Leadership for a Sustainable Future: A Q&A With CAPS Board Members Laura Rodriguez and Kevin Schwartz
Board members play a pivotal role in shaping an organization's direction and impact, offering their expertise, guidance, and passion to further its mission. For CAPS, the commitment and vision of its Board members are instrumental in driving the organization's efforts to empower student leaders and create sustainable solutions within schools and communities. That is why we are thrilled to introduce Kevin Schwartz and Laura Rodriguez.
Their unique backgrounds and expertise will be key to helping CAPS expand our impact and further our mission of preparing a future green workforce for the growing green economy.
Kevin Schwartz recently retired as a partner from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) after a 25-year career focused on helping organizations improve their operations to scale and grow. He is a long-time advocate of youth development and ClimateTech innovation and serves as a Limited Partner with Voyager Ventures, a leading venture fund focused exclusively on startups driving the decarbonization revolution.
Laura Rodriguez is an equity, justice, and inclusion consultant supporting the non-profit and philanthropic sectors to transform their strategies, shift culture, and build authentic relationships with their communities. Her expertise in fostering self-determination and leadership among young people has been invaluable to CAPS, ensuring that our programs address environmental challenges and empower students to take active roles in shaping their futures.
In this Q&A, Kevin and Laura share how their unique backgrounds and skills will contribute to furthering CAPS’s mission, what compelled them to join the board, and what they hope for the future of CAPS and its impact on schools and communities.
Kevin, can you tell us about how you define your post-PwC life?
Kevin: After 25 years as a management consultant, I was ready for a new chapter that felt more purpose-driven. Although I call it "retirement," it's more of a transition. I spent a lot of time reflecting on what this next phase should look like, and I identified two main themes I want to focus on: climate change and nonprofit work. Climate change has always been a passion of mine, and I wanted to engage with startups and innovators tackling this issue. I also wanted to continue serving on nonprofit boards, particularly those focused on youth development.
When I retired from PwC in February, the timing was serendipitous. I was introduced to CAPS, and it immediately clicked with my passion for addressing climate change and supporting youth-oriented nonprofits. Joining the CAPS board felt like a natural fit and an exciting opportunity to contribute to something meaningful in this next chapter of my life.
How do you see your skills + experience contributing to CAPS' mission?
Laura: In my role as the founder and CEO of Restoring Care, I provide leadership coaching and consultation on equity, inclusion, and justice. This work has been a central part of my career for over 12 years, particularly within the outdoor and environmental sectors. These sectors intersect deeply with social justice issues, and I'm eager to support CAPS' commitment to equity and inclusion. The fact that CAPS prioritized starting its programming within the Central Valley region reflects a deep commitment to equity and inclusion because rural communities bear a disproportionate burden of environmental injustice issues and have access to fewer resources.
With my experience, I aim to help CAPS embed equity and inclusion principles into its programming and internal culture. True equity work goes beyond workshops and consultations; it requires attention to the nuanced interpersonal dynamics within an organization. My role is to ensure that as CAPS grows, it does so with a deep, sustainable commitment to equity that impacts every aspect of its mission.
Kevin: My career has centered on innovation and helping organizations grow and scale. As I considered board positions, I sought nonprofits in a rapid growth phase, where my experience could be most impactful. CAPS fits that profile perfectly.
Additionally, my background in ClimateTech brings a unique perspective to the board. I've recently joined a venture fund focused on startups driving decarbonization, and I see opportunities to connect CAPS with companies working on innovative solutions in the climate space. In fact, we've already initiated a conversation with a startup that analyzes energy usage in large facilities, including schools—this could be a valuable partnership for CAPS.
What makes CAPS’ approach to mitigating climate change and engaging student leaders unique? How does this further your impact on students and communities?
Kevin: What sets CAPS apart is its dual mission of addressing climate change while creating awareness and opportunities for students in the green economy. Experiential learning is at the heart of this approach—students aren't just learning from textbooks; they're actively involved in solving real-world problems. This hands-on experience is invaluable in making the learning process more engaging and preparing students for future careers in the green economy. I don’t know of many organizations doing this at the high school level, and it’s incredibly powerful.
Laura: CAPS’ approach empowers students to develop and strengthen their sense of agency through hands-on work that addresses real-world challenges in their communities. This hands-on approach contributes to their self-determination and allows them to implement relevant solutions within their immediate environment, such as their schools, where they spend so much of their time. The ripple effects of their work extend to the broader community, creating meaningful change.
As a leadership coach and equity and inclusion consultant, I find it incredibly powerful that CAPS addresses inequities and fosters inclusivity within high schools. These young people are not only doing the work but also witnessing the impact of their efforts long before they graduate or move on to the next chapter of their lives. Experiencing leadership in the context of such a global and critical issue at a young age is truly significant.
What are your hopes for the future of CAPS and its impact on schools and communities?
Kevin: When I think of the goal that guides CAPS, for me, that is for every high school in America to have a program where interested students can explore green job opportunities and pathways, and every school actively works to minimize or eliminate its greenhouse gas emissions. These two goals are synergistic—students would have the chance to help their school district become more energy-efficient and reduce emissions, while the district benefits from this effort and prepares students for careers in climate tech and the green economy.
Ideally, CAPS wouldn’t have to achieve this alone—once one organization shows the way, others will partner and help reach that goal. I hope CAPS can be the catalyst that leads to a future where every school in America has a program like this within the next decade or two.
Laura: As someone relatively new to CAPS, I want to approach my hopes with the understanding that they form part of a broader collective vision. With that said, I want to see CAPS foster a robust and thriving network of alumnx, where we'll track their individual progress over time and nurture a sustained community. Having experience with programs that build cohort after cohort, I believe CAPS, now several years into its work, is well-positioned to gain momentum with its alumnx community. I'd love to see us intentionally develop a strong network program that keeps alumnx engaged with CAPS’s mission in the long term.
Additionally, I’m excited about the potential to expand CAPS programming beyond high school. This could include initiatives that continue to support leadership and career development, creating an ecosystem that provides resources and opens doors to employment opportunities in relevant industries. My vision is to extend this programming at the right pace, ensuring a continuum of engagement as participants move forward in their lives.
In the long term, I envision our alumnx not just as past participants but as active contributors to society and CAPS itself. Whether by joining our boards, contributing articles, or sharing their expertise, I hope we can strategize to ensure these brilliant minds can return and contribute their insights, keeping CAPS strong and connected.