Keynote Speaker Media Kit

  • Molly Kawahata is a strategist, public speaker, advocate, and former Climate Advisor at the Obama White House. She is the Founder of Systemic Impact Strategies, a consultancy specializing in organizational development, climate strategy, and communications. Her life story, depicted in Patagonia's film, THE SCALE OF HOPE (2022), intimately explores her pursuit of climbing steep ice faces in Alaska, her personal struggle with mental health, and her work to transform societal narratives by infusing them with hope and empowerment. The film has resonated with audiences worldwide, amassing over one million views on YouTube, streaming on Delta Airlines, and being inducted into the permanent collection at the New York Museum of Modern Art. Molly has been asked to speak at institutions such as Google, Nike, Harvard, the U.S. Congress, global IMAX audiences, and the Kennedy Center presidential monument. She is an Advisory Board Member to the Environmental Voter Project and an Advisory Council Member to the AAPI Victory Fund. In her free time, Molly is an avid ice climber, with a particular passion for scaling technical ice routes in Montana and the Central Alaska Range. An introduction to the film can be viewed here.

  • Audiovisual (AV) and Technical Requirements

    To ensure a seamless presentation, we kindly request the following AV setup:

    Lavaliere microphone (lapel mic) [REQUIRED] - Presentation will not be able to proceed with a handheld mic

    Clicker / Wireless presenter

    One of the below videos is shown in between the introduction and Molly walking on stage:

    Intro video [Non-climate events]

    Intro video [Climate events]

    Projector and screen for displaying slides and videos

    Audio system with sufficient sound coverage for the audience size [Presentations often involve showing video clips with audio]

    Solid wireless connectivity

    A backup microphone, if possible

    FILM SCREENINGS: Any additional AV equipment needed for film screening

    IMPORTANT: If you would like the Speaker to display slides from her computer, it is crucial to verify that your equipment is suitable for compatibility with a 2023 Macbook equipped with a USB-C port.

    Large Events / Professional AV

    For large events and/or events with professional AV, we request a 30-minute tech rehearsal on stage the day before for Molly to:

    Confirm DSM placement

    Confirm audio signal in PPT slides

    Click through all slides

    View opening video played on Playback Pro

    Approve Stage lighting levels and House lighting levels

    NOTE: Molly needs to be able to see her audience. House lighting control is preferable.

    Discuss all flow of her performance and how it is incorporated with rest of event, with Technical director, producer and/or show caller.

    NOTE: Molly’s team will provide slides in advance (in PPT format).

  • Stage Clear: Ensure that the stage is entirely empty and free from any podiums, chairs, or side tables. No items should be placed on the stage.

    Stage Timer: A visible timer within the Speaker's view

    Stage Dimensions and Set-Up: Please send stage specs and/or photos in advance of event to katie@systemicstrategies.com.

    NOTE: Please let us know in advance if there will be a confidence monitor on the stage. A teleprompter and/or presenter view are not needed for Molly’s presentations.

  • The following films are often used to introduce Molly to the stage:

    2-minute intro video [Non-climate events]

    2-minute intro video [Climate events]

  • The Speaker retains all intellectual property rights in the presentation, including content and associated recordings. We allow organizations to record the presentation for their members (i.e. password-protected internal platforms). Speaker's full presentation should not be shared in its entirety on public platforms (i.e. YouTube), but short clips (<30 secs) can be shared on social media with permission from Speaker or her representative. In line with our standard procedure, we ask that we are provided a copy of all recorded content related to the presentation within 10 days of the event.

    If you're considering any uses beyond what's mentioned above, including commercial purposes or wider distribution, please reach out to Katie Johnson at katie@systemicstrategies.com.

  • Please find headshot file here.

  • LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/mollykawahata

    YouTube: youtube.com/@mollykawahata

    Instagram: @mollykawahata

    Twitter: @mollykawahata

    Facebook: facebook.com/MollyKawahata

    TikTok: @mollykawahata

  • Patagonia Film - The Scale of Hope [Full film]

    Speaker Reel

  • We are committed to ensuring a successful and impactful event, and we look forward to working closely with you to make this event memorable. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to:

    Katie Johnson (katie@systemicstrategies.com).Item description