Our Inspiration
Stanford Climate Ventures is dedicated to the spirit and memory of our friend and fellow climate-tech entrepreneur, Boryana Straubel.
Boryana Straubel
Boryana Straubel (1983-2021) was a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, and advocate for sustainability. As the founding executive director of the Straubel Foundation, she dedicated her life to supporting sustainable development, education, and scientific innovation.
Boryana's memory is an inspirational beacon for Stanford Climate Ventures. Her passion for people, entrepreneurship, and addressing climate change, along with her style and professional contributions, are all uniquely emblematic of the heart of Stanford Climate Ventures and the students and teaching team who participate in the class.
She had the power to shift the energy in the room, uplifting us all. Her focus on human potential and the importance of addressing climate change was central to her life's work. She loved to teach the importance of failure as a tool to help us build into the best versions of ourselves. Boryana was an advocate of bold thinking about the future, high standards, constant innovation, and inclusion. She modelled teamwork, leadership, humility, hard work, grace, pride, and courage.
A Lasting Legacy
- •A dedicated mother of amazing twin boys.
- •A grateful daughter to her remarkable mother, who worked hard to provide for her and plays a loving role in helping raise the twins.
- •An incredible wife and partner to her husband, JB, to whom she shared a deep dedication to building their family together. They met early on at Tesla working long hours and sharing a common set of values around a commitment to make Tesla the strongest and most sustainable company it could be.
- •A loving sister to her brother with whom she cherished their collaborations centered on social and sustainability impact.
- •A devoted social entrepreneur building and co-leading Straubel Foundation and launching a sustainable gold jewelry business Generation Collection.
- •A super engaged Stanford student (MS&E MS, 2019, MSx 2020) with a bold focus on innovation for decarbonization.
- •An uplifting, positive, passionate human committed to making everything around her better. Boryana's early life in Bulgaria seemed to lead her to view many things as precious that many of us take for granted.
"We need to figure out how to create the biggest impact with our limited resources on this planet. My goal is to inspire others to pursue their own version of positive impact."
Boryana's Timeless Messages
Boryana shared her wisdom and insights through various talks and interviews. Her messages continue to inspire entrepreneurs and innovators in the climate space and beyond.
