Sarah is a Principal at Zero Carbon and is based in London. She holds a PhD in Bioprocess Engineering, and has held a number of roles supporting the commercialisation of scientific innovation. This includes working in university tech transfer offices at Imperial and Oxford, and at the Creative Destruction Lab accelerator, where she launched and led the Climate program.
“Growing up in Africa, my Father was a wildlife ecologist.”
That's where my love of the environment began, and my interest in how humans impact nature. The more I studied science, the more I became fascinated by applied science and how we can use it to make a change. I did a post-doctorate, but staying in a lab isn't me. I was more interested in 'how can you make a company around this?
“My skills combine science and business.”
I studied biochemistry, microbiology, and did my PhD in algae biotech. It gives me the knowledge and vocabulary to work with and assess science founders. But I've also been closely involved with accelerators led by successful exited entrepreneurs, so I understand what does and doesn't work when you build a tech company.
“Build rapport in a way that works for you.”
You have to be able to connect with people to grow your business, but do it your way. Some of our founders are natural introverts, but they're very successful at networking because they know how to spend their energy, and they show up in a way that's authentic.
Sarah recommends

This site and the book Not the End of the World (both by Hannah Ritchie) for interesting stats and excellent graphics on the things we consume and produce and their impact.

Michael Liebreich talks to a range of great minds tackling climate from political leaders, to leading scientists and economists.

A moving, motivational book with stories from 60 women from science, policy and litigation to re-imagining the future through sci-fi.


