Sol Salinas
Executive Vice President & Sustainability Lead for the Americas, Capgemini
Sol Salinas’ recent notable achievement was delivering the keynote commencement address at his alma mater, George Mason University. Additionally, he was honored in the 2022 class of distinguished alumni for his remarkable career and dedication to sustainability and global climate change.
With 30 years of experience, he reflected on his involvement in launching the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program and promoting “Smart Cities” in Chicago and Dubai. Currently at Capgemini, he continues his work, seeking solutions for clients to measure and reduce greenhouse gas emissions while accelerating their transition to a net-zero future. He was also officially inducted into the GMU Alumni Hall of Fame.
Why Watch
In 2024, Salinas is prioritizing double materiality in his sustainability efforts. He emphasizes the link between environmental impact and finance, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence and business strategy. This focus is essential for compliance, understanding operational environmental effects, and meeting stakeholder sustainability expectations. Salinas is dedicated to providing practical strategies that align an organization’s environmental footprint with its financial and sustainability goals. He believes that innovation within the industry is key to shaping solutions for a greener world.
“A good plan enthusiastically executed now is better than a perfect plan next week,” he said.
Fun fact: Salinas was born in Managua, Nicaragua, and his godfather was Anastasio Somoza Debayle, the final Nicaraguan president and dictator. Somoza was overthrown by the Sandinistas in the mid-70s. Salinas and his father fortunately distanced themselves from Somoza because of his unscrupulous and unlawful actions during his final years in office.