Bite-Sized Climate Action: Shivani Ramesh on Community & The Sustainability Mindset

In this inspiring episode of the Chai Break Podcast, I'm joined by Shivani Ramesh—a Strategy & Implementation Analyst at ENGIE Impact, environmental engineer, and passionate sustainability advocate. Shivani takes us on a journey from her roots in India to her career in global decarbonization, offering practical wisdom for anyone grappling with climate anxiety and wondering, “What can I do?”

We explore the power of bite-sized climate action—small, intentional steps we can take in our homes, communities, and careers to contribute to a more sustainable future. Shivani shares powerful stories of grassroots activism in her own family, from organizing neighborhood cleanups in Chennai to local government initiatives in Westchester, NY.

This episode is for anyone who wants to understand how citizen-led action, climate-conscious careers, and community collaboration can drive change, no matter where you live.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why tiny, consistent actions can create large-scale impactShivani’s journey from Rishi Valley School to ENGIE Impact and the spark that started it allThe importance of civic engagement and how her mother’s clean-up drives led to launching Citizen Matters in IndiaHow her aunt’s sustainability leadership in Westchester County helped unlock funding for clean energyLocal NYC tips: how to get involved in composting, community gardens, and moreWhy climate anxiety is real—and how to channel it into purposeA behind-the-scenes look at The Soapbox Project, a growing community turning worry into climate actionHow to pivot into a sustainability career or integrate climate-conscious thinking into your current work5 bite-sized actions you can start today to live more sustainably

🔗 Resources mentioned in the episode:

ENGIE ImpactCitizen MattersThe Soapbox ProjectNYC Composting

🎧 Grab your chai and tune in—this is a chaiversation you don’t want to miss.

Chai Break Podcast—because nothing pairs better with chai than a good Chai-versation. ☕️💬 From a cross-cultural lens, I, Shwetha Ravishankar, sit down with incredible South Asian women to spill the tea on everything from immigrant stories to sustainability, entrepreneurship to conscious living, and the hustle behind change-makers. Grab your chai and tune in!

• No. of episodes: 42
• Latest episode: 2025-04-09
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