder enormous care responsibilities in our culture, and that does not always leave time for in person gatherings, so it is important to figure out other small ways to connect.

What I’d do differently

I’m not sure there were many choices I would make differently because I tried my hardest to do only what felt authentic to me and to take opportunities as far as I could. But I always wish I had had a mentor. I’m not sure I knew how to find one to help me navigate the many surprises that come with being a woman leader.

Days off

Nature: Seattle is fabulous for this, and I cannot pass up an opportunity to lose myself in the trees, on a mountain, or on the water. Creativity: I am a committed thrifter and upcycler. Beyond the thrill of living my values is the sheer joy of hunting and pecking for cool finds in unexpected places. Sports: I will try any sport, even the ones I am terrible at. I do love weightlifting and racquet sports.