Tania Laden

Professional Background

Tania Laden is a dynamic social entrepreneur and innovator dedicated to creating economic opportunities for young people across the globe. With a diverse and impactful career spanning various sectors, Tania has made significant inroads in the fields of sustainable energy, social good, and economic empowerment, particularly for women and youth. As the co-founder of LivelyHoods, a pioneering non-profit organization based in Kenya, she has been at the forefront of transforming lives through the introduction of clean energy products in underprivileged communities. LivelyHoods is a testament to Tania's commitment to social impact, having created dignified employment opportunities for over 4,000 women and youth via its door-to-door sales force, while distributing an impressive 50,000 clean energy products to slum communities around Kenya.

Initially serving as the Operations Director, Tania played a crucial role in shaping the organizational structure and strategy of LivelyHoods. She undertook the design of a comprehensive recruitment process and training curriculum tailored for the sales team, ensuring they were well-equipped with the skills necessary to succeed. Tania also ground her marketing strategies in behavior change communications, a critical approach to creating demand for innovative clean-energy technologies. Moreover, she established core operational processes focused on product procurement, last-mile logistics, and impact measurement, laying the foundation for LivelyHoods’ success. Today, in her capacity as Executive Director, Tania embodies a visionary leader, representing LivelyHoods within networks of funders and peer organizations, advocating for sustainable energy and women’s empowerment initiatives.

Education and Achievements

Tania’s extensive education and credentials further underscore her expertise and leadership in the sectors she operates within. She holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard Kennedy School, a prestigious institution known for shaping future leaders in public policy and governance. Additionally, Tania earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society from Stanford University, which provided her with a strong foundation in understanding the intersection of technology, society, and sustainability.

Her contributions and leadership have not gone unnoticed. Tania has received several accolades throughout her career, including being named an Inspiring Role Model by the 2020 Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition. She was recognized for her leadership and her efforts to inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs in the clean energy sector. Additionally, in 2019, she was honored by the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York as a Collective Member, which acknowledges women social entrepreneurs who leverage their Jewish values and a gender lens to address critical issues faced by women and girls globally.

In 2018, Tania was the recipient of the International Award from the Clean Energy Education and Empowerment (C3E) Initiative. This award highlights mid-career women who have made significant contributions in clean energy leadership and is backed by esteemed institutions like the U.S. Department of Energy, MIT Energy Institute, and Texas A&M Energy Institute. Furthermore, she was a Global Social Benefit Institute (GSBI) Fellow at Santa Clara University’s Miller Center for Social Innovation in 2016, which focuses on empowering entrepreneurs dedicated to addressing global poverty. Her work has also been featured in PBS Newshour, where she was recognized as an "Agent of Change" for her impactful initiatives through LivelyHoods.

Achievements

• 2020: Recognized as Energy Transition Role Model by the Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition.
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• 2019: Collective Member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New York.
• 2018: C3E International Award Winner for outstanding leadership in clean energy.
• 2016: GSBI Fellow at Santa Clara University, an empowering program for social entrepreneurs.
  • Link: Watch Video
• 2012: Featured as an "Agent of Change" on PBS Newshour, highlighting her leadership at LivelyHoods.
  • Link: Watch Video