Dawn James

Dawn James is a globally recognized energy strategist, sustainability advisor, and geoscientist with over 25 years of experience driving innovation and transformation across the corporate, public, and nonprofit sectors. She has held senior leadership roles at Microsoft and Deloitte, where she guided Fortune 500 companies and government agencies through sustainability strategy, climate risk, and equitable workforce development.

Drawing from her lived experience as a Black woman navigating leadership in male-dominated industries, Dawn’s writing offers both vulnerability and clarity, bridging the personal with the systemic. Her debut book, The Updraft Effect: How to Rise Above Career Obstacles to the Success You Deserve, is a bold and inspiring guide for professionals seeking to reclaim their power, rewrite limiting narratives, and ascend with purpose.

When she’s not writing or advising global leaders, Dawn serves as a board chair, keynote speaker, and mentor to the next generation of changemakers. She lives in Houston, Texas, and believes deeply in the power of strategy, spirit, and storytelling to move the world forward.