Suggestions
Whitney Johnston Ph.D.
Sustainability Director | Innovation Strategist | Creating & implementing business solutions at scale
Dr. Whitney Johnston is the Director of Ocean Sustainability at Salesforce, a position she has held since June 2021. In this role, she is responsible for leveraging Salesforce's capabilities to promote ocean health through various initiatives, including policy advocacy, technology development, and stakeholder engagement. Her appointment coincided with Salesforce's efforts to enhance its impact on ocean ecosystems, particularly in response to climate change and plastic pollution challenges.12
Background and Education
Dr. Johnston holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. She also has a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining Salesforce, she served as an Ocean Policy Adviser to U.S. Congressman Sam Farr and worked at IdeaScale, where she was involved in innovation strategy and sustainability initiatives.24
Vision and Initiatives
In her role at Salesforce, Dr. Johnston emphasizes the critical connection between ocean health and broader societal issues such as inequality and climate change. She has articulated that "ocean health shows up in everyone’s lives," highlighting the importance of sustainable practices for both ecological and economic wellbeing.13 Under her leadership, Salesforce has developed an Ocean Sustainability Program, focusing on three key areas: Nature, Clean, and Nourish, aimed at protecting ecosystems, reducing pollution, and promoting sustainable sourcing from the oceans.34
Dr. Johnston's work reflects a growing recognition among corporations of their responsibility towards environmental sustainability, particularly concerning ocean conservation.34
