Jenna Woods

I attribute my success to the people who believed in me enough to challenge me to grow, especially my mother, Prof. Marcel Di Vece, and the countless mentors who invested their time and guidance in me. I’m also driven by a deep sense of responsibility and curiosity about our planet, paired with an unparalleled ambition to create meaningful impact through science and innovation.

One of the best pieces of advice I’ve received came from a venture capitalist I was interviewing very early on in my career: “Be kind and be smart. Read all that you can read, and know all that you can know — and then be pleasant to work with and work for.” That balance of competence and character has stayed with me throughout my career.

You know more than you think you do, and you belong in the rooms you’re in. Don’t underestimate the value of your perspective or wait for permission to contribute. Curiosity, resilience, and confidence in your voice can take you further than perfection ever will. And while you're at it -- always remember that a win for anyone in your space is a win for you.

The urgency of climate change is both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity in our field. We are operating within an incredibly compressed timeline, but that pressure is also accelerating innovation, collaboration, and the willingness to reevaluate systems that once felt impossible to change.

Authenticity and integrity are incredibly important to me in business, scientific research, and in my personal life. I believe in being honest about results, transparent about challenges, and grounded in genuine purpose. I also value kindness and empathy deeply. Building others up has never taken anything away from our own success; in my experience, it only strengthens it.