Growald Climate Fund’s leader since its inception in 2007, Joanna is guided by a mission to catalyze climate innovation and impact, mentor bold leaders, invest in promising solutions, and support radical collaboration to address the climate crisis. 

Joanna brings over 20 years of experience in venture philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and business planning to the field of climate philanthropy. Prior to Growald, Joanna ran Positive Ventures, a philanthropic and social enterprise strategy consulting firm. Before that she was associate director of REDF (previously Roberts Enterprise Development Fund), a leading venture philanthropy fund, and director at NESsT Consulting and Enterprise Development, where she helped launch and implement the NESsT Venture Fund, investing in social enterprises throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Latin America.

Joanna received her bachelor’s from Oberlin College and master’s in business administration from the University of Massachusetts. Having grown up off the grid, she brings a deeply rooted ethic of sustainability to both her role at GCF and her own household. Joanna is an avid salsa dancer.