Founders
Meet the Founders
Amy Farrell
Amy Farrell has built a career at the critical intersection of sustainable development and finance, with a strong commitment to advancing education that integrates environmental and social sustainability. She began her professional journey at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector arm of the World Bank Group, supporting projects across Sub-Saharan Africa that foster economic growth and social progress. Subsequently, Ms. Farrell worked in asset management at firms including BlackRock and UBS, advising institutional and private clients on investment strategies aligned with sustainable, long-term outcomes.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Farrell recognized a pressing need for accessible, high-quality sustainability education addressing both environmental and social challenges, especially for younger generations who will inherit and confront complex issues shaped by previous eras. To meet this need, she partnered with colleagues Cassie Freyeisen and Amy Sabik to launch SolPods, a peer-to-peer learning platform dedicated to equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities to drive sustainable change in their communities.
Ms. Farrell also serves as a Teaching Assistant at Harvard Extension School for the course Tracking Sustainability Performance: Analytical Approaches and Challenges, further underscoring her commitment to education and sustainability. Ms. Farrell holds a Bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies from Vassar College and a Master’s degree in International Affairs from The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Amy Sabik
Amy Sabik started her sustainability journey while living in Paris. It was common for Parisians to naturally live a zero-waste lifestyle with small apartments, daily shopping trips (resulting in less food waste), utilizing public transportation and sharing resources with neighbors. Ms. Sabik also worked in the Environment Directorate of the OECD and learned about sustainability practices of over 30 member countries. Once back in the United States, she brought that mentality with her and often spearheaded initiatives in her community to encourage recycling, thrifting, organizing beach cleanups and more.
Ms. Sabik has over 20 years of consumer and business-to-business marketing in Silicon Valley tech companies such as E*TRADE, Yahoo!, Box and Symantec. She is driven by a desire to make a positive impact and understands that sustainability is not just about environmental protection but also about social and economic equity. Ms. Sabik is deeply involved in her community, donating her time to the local high school sustainability committee among other volunteer efforts.
Ms. Sabik spearheaded the efforts to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of the Peninsula providing sustainability curriculum to their youth. She lives in the Bay Area of California and enjoys exploring local hiking trails as well as taking action to help the environment.
Cassie Freyeisen
Cassie Freyeisen is an experienced sustainability professional whose career bridges finance and nonprofit leadership, with expertise in sustainable investing and climate-focused communications. As Co-Founder of SolPods, she oversees operations, branding and content development, fosters strategic partnerships, supports workshops and mentors junior team members to equip the next generation of climate leaders. She previously served as an ESG Consultant Writer at AllianceBernstein, advising on sustainable finance, modern slavery, and DEI, and as a Marketing Specialist at UBS Asset Management in Zürich and New York, where she advanced global communications for sustainable and impact investing initiatives.
Cassie holds a B.B.A. in International Business, cum laude, from Temple University’s Fox School of Business, with international studies at CEFAM in France. She is a trained Climate Reality Leader and has completed advanced sustainability programs with the United Nations System Staff College (My Sustainable Living Challenge), The World Bank (From Climate Science to Action) and Imperial College London (Corporate Sustainability, Social Innovation & Ethics). With a global perspective and cross-sector expertise, Cassie is passionate about advancing climate solutions, sustainability education, and responsible business practices. She is an avid gardener, outdoor enthusiast, and devoted mother, drawing inspiration from her children to drive meaningful change.