A message from Ana on leaving Youth Climate Lab

“Even when it’s time to go, it feels impossible to leave.”  Rebecca Fishman Lipsey.

I don’t think I’ve opened up a written piece with a quote since my undergraduate admissions essay, but here we are. Since Dom and I started Youth Climate Lab in 2017, I've known the time would come when it was right for me to step away. A time when the organization was at a stable place, and it felt like the best of my skills had been put to use. For me, that time has come. As of August 27th, 2021, I will be stepping down from my capacity as Managing Director at Youth Climate Lab. 

Four years ago, Dom envisioned Youth Climate Lab, and trusted me to join her in making that vision a reality. Since then, thanks to our incredible team and a great deal of support, privilege, and effort, it has grown into an international organization with an impact that truthfully still blows my mind. 

Financially, and operationally, we are the strongest we’ve ever been - something I’m immensely proud of, and deeply grateful for. Over the last six months, our Board of Directors, coaches, and team have been working hard to ensure a smooth succession strategy is in place. Today, we are confident we have the team and structures in place to sustain and scale our work. 

With that all said, the overwhelming feeling I’m left with is gratitude. So let me start with some thanks. 

Thank you to our Board, for the support you’ve provided, and the direction and leadership that has allowed us to build and grow. 

To our partners, funders, and collaborators. Thank you for trusting us, building new projects all over the world with us, and for reimagining futures with us. I’m so excited to see what comes next.

To our team, past and present, thank you for allowing me to learn from you. To laugh (and sometimes cry) with you, for your patience as we figured out what we were doing, but most importantly, for believing and caring about the vision of Youth Climate Lab and the wellbeing of the organization in ways I never imagined.

And to Dom. Words cannot express how much gratitude, admiration, and love I have for you. You and Youth Climate Lab changed my life, and none of it would exist without your vision, dreams, and strategic thinking. I’m forever grateful we got to go on this journey together as co-founders, friends, and work wives. I’m a better person because of you.

This letter is in service to a labour of love, and an acknowledgement that with this chapter ending, new ones are opening. For me, I’m excited to share that I'll be headed to the University of Oxford this fall. And for Youth Climate Lab, the search is now beginning for a new Co-Executive Director that can lead the organization’s efforts towards a more just, climate-resilient world.

-Ana Gonzalez Guerrero

As we here at Youth Climate Lab wish Ana all the best in her continuing journey, we are also readying ourselves to continue ours! We are eager to welcome new ideas and voices in helping lead our efforts. Could one of those voices be yours? If so, we are beginning our search for a new Co-Executive Director to sustain and scale our work. If you or someone you know is interested, check out the job description here!