The Future Is Green: Daniela Fernandez of Sustainable Ocean Alliance On Her Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet
For my resilience, there have been many moments when fundraising was challenging or when doors were closed on us simply because our ideas felt too ambitious. But every ‘no’ I have received has pushed me to find another way. When our first investment exited with an 18x return, it was a powerful reminder that resilience pays off.
As we face an unprecedented environmental crisis, the need for sustainable solutions has never been more urgent. This series seeks to spotlight the innovative minds and passionate advocates who are leading the charge in environmental conservation and sustainable practices. We aim to explore the most effective strategies, breakthrough technologies, and transformative policies that are shaping a more sustainable future for our planet. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Daniela Fernandez.
Daniela Fernandez is a visionary entrepreneur, investor, and thought leader driving innovation in the sustainable blue economy. As Founder & CEO of Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), she has built the world’s largest youth-led ocean network, empowering thousands of young leaders and accelerating 420+ ocean solutions in 186 countries. Through Seabird Ventures, SOA has invested in 65 early-stage ocean tech companies, spanning aquaculture, marine renewable energy, and ocean data — collectively raising $600M+ in follow-on funding.
Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?
My journey began at 19, as a college student at Georgetown University, fueled by a big dream and a simple mission: to empower young people to take action for our ocean. From my dorm room, I founded Sustainable Ocean Alliance (SOA), never imagining it would grow into the world’s largest network of young ocean leaders across 168 countries.
As an immigrant from Ecuador, arriving in the U.S. at age seven, my path wasn’t always straightforward. But resilience helped shape me, and I became determined to create opportunities for others. Today, SOA is not only mobilizing the next generation of ocean advocates but also pioneering the ocean investment space — backing over 65 startups that are transforming ocean health and sustainability.
Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?
One moment that stands out is hosting the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit in partnership with Secretary John Kerry. Surrounded by young leaders from around the world — many stepping beyond their home countries for the first time — I was struck by the depth of their passion and the power of their stories. It was a humbling reminder of why I started SOA.
That experience reinforced an important lesson: true leadership isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room. Rather, it’s about creating space for others to be heard. It deepened my belief that the greatest impact I can make is empowering others to reach their highest potential.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?
The character traits I attribute to my success are vision, resilience, and empathy.
For my vision, when I started SOA many people didn’t understand why a college student was so focused on ocean sustainability. I had a clear vision of mobilizing young people worldwide to become ocean leaders, and that vision kept me grounded through every obstacle.
For my resilience, there have been many moments when fundraising was challenging or when doors were closed on us simply because our ideas felt too ambitious. But every ‘no’ I have received has pushed me to find another way. When our first investment exited with an 18x return, it was a powerful reminder that resilience pays off.
And in terms of empathy, building a global network like SOA requires understanding diverse perspectives and genuinely caring about the people and planet we serve. Whether it’s listening to a young leader’s challenges or guiding an entrepreneur through a tough pivot, empathy has always helped me build stronger, lasting relationships.
Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?
Absolutely! One of the most exciting projects we’re working on right now is the Ocean Leadership Fellowship in partnership with Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. This fellowship is designed to equip emerging leaders with the tools, resources, and global network they need to drive impactful ocean solutions in their communities. This fellowship brings together passionate changemakers, providing them with mentorship from industry experts, and offers funding to scale their projects. The goal is to create a ripple effect of positive change, empowering individuals to lead grassroots initiatives that not only restore marine ecosystems, but also support local economies and uplift coastal communities. We’re hoping to build a new generation of ocean champions who can lead with purpose and create lasting impact.
What pivotal moment led you to dedicate your career to sustainability, and how has that shaped your approach to environmental challenges?
When I watched Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth at age 12. That film opened my eyes to the urgent need for environmental action. When I learned that the ocean — our planet’s greatest climate regulator — was being neglected, I began to lean into my calling. Since then, my approach has always been to combine optimism with action. I believe in focusing on solutions and lifting up those who are pioneering change.
Could you describe a groundbreaking project or initiative you’ve been involved in that significantly contributed to sustainability?
One of SOA’s most transformative initiatives is our Ecopreneur Network, dedicated to accelerating early-stage startups that drive ocean sustainability. Through this program, we’ve had the privilege of supporting groundbreaking companies like Navier, revolutionizing maritime transport with electric hydrofoil boats, and Cruz Foam, turning waste into biodegradable, sustainable packaging.
These innovators aren’t just tackling critical environmental challenges; they’re proving that sustainability and profitability can go hand in hand. By providing mentorship, funding, and strategic support, our Ecopreneur Network helps these startups scale their solutions, creating lasting impact for our ocean and the planet.
How do you navigate the balance between economic growth and environmental preservation in your sustainability strategies?
For me, the key to balancing economic growth and environmental preservation is aligning financial performance with measurable impact. As an investor, I firmly believe that profitability and planet-positive outcomes are mutually reinforcing. Our investment strategy prioritizes ventures that embed sustainability into their business models from day one, evaluating them not just on financial metrics, but also on their environmental, social, and governance performance.
In the ocean sector, this means backing innovative companies that create economic value while actively restoring ecosystems. Take sustainable aquaculture — by investing in ventures that produce high-quality seafood while easing pressure on wild fish populations and promoting biodiversity, we drive both financial returns and environmental gains. Similarly, seaweed cultivation presents a compelling investment case: it sequesters carbon at scale while unlocking opportunities in food, packaging, and bioplastics, creating diversified revenue streams for investors.
This dual approach, where financial growth is a byproduct of ecological restoration, proves that sustainability is not just an ethical choice, but a smart business strategy. Our goal is to show the broader investment community that a thriving planet is one of the greatest economic opportunities of our time.
What emerging technologies or innovations do you believe hold the most promise for advancing sustainability and why?
From an investment perspective, I am particularly excited about innovations that improve efficiencies in the maritime industry and promote the use of alternative materials to reduce plastic pollution. Companies like Bound4Blue are transforming the shipping industry with wind-assisted propulsion systems that reduce fuel consumption and emissions, demonstrating how economic efficiency and environmental impact can align. Additionally, alternative materials, like those developed by Cruz Foam, offer a sustainable substitute for traditional plastics, providing strong financial potential as market demand for eco-friendly products continues to grow.
Here is our main question. Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Top Strategies for a Cleaner Planet”? (Please share a story or an example for each)
- Invest in Regenerative Solutions: Our work with startups transforming waste into resources has proven that a circular economy is not only possible, but profitable.
- Empower Young Leaders Through SOA, we provide mentorship, funding, and platforms for young ocean advocates to lead impactful projects in their communities.
- Drive Policy Change: Collaboration with global leaders at events like the Our Ocean Youth Leadership Summit has allowed us to advocate for stronger ocean sustainability policies.
- Create Cross-Sector Partnerships: Our partnerships with corporations, governments, and NGOs amplify our impact, proving that collaboration is key to tackling global challenges.
What are the key steps individuals, communities, and governments need to take to achieve a more sustainable future?
For individuals, they can make conscious lifestyle choices, reduce, reuse, recycle, and support sustainable brands.
For communities, it’s important to advocate for local conservation projects and engage in grassroots movements.
And for governments, they should implement and enforce policies that prioritize sustainability and hold corporations accountable.
If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
If I could start a movement, it would be called “Generation Stewardship” — a global effort to revive and embed the timeless concept of stewardship into our modern world. Stewardship isn’t a new idea; it’s as old as humanity itself — the understanding that we are not owners of this planet, but caretakers, responsible for leaving it better than we found it for future generations. This movement would focus on re-educating people, especially young people, about the value of caring for our natural world. It would integrate stewardship principles into education from an early age and empower individuals to lead initiatives that not only restore ecosystems but also strengthen local economies and uplift communities. True change happens when people feel a sense of ownership — not over the planet, but over their role in protecting it. Generation Stewardship would be a call to action for all of us to step up, take responsibility, and reimagine what it means to live in harmony with nature.
What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?
LinkedIn: Daniela Fernandez
Instagram: @DVFernandez
Websites: Sustainable Ocean Alliance
The Future Is Green: Daniela Fernandez of Sustainable Ocean Alliance On Her Top Strategies for a… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.