In this episode, Chante Harris and I address a topic that is all too often overlooked and misunderstood. The issue is public and private investment in infrastructure and innovation that may not yield short term impact and profits but are key to the future of our cities and quality of life. Chante is uniquely positioned to address this and other issues as a go-to-market strategist, Venture Partner at Republic, and renowned influencer and advocate for smart cities, urban innovation, and social impact. Chante makes some incredibly important points about the need, inevitably, and opportunities for smart city transformation. I am going to have her back as a guest in the near future, as 30 minutes was not nearly enough but the best episodes are the ones that leave you wanting more!
Tune in as we discuss
- Using the resources of corporate America to not just make money but to drive social impact
- Chante’s experience as a leader in the movement to transform our cities into smart cities
- Advice for securing pilot projects, undertaking design initiatives, and launching community impact initiatives
- Perspectives on the bubble that has emerged around clean mobility/transportation
- …and more
Learn more about Republic here and read Chante’s recent article featured in the Milken Institute: The Future of Inclusive, Sustainable Cities Relies on Public-Private Partnerships
Bio
Chante Harris is a champion of scaling innovative companies and solutions across the fastest-growing industries through successful go-to-market strategies public-private partnerships. She has worked to scale nationwide campaigns, technologies, and ideas for the Obama Administration, Fortune 500 companies, and startups. As a go-to-market strategist, she has successfully driven long-term expansion for startups and established companies by leading them through the complex processes of winning procurement opportunities, securing pilot projects, undertaking design challenges, and launching community impact initiatives. She has worked to advance Citywide and Statewide initiatives that champion climate change and the circular economy through the deployment of emerging technologies and the creation of corresponding policy.
Named by America on Tech as an Innovator and Disruptor and Women Enews as a Pioneering Woman in Sustainability, she is passionate about civic engagement and a fierce advocate for women and people of color’s representation in climate tech and sustainability. Additionally, she is the co-founder of Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS), an ecosystem and marketplace for women of color to build their careers, create professional success and advance their well-being. Chante was selected as part of Summit’s inaugural Impact Fellowship class and currently serves as a Senior Summit Fellow. She is based in New York City, where she serves as a Go-to-Market Mentor for the virtual accelerator, Impact by Women, Vice-Chair of Diversity for Teach For America-New York’s Associate Board, and an Emerging Leader for New York Women’s Foundation.