In its latest edition, 10 Climate Tech-leaders Shaping a Sustainable Future in 2025, CIOLook sheds light on Yeonji Kim, a powerhouse in global finance and climate policy. As a leading influencer of the alignment of financial flows with low-emission and climate-resilient development, she holds a leadership position at the intersection of economics, environmental policy, and global development.

Yeonji Kim’s working career exemplifies sustained commitment to navigating the financial system and sustainable goals. Her innovative vision has transformed the legacy finance narrative—formerly all about returns—to a new paradigm with climate resilience and environmental sustainability recognized as cornerstone bases for lasting economic prosperity.

CIOLook recognized Yeonji for her relentless work in bridging policy and practice. At her work on climate finance abroad, she works closely with public institutions, development banks, and private players to connect the financial flows with the Paris Agreement objectives. She is a proponent of carbon reduction mechanisms and continues to push for adaptation, inclusion, and fairness in vulnerable economies.

Her work is pragmatic and strategic. Yeonji develops structures that take financial institutions to stronger portfolios, and she develops policies that assist governments in integrating climate risks into budgeting and planning at the national level. Whatever she does, whether she is creating innovative climate finance instruments or conceptualizing cross-border collaborations, she uses clarity, purpose, and inclusiveness to all initiatives she leads.

What makes Yeonji’s leadership exceptional is her unwavering belief in climate justice. She emphasizes that low-income and climate-vulnerable countries must not be left behind in the transition to a greener economy. Her initiatives consistently center on empowering these regions through fair access to financing, capacity-building programs, and inclusive decision-making.

Yeonji is also a strong voice for women in finance and sustainable development. She coaches young professionals and spearheads campaigns to introduce the voice and space of alternative views to global stages. Her compassionate but results-driven leadership has also encouraged more women to assume key roles in climate policy-making and green finance.

Her CIOLook award is not only a testament to her career achievement—it’s an acknowledgment of her role as a changemaker in a messy and rapidly changing world. Yeonji Kim doesn’t only speak out on behalf of sustainable finance—she is actively building its future.

By featuring Yeonji Kim, CIOLook recognizes a changemaker whose work is revolutionizing the way global finance can be used as a force for environmental stewardship and social resilience. It is a strong reminder that change happens whenever vision meets action—and finance serves people and the planet.