Patience is essential. When I worked in healthcare, I experienced the slow pace of interoperability. The climate sector has been glacial in adopting this practice, which is imperative to building effective decarbonization strategies. And let’s face it — there’s no easy answer to climate change. Progress results from incremental changes over time, which can be frustrating to anyone aware of the urgent threat posed by climate change.
According to the University of Colorado, “Those who are most affected and have the fewest resources to adapt to climate change are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions — both globally and within the United States.” Promoting climate justice is an incredibly important environmental responsibility that is slowly becoming more and more recognized. In this interview series, we are talking to leaders who are helping to promote sustainability and climate justice. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Alekhya Reddy.
Alekhya leads the development of Optera’s product strategy and roadmap. Alekhya draws on experience in data SaaS product management & renewable energy financial structuring to develop Optera’s product strategy. She was previously Chief Product Officer of Carta Healthcare.
Thank you so much for doing this with us! 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?
Growing up, I was fortunate enough to spend summers visiting family in southern India. Through trips across cities and more rural areas, I saw a vast range of socioeconomic levels and dependence on natural resources, piquing my interest in climate and environmental justice at an early age.
I’ve also always had a deep love for math, which guided my education and career choices. I am fascinated with applying mathematical principles to optimize systems and operations. Initially, I explored how math could improve healthcare, but I soon realized its relevance in addressing climate-related issues as well. From product decisions around impactful data analytics to optimizing decarbonization strategies, I’m excited to leverage my background in math at Optera.
In my personal life, I started trail running in high school and continue on the trails of Colorado today. I’m also a volunteer at the Denver Botanic Garden, tending to the children’s garden. In both of these ways I spend my free time, I’m reminded of the importance of respecting and preserving our environment so that everyone can enjoy outdoor activities.
Everyone has a cataclysmic moment or marker in their life which propels them to take certain actions, a “why”. What is your why?
I’ve always been interested in healthcare and alleviating inefficiencies in that complex industry, so I explored careers in healthcare research, pharmaceuticals, and, ultimately, healthcare technology. I soon realized climate change has a massive impact on healthcare and both are disproportionately impacting vulnerable populations.
For example, on a micro-scale, more affordable housing often surrounds interstates, which generate significant pollution. On a macro scale, more prosperous countries are the biggest polluters, yet less wealthy countries feel the most immediate impacts. This inequity never sat right with me, so I transitioned to the climate sector, where I could translate my passion for solving climate and health challenges into tangible and scalable software solutions for our clients to measure and reduce their carbon footprint.
You are currently leading an organization that is making a difference for our planet. Can you tell us a bit about what you and your organization are trying to change?
Optera empowers large companies to fight climate change through its emissions management software. Corporations generate a large portion of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, which means they play a critical role in the path to net zero. Their efforts to reduce operational and value chain emissions create a positive ripple effect upstream and downstream, resulting in measurable progress toward global goals.
With Optera, enterprises gain actionable insights to build an effective, meaningful and measurable emissions reduction strategy. Optera’s comprehensive carbon management tools, data-driven solutions and expert guidance support these companies in their transition to a low-carbon economy. By enabling companies to set and achieve ambitious climate goals, we help to create a sustainable future for our planet.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
Since I took on my role, many of my former colleagues and classmates have entered climate-related fields — many of them people who I never thought would take this path, including colleagues in healthcare and finance. It’s exciting to witness this growing interest and engagement within my network, and it’s gratifying to see friends of many different backgrounds and skill sets all contributing to our collective effort of addressing climate challenges.
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?
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the CEO of my previous company. He mentored me in the intricacies of creating a successful product with market fit. His clairvoyant view into the technical implications of automation and AI left a lasting impression, helping me understand the importance of combining human oversight with responsible AI integration. I carry this philosophy forward at Optera, ensuring that AI advancements enhance human effectiveness without compromising the integrity of information.
The CEO was also very generous with opportunities. His merit-based culture instilled a sense of teamwork and trust and allowed me to gain valuable experience. His mentorship benefited me greatly in both technical and leadership areas.
Thank you for that. Let’s now move to the central part of our discussion. Let’s start with a basic definition of terms so that everyone is on the same page. What does climate justice mean to you? How do we operationalize it?
Realistically, there’s no way to equitably distribute the burden of climate change. Instead, we must act to repair the damage and prevent future impacts. Climate justice means holding the biggest carbon emitters accountable for their role in climate change and providing support for those disproportionately affected.
We won’t achieve climate justice until the countries and organizations generating the most greenhouse gases reduce their footprints, invest in sustainable practices and support impacted communities. That support might look like funding health programs or investing in more resilient infrastructure.
Science is telling us that we have 7–10 years to make critical decisions about climate change. What are three things you or your organization are doing to help?
Optera is helping companies measure their total emissions. While operational emissions (Scope 1 and 2) are relatively straightforward to calculate, emissions from the value chain (Scope 3) present additional challenges. Scope 3 accounts for the majority of a company’s greenhouse gases, yet third-party sources hold this information. Optera helps its customers account for that external data through primary data gathering and modeling to comprehensively understand (and reduce) their climate impact.
Optera also provides expertise and support in building and executing an emissions reduction plan. Managing Scope 3 data can be overwhelming, especially for large enterprises. Optera’s experts help companies understand and leverage emissions data to identify the biggest carbon reduction opportunities, develop the best approach to reach their goals and measure and evaluate the strategy’s impact.
Our company also supports supplier engagement and collaboration, allowing companies to influence emissions at all tiers of their value chain. These relationships accelerate the path to net zero for companies and their partners. If we want to achieve global climate goals, everyone has to collaborate.
Are there three things the community, society, or politicians can do to help you in your mission?
Governments can mandate emissions reporting, especially for large corporations. We’re seeing this already with the recent signing of the SB 253 law in California, as well as in Europe. Even if these regulations don’t directly impact every company, the interconnected corporate value chain will influence all corners of the economy. Affected organizations will require their partners at every supply chain tier to report emissions, meaning partner businesses of all sizes will have to measure and manage their carbon output. This ripple effect can drive meaningful change.
Financial penalties are also a great motivator for change. Governments can impose more stringent emissions regulations, which should prompt companies to take reducing their carbon footprints more seriously — or face significant financial consequences.
Society can support companies that use sustainable practices. When consumers prioritize sustainability in their purchase decisions, they generate market demand and incentivize companies to reduce emissions to remain competitive and keep their customers.
How would you articulate how a business can become more profitable by being more sustainable and more environmentally conscious? Can you share a story or example?
There are so many benefits to embracing sustainability, but the bottom line is businesses that don’t make adjustments won’t survive. Sustainable practices reduce operating costs and risks posed by climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy.
Businesses must protect their operations from physical threats, such as extreme weather, while also creating products that can be built and used in the low-carbon economy. Investors, customers and even employees are already demanding to know a business’s climate risk.
Carbon management is a competitive differentiator. Large corporations want partners that help them reach their emissions goals and increase supply chain resiliency. Any company able to demonstrate successful carbon reduction strategies stands out from the crowd.
This is the signature question we ask in most of our interviews. What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started promoting sustainability and climate justice” and why?
Patience is essential. When I worked in healthcare, I experienced the slow pace of interoperability. The climate sector has been glacial in adopting this practice, which is imperative to building effective decarbonization strategies. And let’s face it — there’s no easy answer to climate change. Progress results from incremental changes over time, which can be frustrating to anyone aware of the urgent threat posed by climate change.
The thrill of achieving progress. Climate is a difficult and demanding sector to work in, but it’s one of the more important and impactful. It’s incredible to see the progress Optera can help our customers make. Each reduction is a huge victory.
There are sustainability opportunities everywhere. When I started, I thought sustainability was siloed within organizations. I’ve quickly realized that opportunities for sustainable initiatives exist in all departments. Climate affects everyone and every aspect of our global economy, from supply chain resilience to operational continuity. Working in sustainability exposed me to the wide-ranging effects of our efforts across a variety of business problems.
2030 is closer than we think. We’re currently on track to miss numerous global 2030 targets. Quantifying emissions is critical, but it’s only a small piece of the puzzle. We must get our heads above water and look toward the future. Now is the time for action, not January 2029.
Align your work with your personal values. Joining Optera has been one of the greatest career choices I’ve made. I’m passionate about improving everyone’s health and well-being, and this career helps me to accomplish that. Additionally, I’m able to understand the climate impact of my own actions, such as driving an EV or using public transportation. My personal actions align with my work values, creating a thread of continuity throughout my life and creating a rewarding career.
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? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Yvon Chouinard. As Patagonia’s founder, he built an impressive global brand while making business decisions prioritizing giving back to the community and staying committed to core values like climate justice. This ability to balance growing a successful international business while maintaining a climate-focused strategy is something I greatly admire.
How can our readers continue to follow your work online?
You can follow my work on LinkedIn and at Optera’s website.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you only continued success on your great work!
How Alekhya Reddy of Optera Is Helping to Promote Sustainability and Climate Justice was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.