Tighe brings over 12 years of leadership and expertise in the youth wellness, food systems, and nonprofit space to Walking Softer. She was most recently the President and a founding team member of the national nonprofit Big Green. Tighe earned a B.S. from the University of California, Berkeley where she also was a member and captain of the Division I lacrosse team.

Ali was the first hire at Walking Softer, playing a significant role in launching the organization. Ali is an experienced operator, a passionate environmentalist and an ardent explorer. Previous to joining Walking Softer, she founded and served as the Executive Director of Hole Food Rescue, a food recovery nonprofit based in Jackson Hole, WY. Ali earned a B.A from the University of Colorado, Boulder in Physiology.

Jackson is an educator, environmentalist and avid outdoorsman. He previously worked as a Land Steward at the Jackson Hole Land Trust, where he conducted monitoring visits to conservation properties in Teton County, WY. Jackson holds a B.S in Recreation, Parks and Tourism Administration from Cal Poly, and a dual MS in Natural Science Education and Environment and Natural Resource Management from the University of Wyoming.

Lauren is a globally recognized sustainability consultant and researcher who is passionate about driving systems transformation for a more socially equitable and environmentally regenerative world. Prior to joining Walking Softer she was the founder of Lively Worlds, an initiative to empower a more regenerative future through bridging interdisciplinary academic theory with practice. Lauren earned a BA in Environmental Science and Public Policy from Harvard University and an MBA and a MSc from the University of Oxford.

Alex brings 15 years of creative design and strategy experience to the Walking Softer team. He has developed and designed effective solutions that produce results with a wide variety of brands including Nike, Samsung, Monster, Energy, Honda, Subway, Starbucks, Disney, Skechers, Duracell, and Vans. Alex truly believes that creativity can solve anything and is passionate about designing and solving new opportunities that are better for the planet. Alex earned a B.A from California State Fullerton in Advertising.

Luke was a foundation grantmaker for 20 years, including fifteen focused on environment, energy, climate and sustainability. He is the former CEO of the David Rockefeller Fund and a fellow at Stanford University’s Center on Philanthropy. Luke advises donors, their foundations and Walking Softer on high-impact, leveraged initiatives and aligns his love of skiing with broad economic and social efforts to reduce the human footprint.

Alyssa is a seasoned event planner with a specialty for facilitating transformative experiences in wild places. Previous to Walking Softer, she was planning remote camping and advocacy events for the grassroots conservation organization, Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Prior to that she was a rock climbing and backpacking instructor and planned alumni events for NOLS. She holds a B.S. in Journalism from the University of Kansas.

Marcy brings over 20 years of experience in curriculum development, facilitation and community building across various learning spaces, including K-12 classrooms, higher education and non-profits. All of her/their work is grounded in inclusivity, equity and social justice. Throughout her/their career, she/they has been dedicated to supporting young people to work collectively towards socio-political change. She/they is a creative and mindful thinker focused on building connections and relationships. Marcy holds a B.S. in Community Health Education from Ithaca College and a M.S. in Education from Long Island University. She/they lives in Longmont, Colorado, is an avid traveler, outdoor enthusiast and social connector. Marcy also has a dog named Hulk (aka Sweetface) that keeps her/them on her/their toes.

Born in the rainy and thunderous Guangzhou, China, Qianning immigrated to sunny California at the age of twelve and was raised into consciousness by the beloved community of Oakland. Between growing up in these fast changing cities, they developed a deep passion for urbanism, environmental+social justice, and accessible design. Qianning graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in Sustainable Environmental Design and a focus on City and Regional Planning. Prior to joining Walking Softer, Qianning worked in the intersections of Art, Human Centered Design, and championed community engagement/participation design methodologies. Outside of work, Qianning is an artist, a translator fighting censorship and disinformation, and a cat lover.

Taylor brings over 17 years of marketing and communications experience to the Walking Softer team. He is an idea generator, creative thinker, thoughtful designer, and versatile writer. He has worked with a multitude of amazing brands including Quiksilver, Fairfield Farms, and the Surf Conservation Partnership, and has acquired a diverse set of skills along the way. But he knows there is much more to learn and achieve, which he finds invigorating. Taylor believes that communication and design can be a powerful tool to illuminate and safeguard the natural world.

MJ holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design and Digital Media, which they earned at Laguna College of Art and Design. Their expertise includes designing for socially responsible and eco-friendly businesses, complemented by a strong foundation in volunteer management and inclusive education. MJ possesses a deep passion for crafting visual stories that uplift marginalized voices and advocate for fairness in our society.

Andrea is an environmentally-focused professional with an extensive background in supporting local non-profits in Orange County through program coordination, volunteer management, and administrative support. Before joining Walking Softer, Andrea was a California Climate Action Corps Fellow, serving as a Southern California team leader for fellows in the '22-’23 cohort. She is particularly interested in environmental justice and the protection of underserved communities from the consequences of climate change. Andrea earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Earth Science from CSU Dominguez Hills. Her research on air quality exposure disparities among disadvantaged communities was recently published in the International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation.

Kim has dedicated her career to empowering successful, smart, and passionate people to deepen their impact and enjoy their legacy while living it. With nearly 20 years of experience in elite Membership organizations, venture philanthropy, and policy, Kim leads Walking Softer on how to pull multiple levers to affect the most pressing issues of our time and fosters the culture and community for them to thrive in. Kim holds a Bachelor’s in Film/TV and a Masters in Education from Chapman University and in Corporate Social Responsibility from Harvard Business School. Kim, her husband Kevin and their five children live in Newport Beach, CA and aim to be thoughtful citizens of the world.