Young Change Makers Promoting Climate Action: Why and How Sasha DiGiulian Is Helping To Change Our World
An Interview With Monica Sanders
People will give you pushback. I get told often to “focus on climbing” or that I don’t belong outside of my sport. As an individual, we can all be multidimensional. Don’t let it get under your skin too much.
We are standing at a critical juncture in our fight against climate change, and it is heartening to see young leaders rising to this enormous challenge. Across the globe, they are initiating change, voicing their concerns, and catalyzing action toward sustainable solutions for our planet. These young change-makers are not just the future; they are the driving force of the present. As part of this series, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sasha DiGiulian.
Sasha DiGiulian is the most decorated female climber in the world, constantly pushing the boundaries of what most thought possible. She started climbing at the young age of 6 and took the sport by storm, quickly growing into one of its most famous faces. Over the course of her career, she has been Female Overall World Champion twice, the undefeated Pan-American Champion for a 10-year span, and 3-time US National Champion. She was the first North American woman and third woman in the World to climb a grade 5.14d, (9a), and traveled to over 50 countries while accomplishing 30+ First and First Female Ascents. As a woman making a career within a traditionally male dominated space, Sasha stands for equality in sport, access, pay, and treatment of female athletes. Sasha is also deeply rooted in philanthropy, sitting on the board of the Women’s Sports Foundation and Ascend Afghanistan, and is an ambassador for Protect Our Winters and Right to Play International. Her first book, Take the Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life’s Hardest Climbs will be released by St. Martin’s Press on September 26, 2023, with a book tour to follow.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit. Can you tell us a bit about how you grew up?
I grew up in Alexandria, VA. I am a dual citizen with Canada, so a lot of my childhood was spent in Quebec, Canada, as well. I dabbled in a lot of sports, namely skiing, swimming, and figure skating in addition to climbing. My parents growing up stressed the importance of academics heavily, so my schoolwork always took precedence over my athletic pursuits. However, I did find climbing early in life (at 6), and this gradually started to grow as an all-encompassing passion and sport for me. My family had no background in climbing; I simply discovered the sport after my brother’s 8th birthday party at a climbing gym called Sportrock. I stumbled across a competition, and that is when my involvement within climbing became more of a sport for me than a hobby. I began competing at 7, and slowly the other sports (except for skiing, which I still do today, since I was 3…) fell to the wayside.
Is there a particular book or organization that made a significant impact on you growing up? Can you share a story or explain why it resonated with you so much?
Yes. Lynn Hill’s book, Climbing Free: My Life in the Vertical World — played a really big impact on my life as a coming of age climber. She was, and continues to be — a huge inspiration to me. Lynn really pushed the limits within climbing as a sport, and with some of her achievements, like becoming the first person to free climb (climbing using no use of gear such as pulling on metal or equipment, but only her hands and feet while protected by a rope) the Nose of El Capitan, and her famous quote, “It Goes, Boys” inspired me that women can be at the top echelon of climbing achievements, too. I grew up with a poster of her, and that quote, on my wall. She is actually a good friend and mentor, now. I feel really grateful to learn about her journey, struggles, and the ways in which she paved the path for women in climbing. Her generation really laid the foundation for the world of climbing I have had the privilege to experience.
How do you define “Making A Difference”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
I believe that athletes have a responsibility to stand for something, as well. I think that that is where “making a difference” comes into play. Achievements in sport are recognizable and significant, but what I do with my platform and with the attention I receive through my career is where the meaning comes into play. When I entered more of a limelight within my professional world of climbing, I began working with organizations including Women’s Sports Foundation and Right to Play International because sport and access to sport has made a huge difference in my life. Many around the country and the world do not have this privilege, so working with nonprofits such as these two to help provide opportunities for others has always provided me with a deeper sense of pride and joy than many of my climbs themselves. I think that Making a Difference means doing something that is for others, that can move the needle of progress as a society in a positive way.
You are currently working on promoting climate action. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change in our world today?
As an outdoor athlete, caring about the planet has become an intrinsic value of mine. I have experienced the effects of climate change firsthand — so sharing these experiences across my platform, lobbying with politicians on Capitol Hill to recognize Climate Change Legislation, and meeting with Politicians, like Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Chuck Schumer, Senator Mark Warner, etc, in public, streamed events, to shed light on these issues have been some of my steps towards the change I am trying to effect via my platform. I am an ambassador with Protect our Winters, an organization founded by Jeremy Jones to push local and national climate-forward legislation. I also have worked with Access Fund and American Alpine Club — and used development of climbing as a resource for eco-tourism, green economy growth.
Can you tell us the backstory about what inspired you to originally feel passionate about this cause? How old were you when you made this decision?
As I became more involved with climbing outdoors, I quickly learned that protecting wilderness areas was important. Land access issues threatened the livelihood of areas I came to love recreating in, and I began to see our outdoor spaces as not only natural playgrounds, but also national treasures, and resources for so many. Green economy development with a systematic, inclusive approach will help us as a nation grow towards a more sustainable, and economically thriving nation. Water access, clean energy, air quality investment, and protecting public lands is really essential to long term health.
Many of us have ideas, dreams, and passions, but never manifest them. We don’t always get up and just do it. But you did. Was there an “Aha Moment” that made you decide that you were actually going to step up and do it? What was that final trigger?
I’m not sure there was just one “aha moment” for me. As my career began to grow, I felt like I have this platform to use my voice for the values I believe in and affecting the change that I believe is right. In 2016 I joined the American Alpine Club and Access Fund to lobby in DC with government officials, and I felt like this was a really empowering way to use my voice and to see that as citizens in the US, we put politicians in office, and have the ability to voice our concerns and desires — and while this does feel at times like a very steep climb, every effort counts.
What are some of the things you did, or steps you took to get started?
Joining organizations that are affecting change in the areas that I believe in is one initial step. Learning and educating myself around what it means to be an advocate is another. Understanding the process and using my voice is also a step towards getting started. I am an imperfect advocate; I have a lot of policy to still learn, and just knowing and taking time to understand what legislation is actively being discussed or passed within our government is really important.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson or take away you learned from that?
Realizing while lobbying that certain politicians have very different viewpoints from climate-forward approach has certainly been one learning curve that I have absorbed. It’s not necessarily a mistake — but a realization — that sometimes even if you think something is a bipartisan issue — in politics, there are often diametrically opposing sides driven by very divided opinions. Listening and learning where each person is coming from is significant to embolden your own understanding of what is happening.
None of us can be successful without some help along the way. Did you have mentors or cheerleaders who helped you to succeed? Can you tell us a story about their influence?
Everyone who has worked within the organizations’ executive teams have been really helpful to my own growth, and continue to be informative, for me. Working with Jake Black and Mario Molina from Protect our Winters has been really helpful for me as I grow and learn. I had this experience with a writer from a magazine that really grilled me about specific policy around a panel I did that was streamed by the White House. I felt totally floored — I thought I knew what I was talking about, but this journalist made me feel like I was totally clueless. It was a good wake up call for me to take more steps towards getting to the thick of all the nuts and bolts of what I was talking about, because people will challenge you and push you — and I’d always like to be as ready and prepared as I can be. Mario and Jake helped me take the steps towards learning more and smoothing out my humbled experience!
Without saying specific names, can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
I receive a lot of messages from other climbers asking about how to get involved. My main piece of advice is diving in at a local level, learning about organizations that have templates to reach out to local officials through, and using that as a starting point.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Consider your own impact. Forgive yourself for your mistakes. Listen. Learn. Educate. And — do your best to lend your voice to causes you believe in.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why?
1. You will not always know the answer. It’s okay to say, I don’t know — I’ve had this happen in interviews before where I don’t necessarily know what policy solution there is.
2. People will give you pushback. I get told often to “focus on climbing” or that I don’t belong outside of my sport. As an individual, we can all be multidimensional. Don’t let it get under your skin too much.
3. Respect someone’s opinion that is different from your own. This can be hard when your version of fact feels so much different than their version. That’s the world in which we live in.
4. People will judge you and scrutinize things you say and your actions — so try to hold yourself to a standard that makes sense. I travel for work — and do receive messages questioning me riding an airplane to climb in a certain area of the world — so finding a balance of this is important — for my own effort to be sustainable, but also for my own journey of what decisions feel acceptable and which do not.
5. Ask questions and learn from the people around you. It can be challenging to reach out and ask for help when you want to seem informed — but similar to the above (1), it’s okay to lean on others for advice.
If you could tell other young people one thing about why they should consider making a positive impact on our environment or society, like you, what would you tell them?
Do your best to understand the causes that concern you, and get involved — even if in a small way, your voice does make a difference.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I’d love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Michelle Obama. She has been a really powerful voice to women and underserved communities around the world — and I really feel inspired by her use of her own voice, her vulnerability, and for pushing the standard within our nation of how our decisions and words affect other people.
How can our readers follow you online?
I am @sashadigiulian across social and sashadigiulian.com on my website!
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
About the Interviewer: Monica Sanders JD, LL.M, is the founder of “The Undivide Project”, an organization dedicated to creating climate resilience in underserved communities using good tech and the power of the Internet. She holds faculty roles at the Georgetown University Law Center and the Tulane University Disaster Resilience Leadership Academy. Professor Sanders also serves on several UN agency working groups. As an attorney, Monica has held senior roles in all three branches of government, private industry, and nonprofits. In her previous life, she was a journalist for seven years and the recipient of several awards, including an Emmy. Now the New Orleans native spends her time in solidarity with and championing change for those on the frontlines of climate change and digital divestment. Learn more about how to join her at: www.theundivideproject.org
Young Change Makers Promoting Climate Action: Why and How Sasha DiGiulian Is Helping To Change Our… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.