Catherine McKenna on Run Like a Girl: Resilience, Leadership, and Hope in the Fight for a Sustainable Future
Catherine McKenna, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and author of Run Like a Girl, during a fireside chat with Kate White, Senior Associate Dean, Strategy and Responsible Business.
On Monday, November 24, the UBC Sauder Centre for Climate and Business Solutions hosted two events with Catherine McKenna–former Minister of Environment and Climate Change and author of Run Like a Girl–to inspire students and business leaders to take action towards a more sustainable future.
McKenna met with UBC students for an intimate conversation about leadership, resilience, and finding your voice in the fight against climate change. Following that session, she addressed a packed room of more than 350 industry professionals and business leaders from across Vancouver, sharing practical insights on how organizations can lead with integrity and accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.
McKenna’s advice throughout the day was both candid and empowering. “Start where you are. Do what you can,” she told the audience, emphasizing that climate solutions require innovation across every sector, and that action doesn’t have to be perfect. For students, the message was clear: “Don’t let guilt or perfectionism hold you back. You don’t need to know everything about climate science to start taking action. Learn along the way.”
Resilience and leadership in hard times
McKenna spoke candidly about the personal and political challenges she faced during her time in office—from misinformation campaigns to misogynistic attacks and online harassment. “It’s a reminder that there has to be civility in politics—we have to stop this,” she said, calling for greater accountability and integrity in public life.
Her coping strategy? Resilience. “Resilience is built through failure and through hardship,” McKenna explained, drawing on her experience as a competitive swimmer. “You set long-term goals, you work every day toward them, and when you have setbacks, you go back and train again.”
Changing behaviour for climate impact
McKenna sat down with Kate White, Senior Associate Dean, Strategy and Responsible Business at UBC Sauder, for a fireside chat that explored one of the toughest challenges in climate action: how to change behaviour at scale.
McKenna emphasized that solutions aren’t just technological, they are social. People make choices based on emotions, values, and trust, not just facts. “The challenge is we don’t work on facts. There is so much noise and disinformation,” she noted, pointing to the role of social media in amplifying misinformation.
The discussion highlighted practical strategies for shifting mindsets:
- Frame climate as a social justice and economic issue—connect it to values people already care about.
- Make sustainable choices easy and affordable—from heat pumps to EV incentives.
- Build solidarity and visibility—people are more likely to act when they feel part of a movement.
As White added, research shows that sustainable solutions can often come with unexpected benefits. “They’re not only better for the planet but can also be cheaper, more efficient, and more innovative.”
Hope and progress
McKenna reflected on the importance of solidarity and reminded the audience that hope is not naïve optimism but a driving force. “Hope is what gets you up in the morning and makes you say, I’m going to do it again,” she stated.
McKenna closed with a message of progress and possibility. “Ten years ago, the world had no temperature targets, no global agreement, and few clean energy solutions,” she noted. “Today, renewable energy, EVs, and battery technology are transforming economies worldwide. We can win, but we must be disciplined and work with integrity and facts.” Her final call to action was clear: keep learning, keep speaking up, and keep fighting for a sustainable future.
At the UBC Sauder Centre for Climate and Business Solutions, we bring together students, industry leaders, and changemakers to spark meaningful dialogue and drive collaborative action. Through events like these, we’re building a connected community committed to accelerating practical solutions for a sustainable and inclusive future.