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A few weeks ago, I had the immense privilege of discussing AI + Ammi-ing + Climate & Sustainability with Dr. Jamila Yamani, one of my personal role models.

Today, we’ll learn about Jamila’s journey from her beginnings in sustainability as a grad student at MIT to currently managing a $100 million investment fund toward decarbonization technologies and her views on how AI will play a role in a cleaner future for our families.

🍃 You’ll discover:

👩‍🌾Let’s dig in!

R: How would you fill in this blank to describe your relationship with AI? __________.ai

J: Novice.ai. I see myself as a novice with AI. I've tried to use it more in both my personal life and work, but I admit my uptake of this technology is not as fast as I thought it was going to be. There are skills, like prompt engineering, that I’m still developing.

R: Can you share your educational and professional journey leading up to your current role at Salesforce?

J: In college, I studied chemical and environmental engineering. I always had a plan to go to med school. After taking the MCAT and even applying to medical schools, my dad and I made a deal: if I got into MIT, I'd drop the med school plan.

Getting into MIT changed my trajectory, and I fully embraced engineering. My time at the National Renewable Energy Lab during my master’s opened my eyes to sustainability and alternative fuels. I also got my first exposure to predictive algorithms and machine learning through this experience.

This journey, enriched by my doctoral studies at Yale and subsequent roles in private equity and venture capital focusing on sustainability, led me to my current role at Salesforce, which I got through a LinkedIn application!

R: Can you share what you’re working on at Salesforce?

J: Salesforce is deeply involved in sustainability efforts. This includes compliance with regulations, managing business risks related to climate change, and supporting emerging climate technologies like carbon dioxide removal (CDR) or sustainable aviation fuel. A key initiative is Salesforce's commitment to the First Movers Coalition to purchase $100 million of CDR credits.

CDR technologies are crucial for addressing climate change, especially when efforts to reduce emissions might not be sufficient. These technologies range from natural solutions like reforestation to engineered solutions like direct air capture. They help remove caron dioxide from the atmosphere, contributing significantly to our goals of reducing global emissions and mitigating climate change impacts.

I’m leading an effort to manage this $100 million fund. This involves funding both natural and engineered solutions, driving down the cost of carbon removal, and accelerating the availability of more efficient and affordable CDR methods to achieve sustainability goals.

R: AI has been an accelerator in a lot of scientific and research efforts. How do you view AI’s role in CDR and sustainability?

J: Artificial intelligence (AI) can help make climate tech like CDR technologies cheaper and better. When you think about the process of innovating new technology, there’s a lot of trial and error involved. AI could help us iterate faster and avoid wasting time on efforts that are likely to fail.

I believe AI especially has the potential to significantly impact various heavy industries like manufacturing, shipping, and production of steel and cement. These sectors are known for their high emissions, and decarbonizing them is a complex process that varies with each industry. AI could offer insights into the most efficient, cost-effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Moreover, as we transition to a cleaner energy future, the amount of fossil fuels we burn must decrease. But major Oil & Gas companies won’t just disappear. Those companies can pivot to producing clean energy, like biofuels or hydrogen. But which one(s) should they focus on? AI could help identify which new commodities a company is best positioned to produce, considering its resources, infrastructure, and market trends. Some companies are working on this in the early stages, and to me, this is one of the most exciting uses of AI.

R: Can you discuss the carbon footprint of AI and its implications for climate change?

J: AI's carbon footprint, particularly from large foundation models, is concerning due to the significant energy consumption and emissions. However, I believe advancements in AI efficiency and specialization will reduce its carbon footprint.

Right now, you can ask ChatGPT how to solve a differential equation and create a recipe based on a list of given ingredients - two very different tasks. More specialized models for specific tasks could be more energy-efficient. It's all about improving the technology while minimizing its environmental impact.

R: You also became an Ammi to 3 through your academic and professional journey! Was there any osmosis, or transfer of skills or lessons, from your research or professional work into your parenting, or vice versa?

J: Parenting, for me, felt like a big science experiment, especially while juggling responsibilities during graduate school and my career. Every parent, regardless of their work situation, faces a myriad of challenges daily.

One vivid example is sleep training my first child, which was incredibly challenging. We kept trying different methods until we found what worked, underscoring the importance of experimentation and adaptability. This process taught me that parenting requires constant problem-solving and testing various approaches to see what best suits your child and family. It's a reminder that kids are resilient, and finding what works is often a matter of trial and error, much like the scientific process.

R: I have to ask this question on behalf of Ammis, like myself, who sometimes feel doom and gloom about the climate and the world we are leaving our kids. Do you have any encouraging words for us?

J: Absolutely. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think there was hope for us to achieve our goals. It's crucial to recognize that individual actions contribute significantly to a more sustainable future.

Over half of the emissions reductions needed come from personal choices. This includes everyday decisions like whether to turn off lights or choose biking over driving. Even though it might seem overwhelming to consider the climate impact of all our choices, it's important to focus on making informed decisions that align with sustainable practices and also make sense for your life.

And it's not just about reducing emissions; it's also about living by the values of not wasting and doing more with less—principles many of us were raised with. Essentially, we can all contribute to a healthier future by practicing moderation and making thoughtful choices.

R: What have you found most important to reinforce to your children in this dynamic world defined by a changing climate and rapidly changing technology?

J: In today's world, it's challenging but crucial to teach them to be proud of who they are. The core of our approach is building self-confidence. We emphasize loving and accepting oneself, regardless of others' opinions. This foundation of self-love and acceptance is what we believe will protect them against the pressures of conformity and comparison.

We stress the importance of being comfortable with their identity and contributions to the world. It's a simple but fundamental principle we aim to instill in them: to be happy with who they are, beyond what anyone else, including AI, might suggest. This approach also involves protecting them from the potential negatives of social media, a challenge that is evolving with AI.

R: Through your personal and professional experience, is there one key piece of advice you have for any Ammis reading this?

Many Ammis, and not just Ammis, but women in general, lack confidence in their voice because they think that they don't bring something special to the table. But this couldn't be more false. There is something that makes you special in the world. You have it, but you have to practice your elevator pitch. Be able to articulate that eloquently. It will give you more confidence to share it more frequently and feel good about whatever it is that you bring to the table.

Apple or Android?

Apple, across the board: iPhone, Macbook, Apple Watch.

Mac or PC?

Mac.

What are your favorite or most essential technologies right now?

3 apps:

What technology or app would you recommend to Ammis & friends to make their life easier?

If you don’t have a garment steamer, you need to get a garment steamer. Every mom needs to get one of these. Nothing burns. It’s the best thing ever.

Many thanks to Jamila for sharing her invaluable insights and helping us grow.

🍃 Connect with Jamila on Linkedin to follow her incredible work.

🍃 Check out the Identity Capital podcast to learn more about Jamila’s journey and discover how she defines personal success:

Thank you for spending a few of your precious, precious minutes with us.

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We’d also love your help to grow the ammi.ai 💚 Garden!

Now, off to write this week’s newsletter 🙂

See y’all soon!
Ruqaiya
Ammi by day, Ammi by night