Sonali is a creative climate strategist, entrepreneur, and founder of We Free Trees — a climate and innovation hub strengthening the connection between climate and culture. Rooted in environmental justice and cultural empowerment, she believes cultural relatability must be embedded in climate education, workforce pathways, entrepreneurship, and innovation to create long-term, community-centered solutions.

Her work sits at the intersection of equity, sustainability, and innovation, where she designs and implements transformative initiatives that expand climate opportunity, shift environmental narratives, and activate community ownership. Sonali partners with community-based organizations, mission-driven institutions, municipalities and leaders, entrepreneurs, and government stakeholders to build regenerative local economies through climate innovation, climate education and training, workforce development, creative engagement, and community investment.

Her Story

Sonali has supported nonprofits, municipalities, MWBEs, startups, and public and private sector leaders in designing and scaling initiatives at the intersection of climate and social equity. Her work includes leading climate, environment, and clean-energy career pathways; advancing climate education and training programs; developing creative community-engagement models; advising climate founders; and activating programming that makes climate solutions accessible, culturally grounded, and community-owned. She has worked at North America's largest climate-tech incubator, contributed to national equity-centered climate initiatives, and built youth-centered climate career pathways in underrepresented communities.

Her commitment to justice and cultural inclusion reflects a lifelong mission: to ensure communities can see themselves in — and benefit from — the climate transition. While at university, she launched an award-winning anti-racism initiative supported by students, faculty, and alumni of color, which scaled nationally and earned her a full academic scholarship for her MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

In 2024, Sonali became the youngest recipient of the New England Women in Energy & Environment Rising Star Award. Today, she continues advancing local and international impact — from supporting clean-energy workforce development in the U.S. to leading innovation and capacity-building efforts for clean-energy ecosystems in Uganda.

A Georgia native — a Southern belle at heart — now leading work across Boston, Atlanta, and Uganda, Sonali is forging global pathways that unite culture and climate. She increases awareness, drives direct investment into underrepresented communities, and develops long-term strategies that help communities of color build economic mobility, climate leadership, and generational impact.