Top 10: Women in Sustainability in the US

1. Kathleen McLaughlin, President of Walmart Foundation/ CSO, Walmart

Dedicating over a decade of her career to the retail giant Walmart, Kathleen McLaughlin has been the Chief Sustainability Officer and President of the Walmart Foundation since 2013. 

As CSO, she works with her team to create economic opportunities, foster inclusive economic development, enhance the sustainability of food, apparel and general merchandise supply chains, and strengthen the resilience of local communities. 

Investing in people and businesses in the supply chain, under her stewardship Walmart surpassed US$1.4bn in giving worldwide, including US$1bn in food donations in 2023—an initiative McLaughlin takes great pride in.

With a diploma and degrees in Theology; Politics, Philosophy, and Economics; and Electrical engineering, McLaughlin’s specialties lie in business strategy and transformation, sustainability, renewable energy, climate change,  finance, acquisitions, and competitive analysis.