In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Anandi Yadav sits down with Sara Fuentes, Chairwoman of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Founder of Smart Waste, for an honest conversation about purpose, leadership, waste, and what it really takes to build a company. Sara shares how her early work in education, her Chicana upbringing, and her deep commitment to service shaped the way she sees waste—not as something without value, but as a systems challenge rooted in culture, infrastructure, behavior, and opportunity. Together, Anandi and Sara explore what is broken in the way communities and businesses manage waste, why there is still so much confusion around recycling and materials recovery, and how Smart Waste helps organizations reduce trash, improve compliance, test waste technologies, and build better zero-waste programs. Sara also opens up about starting Smart Waste during COVID, navigating caregiving responsibilities, learning to trust the right people, finding her voice as a founder, and the quiet challenges of self-promotion when you are used to cheering everyone else on. This conversation is part founder story, part leadership reflection, and part reminder that some of the most meaningful climate solutions begin with listening—to customers, to communities, and to the values that guide the work. About the HostAnandi Yadav is a climate tech professional, product leader, and Terra.do Climate Fellow focused on helping companies cut carbon, meet ESG goals, and build scalable solutions. An electronics engineer turned product owner, she brings 15+ years of global experience across SaaS product management, engineering, business operations, partnerships, and ESG. She holds a PhD in Nanoelectronics and a diploma in Global Business Management from UC Berkeley. About WCS Talks UnpluggedWCS Talks Unplugged is a podcast from Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global community advancing women’s leadership in climate and clean energy. Each episode brings you real stories and real solutions from the innovators, founders, policymakers, and leaders shaping the future of the clean economy. Produced By Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help more people discover the show ✔ Share this episode with someone working in climate, technology, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability at: womencleantechsustainability.org