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About Me

I believe that culture is not a byproduct of success — it’s the foundation. No matter how brilliant the strategy or visionary the mission, organizations struggle to sustain impact without leadership that intentionally cultivates trust, accountability, and belonging.

As an executive coach and organizational consultant, I work with senior leaders — particularly women and leaders of color — who are navigating growth, complexity, and high-stakes leadership moments. My approach combines real-world executive experience with a deep understanding of how systems, people, and leadership intersect to either strengthen or strain an organization’s mission.

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Before stepping into this work, my own leadership journey took shape in the environmental movement — a path sparked when my young son was diagnosed with asthma, and I was forced to confront the harsh realities of environmental injustice. What began as a mother’s search for answers became a calling to fight for climate and racial justice, ultimately leading me to serve as Executive Director of Greenpeace USA, where I helped lead one of the world’s largest environmental organizations through a transformative period focused on equity, inclusion, and impact.

That experience deeply informs my work today: I understand what it means to lead at the intersection of mission, people, and systems — and the weight of responsibility leaders carry when navigating complex change.

In my coaching and consulting practice, I help leaders build strong systems that enable people to thrive. Systems are the scaffolding that hold up an organization’s vision — when aligned with purpose and led with integrity, they create the conditions for sustainable success. This means embedding equity into performance management, optimizing operations, developing high-performing teams, and creating psychologically safe environments where innovation and accountability can flourish..

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But systems alone aren’t enough. Leadership sets the tone. My coaching supports leaders in developing the clarity, confidence, and presence to lead with purpose — whether that means stepping into a bigger role, managing board dynamics, leading organizational change, or reclaiming personal leadership in moments of transition.  My leadership coaching offers both a sanctuary and a strategy lab — a space for emerging leaders and seasoned executives.

At the heart of my philosophy is a simple belief: leadership starts from within. I work with leaders to discover the clarity, self-awareness, and courage needed to step fully into their power — not just for their organizations, but for their own growth and well-being.

  •  Anyone can destroy; not everyone can build.

  • Building takes clarity.

  • Building takes strategy.

  • Building takes people who are empowered to thrive

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My credentials:

    • 2024 Scientista Podcast  with Sweta Chakraborty and Monica Medina 

    • 2023 COP28 Climate Hub “Day 7” (appears 4:16:00 mark)

    • 2023 Vegan Women’s Summit

    • The New York Times’ Events: Climate Forward “Green Growth v. Conservation”

    • MSNBC Ali Velshi Show segment, “Two steps forward, two steps back. The Biden admin is sending mixed messages on climate” (appears 2:30 mark)

    • She Changes Climate “Unite For Climate Solutions Summit” (appears 5:57:11 mark)

    • We Are For Good Podcast, Episode 494 “Marketing is Mission: How Greenpeace Creates Bold Campaigns to Fight Climate Change - Ebony Twilley Martin”

    • Democracy In Color Podcast “Not Your Grandparents’ Greenpeace With ED Ebony Twilley Martin”

    • The Human Impact of Dirty Energy with Ebony Twilley Martin and John Beard, Jr. (appears 2:49 mark)

    • 2023 Climate Week NYC “We Don’t Have Time”

    • National Press Club Event “Leaking Talent: How People of Color Are Pushed Out of Environmental Orgs (appears 27:35 mark)

    • Greenpeace Names Its First Ever Black Co-Executive Director (appears 1:02 mark)

    • Fire Drill Friday with Guest-Host Nalleli Cobo, Ebony Twilley Martin, & William J. Barber III (appears 16:15 mark)

    • Clearing the Air: Why Now Is the Time to Tackle Global Air Pollution (appears 13:58 mark)

    • The Laura Flanders Show “Greenpeace at 50: The Climate Crisis is a Fight Not an Argument” 

    • The Role of Activism Panel from We Don't Have Time's US Launch

    • Forbes: Ebony Twilley Martin: Pioneering Environmental Justice At Greenpeace USA 

    • Inside Climate News: In Louisiana’s ‘Cancer Alley,’ Excitement Over New Emissions Rules Is Tempered By a Legal Challenge to Federal Environmental Justice Efforts

    • The New York Times: “Climate Experts Weigh In on Obstacles, Priorities and Hope”

    • NBCNews.com: “Environmental protests have a long history in the U.S; Police had never killed an activist — until now”

    • NBCNews.com: Greenpeace Appoints Ebony Twilley Martin as its First Black Co-Executive Director

    • Greenpeace: Ebony Twilley Martin is Named Co-Executive Director of Greenpeace USA

    • Greenpeace: Meet Ebony Twilley Martin, Greenpeace’s New Co-Executive Director

    • Greenpeace USA co-Executive Director Ebony Twilley Martin Demands Voting Rights Now!

    • Thomson Reuters Foundation News: Get 'folks like me' engaged on climate, says Black Greenpeace USA head

    • Greenpeace: Standing Together in Hope