M Sanjayan
M Sanjayan
About
Detail
Chief Executive Officer
Arlington, Virginia, United States
As a child growing up in Sierra Leone, my earliest and fondest memories were of fishing in the creeks and catching snakes and birds in the forests around our home. It was impossible not to fall in love with nature.
I have spent my career trying to answer one question; how do we make people care enough about nature and climate to actually act – at the scale the moment demands?
That question has taken me from field research to Fortune 100 companies, from documentary filmmaking to building billion-dollar campaigns for conservation. And it has brought me, starting June 2026, to what I believe is one of the most consequential climate institutions being built anywhere in the world – as CEO of The New York Climate Exchange.
The Exchange is building a state of the art climate campus on Governors Island – anchored in the harbor of one of the planet’s most climate exposed cities, a few hundred meters from Manhattan. Its mandate is to bring together the best scientific, civic, and business minds to develop and scale climate solutions for cities and communities everywhere. Backed by a partnership with the Simons Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Stony Brook University, and New York City, along with dozens of other partners, the exchange provides an unparalleled global platform.
And it’s exactly where I want to be.
I came to this role after more than 8 years as CEO of Conservation International, where I led the organization through capital campaigns, breakthrough partnership with Apple, Mastercard, and P&G, and massive growth. Prior to Conservation International, I was the Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy for over a decade.
As a scientist I believe that data matters. But I also believe that how you communicate that data matters just as much.
That belief is what led me to documentary film making. I have hosted award winning series for PBS, BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Showtime and Vox Media, where my on-line series Climate Labs has racked up many millions of views on YouTube. While reporting for CBS Evening News I was nominated for an Emmy in broadcast news. In 2024, I was named to TIME’s inaugural Climate 100 list, and in 2025 William and Mary, bestowed upon me an honorary doctorate. I serve on the board of trustees for The Earthshot Prize, and The ICCF Group, and I am a global advisor to the Minderoo Foundation.
I have spent my career trying to answer one question; how do we make people care enough about nature and climate to actually act – at the scale the moment demands?
That question has taken me from field research to Fortune 100 companies, from documentary filmmaking to building billion-dollar campaigns for conservation. And it has brought me, starting June 2026, to what I believe is one of the most consequential climate institutions being built anywhere in the world – as CEO of The New York Climate Exchange.
The Exchange is building a state of the art climate campus on Governors Island – anchored in the harbor of one of the planet’s most climate exposed cities, a few hundred meters from Manhattan. Its mandate is to bring together the best scientific, civic, and business minds to develop and scale climate solutions for cities and communities everywhere. Backed by a partnership with the Simons Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Stony Brook University, and New York City, along with dozens of other partners, the exchange provides an unparalleled global platform.
And it’s exactly where I want to be.
I came to this role after more than 8 years as CEO of Conservation International, where I led the organization through capital campaigns, breakthrough partnership with Apple, Mastercard, and P&G, and massive growth. Prior to Conservation International, I was the Lead Scientist for The Nature Conservancy for over a decade.
As a scientist I believe that data matters. But I also believe that how you communicate that data matters just as much.
That belief is what led me to documentary film making. I have hosted award winning series for PBS, BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic, Showtime and Vox Media, where my on-line series Climate Labs has racked up many millions of views on YouTube. While reporting for CBS Evening News I was nominated for an Emmy in broadcast news. In 2024, I was named to TIME’s inaugural Climate 100 list, and in 2025 William and Mary, bestowed upon me an honorary doctorate. I serve on the board of trustees for The Earthshot Prize, and The ICCF Group, and I am a global advisor to the Minderoo Foundation.
