As one of few women of color leading a venture-backed environmental technology company, Dr. Sarah Chen is transforming not just forest management but also industry representation. The Amber Grove CEO has become an influential advocate for diversity in both tech and conservation fields, areas traditionally dominated by homogeneous leadership.

Chen’s advocacy is rooted in her personal experience navigating male-dominated spaces in both computer science and environmental fields. After completing her undergraduate degree in Computer Science, she worked briefly in Silicon Valley before pursuing doctoral studies in Environmental Sciences at Stanford. This journey through two fields with significant diversity challenges informed her commitment to creating more inclusive pathways for others.

“The environmental challenges we face require diverse perspectives,” Chen emphasizes in her frequent speaking engagements at industry conferences and universities. “We need people with different backgrounds, different ways of thinking, bringing their unique insights to these complex problems.”

This commitment is reflected in Amber Grove’s organizational structure and culture. The company has implemented recruitment practices specifically designed to attract underrepresented talent, resulting in a workforce that significantly outperforms industry averages for diversity in both technical and leadership roles. Chen has established mentorship programs for early-career staff from underrepresented backgrounds, creating pathways to leadership that might otherwise be inaccessible.

Beyond internal initiatives, Amber Grove has established scholarship programs for underrepresented students in environmental science and technology fields, supporting the next generation of diverse talent. The company’s internship program partners with historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) to create pipelines for diverse talent into the emerging field of conservation technology.

Chen’s approach to diversity extends beyond demographic representation to diversity of knowledge systems and perspectives. Amber Grove has developed partnerships with Indigenous land management groups to incorporate traditional ecological knowledge into their AI systems, recognizing that effective forest stewardship must integrate multiple ways of understanding ecological relationships.

“Indigenous communities have been managing forests sustainably for thousands of years,” Chen notes. “Their knowledge systems contain insights that Western science is only beginning to appreciate. Technology should amplify rather than replace these perspectives.”

This integration of diverse knowledge systems has yielded concrete technological innovations. The company’s fire prediction algorithms, for example, incorporate traditional knowledge about seasonal burn patterns alongside modern climate data, creating more accurate predictive models than either approach could achieve alone.

Chen’s influence has extended into investment circles as well. When raising Amber Grove’s Series A funding, she specifically sought out diverse investment partners, ultimately securing backing from several funds focused on underrepresented founders. This approach has helped challenge investment patterns that have historically directed venture capital primarily to white male founders.

Her recognition in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” for Environmental Innovation has elevated her visibility as a role model for young women and people of color considering careers at the intersection of technology and environmental fields. Chen regularly speaks at STEM education events targeting underrepresented youth, sharing her journey from computer science student to environmental technology founder.

“You can’t be what you can’t see,” Chen remarks. “I hope my presence in this space shows young people from all backgrounds that they belong in both technology and environmental leadership.”

As Amber Grove continues its growth trajectory—currently projecting $12 million in annual revenue for 2024 with 85 employees across multiple locations—Chen’s leadership demonstrates how diversity can drive both innovation and business success in the emerging field of environmental technology.