My Mission is… to solve the world’s most important but often overlooked problems by building and curating solutions that apply human intellect and technology.
By Karen Wang
Age:30
MY BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT SO FAR HAS BEEN… building Climind—taking an idea from 0 to 1 and turning it into a real, growing solution for one of humanity’s most profound and overlooked challenges: climate change. It’s not just about starting a company. It’s about building a team from scratch, convincing people to bet on you, and developing a product that people not only use, but pay for, because it solves real, painful problems. Today, we have a team of 10 spread across the world. We’re expanding from Hong Kong to Singapore, the U.S., and Europe. And we’re working with some of the most respected clients in industry, finance, academia, consulting, and research. This journey has been about more than metrics or milestones—it’s about building technology that matters. I’m proud to have played the role of architect, building both a team and a solution that can contribute to a
better future.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?
Discovering and understanding myself—especially in the context of relationship with the world. What I’ve learned is that life is full of uncertainty. And uncertainty is hard—I like to have direction. I like to be in control—not in a rigid way, but in a way that gives me clarity. The hardest part is that no one can give you that direction. You have to define it for yourself. That process is deeply personal and sometimes really painful. I’m still learning. I’m not doing a perfect job, but I don’t think anyone is. And that, to me, is the real challenge—being human and doing it well.
A GREAT PIECE OF ADVICE:
You can be both soft and strong. Experiencing vulnerability is one of the bravest things you can do.
It trains you to become the strongest version of yourself—stronger than you could ever imagine.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR GENERATION?
Our quiet resilience—and our readiness to catch the next wave, even when we didn’t create the first. That readiness—to quietly prepare, to keep going, and to believe that we will be ready when it’s our turn—is what inspires me most about my generation.
BIGGEST OBSTACLE FACING WOMEN AND GIRLS TODAY:
The pressure to be everything—at once. You’re expected to be a good daughter, a good girlfriend, a good wife, a good mom. But at the same time you’re also expected to “have your own thing”—a career, ambitions, something you’re building for yourself. And while that sounds empowering, the truth is society still often holds women to a double standard.
ONE WAY TO HELP:
Talk to your friends and family, email people you respect. You will be surprised at how much they want to, and can, help you.
MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE:
Tackling the unobvious but most important things, such as climate change—not just as an environmental issue, but as a human, economic, and generational challenge. That’s why I’ve dedicated myself to this cause—not only through research and advocacy through my UN SDG [Sustainable Development Goals] Young Leader appointment, but by building real tools and technologies that help people make better decisions, faster.
RECOMMEND ONE BOOK, FILM, OR SONG: The book The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine.
THE WOMEN WHO INSPIRE ME ARE… Amal Alamuddin.
You can find karen at…@wanghanyuan.karen on Instagram.
