Sophia Kianni

Founder of Climate Cardinals & Youngest Appointed United Nations Advisor

Sophia Kianni

Founder of Climate Cardinals & Youngest Appointed United Nations Advisor

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Biography

Sophia Kianni is an Iranian-American social entrepreneur and activist. She studied at Stanford University and is the founder of Climate Cardinals, the world’s largest youth-led climate nonprofit, with 16,000 volunteers in 80+ countries. She is also a founder of Phia, a forthcoming digital fashion platform, alongside Stanford peer Phoebe Gates. She is the youngest United Nations advisor in US history and was most recently appointed to serve on the EPA’s National Youth Advisory Council.

Sophia has amassed a following of over 300,000 across social media platforms and her work has been profiled by The New York Times, CNN, Vogue, Business Insider, BBC, NPR, ELLE, The Guardian, NBC, and even on the front page of The Washington Post. She has also authored opinion pieces for outlets such as TIME Magazine, MTV News, Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, and Yale Climate Connections.

Sophia is a prolific storyteller and has spoken at universities across the world including Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge, and Princeton. She won the TED global idea competition and her debut TED Talk has 2+ million views. She has sat on boards and advisory councils for The New York Times, World Economic Forum, Ashoka, American Lung Association, Reform Alliance, and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.

She has been named VICE Media's youngest Human of the Year, a National Geographic Young Explorer, on Business Insider’s Climate Action 30, among BBC’s 100 Women, and to Forbes 30 under 30.

Speaker Videos

Activist Sophia Kianni Cuts Her Hair in Protest for Women’s Rights | Global Citizen Festival 2023

CGI 2023 | Story Studio with Sophia Kianni

Sophia Kianni Introduces The Solv[ED] Youth Innovators at Solve At MIT 2023

Language Shouldn't Be a Barrier to Climate Action | Sophia Kianni | TED Countdown

Is climate salvation lost in translation? | Sophia Kianni

Kianni on accountability and the individual carbon footprint

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Speech Topics

The Key To Success? Chasing Impact

True success comes from giving to others—focusing on creating positive value for the world and continually evolving your method of impact. This journey began for me at 18 when I founded my nonprofit, Climate Cardinals, to translate climate information into hundreds of languages to reach a global audience. By cultivating a community and focusing on learning, I furthered our impact by joining the UN as a climate advisor. Now, with my latest venture, Phia, I'm building a fashion technology platform to advance sustainability. Others can find their own success by identifying a guiding mission and allowing it to evolve through different phases of their careers. One concrete step to replicate this is to start by volunteering or working on projects that align with your passion. This not only helps you gain experience and skills but also allows you to build a network of like-minded individuals who can support and amplify your mission. Over time, let this mission guide your choices, be open to learning and adapting, and seek opportunities to scale your impact.

How To Change The World: Activism 101

When Sophia was 12 years old, she looked up at the night sky in Iran and realized that she couldn't see the stars due to pollution. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of the environmental degradation that impacts the most vulnerable populations on our planet. Her middle school advocacy has led her to start an internationally acclaimed nonprofit, Climate Cardinals, and work as the youngest advisor to the United Nations Secretary-General. Sophia believes that in this digital age, anyone can make a difference through the power of social media and mass mobilization. In this inspiring presentation, she will share how anyone can make a difference by sparking a movement or starting an initiative.

Creating a Culture of Impact: Leading with Purpose in Business

Businesses today are increasingly expected to do more than just turn a profit—they're also being called to contribute to the greater good. Sophia will discuss how leaders can embed purpose into their business models, drive innovation with impact in mind, and build brands that resonate with socially conscious consumers.

Women in Leadership: Breaking Barriers & Building Legacies

Despite progress, women still face significant challenges in leadership roles across all sectors. Drawing from her journey as a young woman starting two major initiatives, Sophia will discuss the importance of representation, the power of mentorship, and how women can support each other in breaking through glass ceilings to build impactful legacies. In this deeply personal talk, she shares the hurdles she has overcome and the lessons she has learned along the way. This speech is a must for audiences who are passionate about gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the importance of mentorship and community in breaking through barriers.

Climate Advocacy & Youth Leadership: If Adults Won't Take Action to Protect Our Future, Youth Will

In middle school, Sophia brought up her concerns about climate change to her relatives and was shocked when they told her they knew nothing about global warming. She later learned that 40 percent of adults on Earth have never heard of climate change. Kids back in the day used to skip school to play hooky; now, they're skipping school to fight for their futures. As a national strategist for Fridays for Future, Sophia worked alongside Greta Thunberg to mobilize millions of students to strike for climate action. After decades of inaction by the government, the young generation has finally decided to take matters into their own hands. Through this presentation, Sophia will provide a look into the dynamic world of youth climate activism and sketch out what life is like for the teenagers saving our planet.

Building a Global Community: The Role of Collaboration in Social Change

No one changes the world alone. Sophia has learned that the most effective change happens through collaboration. In this speech, she shares her experiences in building a global community, emphasizing the importance of partnerships across borders and sectors. Ideal for audiences focused on social impact, collaboration, and community building, this talk provides a roadmap for working together to create lasting change.

The Digital Age of Activism: Mobilizing Movements Online

In an era where the internet has become a powerful tool for change, Sophia has successfully used digital platforms to mobilize millions for climate action. Through this speech, she shares her insights on how to build and sustain impactful movements online, drawing from her experience with Climate Cardinals and Fridays for Future. This talk is perfect for audiences interested in digital activism, social media strategy, and the future of advocacy.

Testimonials

"Sophia was a lively speaker at our panel, distinguishing herself as a passionate leader with a sternly unique vision and powerful insights to initiate global change. At Panel to the People, we always stressed that conversations are give-and-take, and Sophia perhaps best embodied that spirit through her amazing ability to form insights across different domains of work. She was a dynamic panelist and contributed significantly to our vibrant discussion through her interdisciplinary insights. Through her compelling message and powerful delivery, she inspired me and our many attendees. As a highly passionate and eloquent student, activist, and changemaker, I strongly recommend Sophia for any future speaking engagements."

- Baltimore Ethical Society

"She was very impressive, speaking from her own experiences and perspective as a young woman in the movement, which made it personal and distinctive. She was organized, confident, professional, and prompt. She overviewed her speech before getting into the presentation, stayed within her time, and answered questions thoroughly and concisely. I appreciated that her presentation was a visual aid to her speech, rather than text that was being read verbatim. She’s a very empowering role model, especially for young women of color. Sophia’s speech brought up topics of environmental justice such as indigenous rights, intergenerational learning, disability rights, and environmental racism, sexism, and ageism. She also offered ways for people to get involved at multiple levels as well as structural changes needed to forward the movement. Sophia really was inspirational in her knowledge and passion and is a terrific speaker."

- St. Louis Earth Day Festival

"We at MUN Impact work to empower students around the world to take action for the SDGs and believe that their youth is not a disadvantage, in fact it is a strength. Ms. Sophia Kianni’s work is testament to that very statement and hence, we were delighted to have her present at the MUN Impact Global Summit 2020. Her passion for environmental advocacy shined through in the enthusiastic manner in which she delivered critical information on the climate crisis and proposed solutions to the same. Though climate change is an issue we’ve heard of frequently, Ms. Kianni was able to re-ignite curiosity and zest in our audience for the cause. Her journey with the Climate Cardinals allowed her to cite an inspiring personal story that motivated our audience. She undoubtedly has my full endorsement."

- MUN Impact Global