Joanna Klimczak (MPP 2016) has spent the past 15 years at the forefront of global sustainability, using business, investment and policy to drive climate action. A Rhodes Scholar and Master of Public Policy alumna, Joanna has built a career aligning private capital with public good – from co-founding global social ventures to unlocking billions in climate investment through finance.
Following the MPP, Joanna joined the Boston Consulting Group, where she advised Fortune 100 companies on pathways to lower their emissions. She later launched and led the Canadian arm of CREO, a global platform that mobilises and supports the deployment of investment capital for climate solutions.
‘I pursued the MPP to learn how systems can be transformed through policymaking, and to obtain that policy tool kit. I came into the BSG having built companies, accelerators and NGOs that were solving societal issues. Meanwhile, I was completely new to the policy world.’
That toolkit enabled her to work across sectors to accelerate change.
Her time at Oxford provided more than just technical knowledge – it also enhanced her ability to think critically and structure large and often abstract problems reflecting societal issues. These have continued to shape her leadership style. The MPP programme gave her new sets of approaches to probleming solving as well. ‘I would not underestimate the value that the MPP programme has to challenge and expand your theory(ies) of change [for the world] including in ways that surface years later’, she says.
One course that stood out was Jonathan Wolff’s philosophy module. ‘In the context of climate action, I regularly confront matters that refer my mind back to essays on justice, utilitarianism and “dirty hands” which we studied in this module. I believe I came out with a more mature view of the world – one that could better appreciate the tradeoffs inherent to any philosophy of change. In other words: every approach to impact, no matter how altruistic in intention, bears a mix of consequences on society or the environment. This should not stop us from acting, but it should certainly challenge us to be sensitive to the consequences we bear with the missions we take on.’ It was this type of conceptual and ethical grounding, coupled with practical policy tools, that deepened Joanna’s approach to tackling global issues.
Beyond the classroom, the MPP also gave her a lifelong network.
'You always have the BSG community to thought partner with, whether or not they're in your field of work. Most BSG alumni, in my experience, are working towards the same broad goal, to use the BSG tagline, “a world better led, better governed, better served”.’
In recent months, Joanna has stepped more directly into public service through active involvement in Canada’s federal election campaign. She served as a special advisor to fellow climate finance advocate Eric St-Pierre, who is now a Member of Parliament. ‘I threw myself into public service on the campaign’, she reflects. ‘I’m proud of what we achieved together. After thousands of door knocks, phone calls, hours of brokering, mobilising and strategy-building together with the team, another decarbonisation-ally is headed to Ottawa.’
Her work on the campaign reinforced her belief in the value of bringing people with diverse professional backgrounds into politics. ‘It further convinced me that our society can benefit from a culture that encourages leaders from across sectors to run for office. Technocrats and experts and social sector leaders and industry builders.'
'As policymakers impact the shape of every sector, electing leaders with wide-ranging domains of expertise can lead to more informed teams and potentially stronger policy proposals down the line.’
The campaign also deepened her appreciation for Canada’s democratic system and the people it serves. ‘Independent of political stripes, those who contributed to the election stood up for Canada in a trying era,’ she says. ‘We need to keep that commitment going and growing. I’m most grateful for the countless stories community members shared trustingly with us about the issues that concerned them most; for the people that jumped in to lend a hand or their insights; and for our democracy to have stood strongly for all Canadians and for the world to see at a time when like-systems in other developed countries are being challenged.’
Looking ahead, Joanna is focused on continuing to build Canada’s clean economy. ‘Our newly elected government – rightfully in my view – wants to build the strongest economy in the G7. By working together across sectors, we can ensure that renewables, nature, and decarbonised solutions take priority at the pitch table.’
But first – a wedding! Joanna and fellow alumni Connor Lyons will be getting married this June, a joyful milestone in a journey defined by service, leadership and a shared MPP foundation.