Impact Makers: Kristy Drutman

NAME

Kristy Drutman

TITLE

Founder, Green Jobs Board

LOCATION

Los Angeles, United States

ABOUT

Kristy Drutman is the founder of Green Jobs Board, a platform tackling one of the biggest challenges in the climate movement: how people actually find their way into meaningful work. What started with her own storytelling project, Brown Girl Green, has grown into a national hub connecting more than 150,000 job seekers with over 700 climate-focused companies and organizations.

Through online resources, career summits, and community building, Green Jobs Board has helped thousands of people, many of them women and young, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC) professionals, discover opportunities and take their first steps into climate careers.

MOTIVATION

“My passion for Green Jobs Board comes from living through the frustration of wanting to make a difference on climate but not knowing how to turn that urgency into a career. I graduated from UC Berkeley's environmental program with honors and still felt lost; bouncing between ideas, taking whatever jobs I could find, and eventually getting laid off. That experience of being passionate but directionless, qualified but struggling to break in, showed me how broken the pathway into climate work really is.

What drives me now is seeing that struggle reflected in thousands of others. When I started sharing job opportunities on social media and it went viral, I realized I wasn't alone. There’s this massive gap between people who desperately want to contribute to climate solutions and the actual pathways to doing that work.

But it's also personal in a deeper way. Growing up, I watched people in the Philippines weave plastic bags into purses. I saw fishermen teach sustainable practices passed down through generations. These weren't people with environmental degrees or access to "green jobs," but they were creating positive impact every single day. That taught me that climate work isn't just for people who fit a certain mould, it's for everyone, and we need everyone.

What keeps me going is the belief that we can't solve the climate crisis without getting the right people into the right roles, and right now we're leaving too much talent on the sidelines. Every day someone can't find their climate job is another day we're not operating at full capacity to address this crisis. Green Jobs Board exists to change that; to build the infrastructure that makes climate careers accessible to people from all backgrounds, especially those who've been historically shut out of the "green world." This work matters because the planet doesn't have time for us to keep gatekeeping who gets to be part of the solution.”

IMPACT

• Reached 150,000+ job seekers and connected them with over 700 climate-oriented companies.

• Helped 70% women and majority BIPOC job seekers aged 18-44 access climate career opportunities.

• Organized two large-scale Green Jobs Pavilions and a BIPOC Green Career Summit with 500+ attendees.

• Hosted the 3rd Green Jobs Pavilion (2025) during Climate Week NYC with 1,000 registrants, 27 sessions, and 90+ speakers.

• Built a grassroots, online-to-offline community inspiring thousands to see their skills as climate skills.

• Pioneered conversations on salary transparency, diversity, and accountability in the climate sector.

• Trained and inspired the next generation of climate professionals through storytelling, connection, and community.

ADVICE

“Stop waiting for permission to start. The biggest mistake I see people make is thinking they need the perfect degree, the right connections, or some official stamp of approval before they can contribute to climate solutions. I spent years feeling like I didn't fit the mould of a "traditional" environmentalist, and it held me back. The truth is, we need your unique perspective and skills exactly as they are right now.

Recognize that all work can be climate work. You don't have to work for an environmental nonprofit or install solar panels to make an impact. Are you good at marketing? Help sustainable brands reach more people. Are you a teacher? Educate the next generation about climate solutions. Data analyst? Help organizations measure their impact. The climate movement needs every skill set, and there's a place for whatever you bring to the table.

Build your own table if you can't find a seat. When I got laid off and couldn't break into traditional climate careers, I stopped waiting and started Brown Girl Green which later led me to creating Green Jobs Board. You don't need anyone's approval to start creating content, organizing in your community, or building the thing you wish existed. Some of the most effective climate work happens outside traditional institutions.

Focus on solutions, not just problems. Doom and gloom might get attention, but solutions create action. When you centre your work on what's possible and what's already working, you give people agency and hope. That's what actually moves people from anxiety to engagement.

Take care of yourself. This work is a marathon, not a sprint. Burnout doesn't serve the planet. Rest is resistance. You can't pour from an empty cup, and the climate movement needs you healthy and sustained for the long haul.

Connect with community. Find your people: whether that's online communities, local organizing groups, or professional networks. Climate work can feel isolating and overwhelming when you're alone, but transformative when you're part of something bigger. Share opportunities, lift others up, and let them do the same for you.

Start where you are. You don't need to quit your job tomorrow or move across the country. Start by learning, volunteering an hour a week, using your current platform to amplify climate solutions, or simply having conversations that shift how people in your circle think about sustainability. Small actions make a huge difference.”

CONTACT

LinkedIn

Instagram | Kristy Drutman

Instagram | Green Jobs Board

Website | Brown Girl Green

Website | Green Jobs Board