PIONEER IN HOPE-CENTERED WORK CULTURES. AWARD-WINNING SPEAKER. SUBJECT OF PATAGONIA FILM. FORMER OBAMA WHITE HOUSE ADVISOR.

Molly Kawahata is an award-winning speaker, strategist, ice climber, and former climate advisor to the Obama White House who specializes in unlocking the transformative potential of hope within organizations. Her expertise centers around utilizing the science of hope as a catalyst for positive change, with a particular focus on cultivating transformative leadership, reshaping work cultures, and revitalizing brand and societal narratives. Molly's strategies have helped organizations bolster retention, productivity, morale, and employee mental health. 

Dubbed "the hope whisperer," Molly has proven that hope is not a fluffy concept—it's one of the most effective strategies at our disposal. And there is a lot of research to back it.

Molly's remarkable life story, depicted in the acclaimed and award-winning Patagonia film, THE SCALE OF HOPE (2022), delves into her pursuit of climbing steep mountains in Alaska, her personal journey living with a mental illness, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment. Her story has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views on YouTube, streaming on Delta Airlines, and being inducted into the permanent collection of the New York Museum of Modern Art.

Molly is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy advising leading brands, NGOs, foundations, filmmakers, content producers, campaigns, and CEOs on climate strategy, organizational development, communications, and branded content with a focus on systemic solutions that drive real impact.

Molly’s impactful keynotes and workshops, as well as her profound insights into hope-based leadership and transformation, have made her a sought-after speaker with prominent institutions and organizations, including the Kennedy Center Presidential Monument, the U.S. Capitol, Google, Nike, Harvard, and global IMAX audiences. Her presentations have resonated globally with audiences ranging from CEOs to tech companies, activists to universities, entrepreneurs to venture capitalists, Members of Congress to the public at large. 

Molly leverages profound insights in behavioral change to empower individuals and organizations to not only envision a brighter future, but also realize their collective power to create it.