Thabo Lenneiye

Thabo Lenneiye is the inaugural Managing Director of the Carl H. Goldsmith Sustainable Agriculture Fund at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and a Senior Fellow with the Center for Leadership and Change Management at the Wharton School. She specializes in sustainable agriculture, climate policy, and energy transitions, focusing on interdisciplinary solutions for societal and environmental resilience.

• Education: MBA from University of Cambridge (Africa Regional Scholarship), dual master’s degrees from the Stuart Weitzman School of Design and the School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania

Her research explores the intersection of sustainable agriculture, climate, and energy policy. Current projects include analyzing land use tradeoffs for renewable energy, regenerative agriculture case studies from Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, and climate solutions for ecosystems. Her work emphasizes equitable development and policy innovation.

Recent publications highlight trends in climate-resilient agricultural practices, energy transition impacts on farmland, and cross-sector collaborations for sustainability. Notable achievements include the Africa Regional Scholarship and leadership roles in social ventures and global policy councils.

• Scientific Awards
  • Africa Regional Scholarship, University of Cambridge

Lenneiye has taught design studios at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maryland. She serves as Vice-Chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Placemaking Product Council and as an Associate Scholar at the Penn Center for Global Health. Her career spans academia, architecture, and global social impact initiatives.