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VP & Head of Sustainable Finance, IWBI: The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 Awardee
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"Bold leadership in sustainability means daring to innovate and challenge the status quo to create a better future. Embracing boldness has empowered me to lead transformative initiatives and drive meaningful change across global markets." - Minjia Yang, VP & Head of Sustainable Finance, IWBI, United States & The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 (#SustXGlobal50) Awardee
Minjia Yang is a dynamic force in sustainable finance, currently serving as the Vice President & Head of Sustainable Finance at the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI). With more than a decade of expertise in ESG, sustainable finance, and social sustainability, Minjia has established herself as a visionary leader who combines innovative finance strategies with a steadfast commitment to social equity and environmental responsibility. At IWBI, she oversees the Sustainable Finance Task Force, where she has driven the integration of the WELL Standard with global sustainability regulations and frameworks, including alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Her bold, pioneering approach has transformed how social sustainability is incorporated into corporate investment strategies, enhancing IWBI’s impact and positioning the organization as a leader in promoting health, well-being, and equity in the built environment.
Prior to IWBI, Minjia served as Vice President of Delos Asia, where she founded and led over ten subsidiaries and joint ventures. She launched the first venture capital fund focused on wellness technology for the built environment, positioning Delos as a critical player in advancing wellness and sustainability innovations across Asia. Minjia’s multifaceted experience spans finance, technology, public policy, and environmental sustainability, equipping her with the unique ability to address the complex, interdisciplinary challenges facing the sustainability sector today. Her leadership has not only enhanced IWBI’s global influence but has also inspired a collaborative network committed to advancing sustainable development on a broad scale.
A recipient of the 2024 UN SDG Pioneer award for her contributions to sustainable finance in the USA, Minjia’s work exemplifies a high-impact blend of strategic vision and pragmatic action. Her leadership on the IWBI Sustainable Finance Task Force and the Investing for Health Advisory provides a platform for cross-sector collaboration, uniting stakeholders in the pursuit of innovative, socially responsible investment strategies. Through these initiatives, Minjia fosters an environment of continuous learning, mentorship, and bold decision-making, nurturing the next generation of leaders dedicated to creating sustainable change.
For Minjia, bold leadership in sustainability is about courage, creativity, and a willingness to challenge the status quo. By spearheading the alignment of the WELL Standard with ESG principles and regulatory frameworks, she has introduced new pathways for impactful sustainable finance solutions. She has also built a reputation as a thought leader, frequently speaking at global forums such as the United Nations, the Geospatial World Forum, and the World Urban Forum, where she shares her expertise on sustainable finance and the social dimensions of sustainability.
Receiving this award marks a significant milestone in Minjia's career, underscoring her commitment to advancing social sustainability through financial innovation. Personally, it strengthens her resolve to push boundaries in the sustainable finance sector. Professionally, it highlights IWBI’s role in setting new standards for health, equity, and sustainability in the global finance community. This recognition celebrates Minjia's achievements and serves as a call to action, inspiring continued bold leadership in creating a sustainable and inclusive future.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024
The SustainabilityX® Magazine proudly presents its third edition of the Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ for 2024. This annual recognition celebrates extraordinary female leaders who embrace boldness in their pursuit of groundbreaking sustainability initiatives, reshaping industries, and driving transformative change towards a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future.
This year also marks a broader strategic mission expansion for The SustainabilityX® Magazine, with a stronger focus on aligning with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) in addition to the original foundation of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This evolutionary expansion reflects the magazine’s ongoing commitment to advancing women's leadership in sustainability while championing social equity, environmental stewardship, and inclusive growth.
“Empowering women to lead in sustainability is at the heart of our mission,” says Supriya Verma, founder of The SustainabilityX® Magazine and one of Corporate Knights' Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership and one of The Peak's Emerging Leaders. “These trailblazers are breaking barriers and redefining what sustainable leadership looks like—showing that it’s about more than policies and practices, but also about social justice, economic resilience, and a regenerative future.”
Rooted in the magazine's guiding pillars of environmental protection, economic prosperity, social inclusion, and ethical governance, The SustainabilityX® Magazine's Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ showcases women from all sectors, industries, and regions, igniting crucial conversations on the intersection of gender equality and sustainable development.
Amidst global challenges and uncertainties, this year’s awards highlight the critical role of women in steering the world towards a more resilient, equitable future. With a continued digital format, the awards amplify voices across borders, bridging the gap between global sustainability efforts and local impact.
As Verma states, “The future of sustainability hinges on bold, inclusive leadership, and these women exemplify the courage and vision needed to transform our world. The SustainabilityX® Magazine remains steadfast in our mission to celebrate and elevate those who are shaping a future where every voice counts and every effort contributes to a thriving, sustainable world.”
View the full list: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards 2024
Read the full press release: The SustainabilityX® Magazine Announces 3rd Annual Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ Under the Theme "Embrace Boldness"
About The SustainabilityX® Magazine
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
The SustainabilityX® Magazine is built upon the four foundational pillars of sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, which emphasizes the importance of improving environmental health; Economic Prosperity, which promotes sustainable economic growth that transcends traditional capitalist models; Social Inclusion, which focuses on equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized or vulnerable communities; and Just Governance, which highlights responsible leadership, the equal application of the rule of law, and the creation of fair systems for all.
As we expand our mission to align with the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), we continue to explore the diverse and interconnected factors that influence sustainability. By recognizing how these elements interact across local, national, and international levels, we aim to accelerate progress toward sustainability goals. In essence, this aligns with The SustainabilityX® Magazine's vision of integrating environmental and economic progress for a more just, inclusive, and sustainable future through thoughtful dialogue.
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