One Roof Foundation is excited to welcome Kaan Yalkin to the Board of Trustees! We sat down with Kaan to discuss his role at Amazon, the Climate Pledge, and One Roof Foundation. — by Mari Horita
ONE ROOF FOUNDATION: Please tell us a bit about yourself and what you like to do.
KAAN YALKIN: I am originally from Vancouver, BC and I live in the Columbia City neighborhood with my husband, Paul, also an Amazonian who leads Community Engagement for Transportation Technology. In my free time I enjoy hot yoga, hiking, traveling, and keeping my French and Spanish polished.
ONE ROOF FOUNDATION: What do you do at Amazon?
KAAN YALKIN: I am a Partnerships and Engagement Lead for The Climate Pledge at Amazon, and in that role I focus on driving engagement and new signatories for the Climate Pledge, in addition to Climate Pledge Arena. I worked closely on the naming rights agreement with Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken and continue to lead much of that work. Prior to joining the sustainability team, I worked in Amazon PR since 2016 and led a number of teams in Canada, Mexico, US Hispanic and LATAM. I am also the Amazon nonprofit champion for Compass Housing Alliance and partners with Amazon in the Community to support employee engagement, volunteering and events.
ONE ROOF FOUNDATION: Please briefly describe the Climate Pledge.
KAAN YALKIN: The Climate Pledge is a commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. It brings the world’s top companies together to accelerate joint action, cross-sector collaboration, and responsible change. Our mission is to accelerate responsible climate action in every industry so our planet’s diverse communities, natural resources, and shared environments can thrive indefinitely. When it comes to protecting our planet, there is no middle ground. Companies that join the Pledge commit to stepping up with Earth’s action-oriented leaders and take responsibility for what happens next.
ONE ROOF FOUNDATION: How did you become interested in One Roof Foundation?
KAAN YALKIN: I am passionate about the urgency at which we need to take swift action on climate. We are in a decisive decade to make dramatic change in the way we do business. Climate Pledge Arena is a beacon of sustainability that is showing that when we transition to a more sustainable economy, we can provide better experiences for everyone. When I learned that a non-profit organization was being created to leverage the collective resources of the arena and its power as a platform for change, I was instantly inspired to get involved. One Roof Foundation represents three Climate Pledge signatories (Seattle Kraken, Climate Pledge Arena, Oak View Group) who have come together to ensure they are supporting the communities in which they do business. I am particularly passionate about Environmental Justice and the Just Transition. I appreciate that One Roof Foundation knows that underserved and underrepresented communities are and will continue to be the most impacted by the effects of the climate crisis and we need to ensure we’re caring for those individuals in their adaptation.
ONE ROOF FOUNDATION: Thank you for your interest in and support of One Roof Foundation and welcome, Kaan, to the Board!