A Biography By Executives Diary Magazine

Who Is Chad Rickaby?

Chad Rickaby is the CEO and Co-Founder of ClimateDoor, a global venture builder helping climate innovators raise capital, unlock markets and form high-value partnerships. Known for his community-driven approach and cross-continental leadership, he also co-founded Unify Partners, supporting Indigenous Nations in advancing renewable energy and long-term economic resilience. His work reflects a lifelong commitment to scaling solutions that honor people, land and possibility.

A Journey Rooted in Land, People and Purpose

The sun was high over the Amazonian canopy when Chad Rickaby stepped off the field, his boots still carrying the weight of the soil beneath them. Only moments earlier he had walked through rows of living ecosystems alongside farmers, scientists and Indigenous leaders who spoke about the land with a depth that could only come from generations of stewardship. Standing among them, listening to how the fauna and flora shaped nutrient cycles and agricultural resilience, he was reminded that climate work is never just about technology. It is about people, culture and the communities whose futures depend on the choices made today. That realization has followed him from Port Moody to some of the most influential climate stages in the world and continues to define the way he leads, collaborates and builds.

Chad’s career has taken him across continents, into government chambers, community circles and innovation hubs. No matter the setting, his purpose remains consistent. He works to scale climate solutions that honor the land and empower the people most connected to it. His leadership reflects not only technical intelligence, but the grounded perspective of someone who believes climate innovation must begin with listening before action.

Roots That Shaped a Mission

Chad’s story begins in Port Moody, British Columbia, a place where nature shapes daily life and community shapes identity. Some of his earliest memories are of mini hockey games and long sleepovers in his mother’s basement with his childhood friend and future co-founder, Nick Findler. Those hours of collaboration, imagination and shared curiosity would become the first threads of a lifelong belief that progress happens when people build together.

His academic journey deepened that instinct. While earning a Master of Public Policy and Global Affairs from the University of British Columbia, Chad developed an interest in international systems, public administration and the mechanics behind economic development. His studies expanded further in Shanghai at Fudan University, where he was introduced to global perspectives that would later play a central role in his cross-continental climate work.

During these years he began to understand the systemic barriers that prevent climate solutions from scaling. Finance gaps, fragmented policy, inconsistent incentives and limited access to partnerships often slowed progress before it could begin. The more he learned, the more he was compelled to help build the bridges needed to overcome those barriers.

His favorite book, Drawdown by Paul Hawken, left a lasting imprint on him. The book reframed climate action from fear and inevitability to possibility and agency. For Chad, it reinforced a belief that meaningful change happens when people choose to act instead of waiting for perfect conditions. His favorite proverb reflects the same philosophy. “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” Those words became a guidepost in every major decision he made.

Turning Climate Ambition Into Scalable Impact

What began as early curiosity evolved into a career defined by building, funding and accelerating climate ventures around the world. Chad’s work took shape through roles that exposed him to the breadth of climate innovation, from policy systems to venture growth. His early consulting work in impact assessment, strategic planning and economic development gave him firsthand insight into how organizations and governments make decisions around sustainability initiatives.

These experiences prepared him for a defining chapter: co-founding ClimateDoor. Today he serves as Chief Executive Officer, leading an organization trusted by climate ventures across sectors and stages. ClimateDoor embeds directly inside mission-driven companies, securing capital, closing strategic deals and unlocking new markets through an operator-first approach. The team has helped raise more than 82 million dollars, closed more than one hundred strategic partnerships and secured more than 17 million dollars in grants that fuel commercialization and global expansion.

ClimateDoor’s success is grounded in an unusual combination of relationship-building and operational intensity. Partners routinely credit the team for its discipline, global network and rare ability to create traction in complex markets. Henrik Beverage Systems shared that the company would not exist without ClimateDoor’s early partnership. Stardust Solar’s CEO, Mark Tadros, described the experience by saying At ClimateDoor you get partners who are all in. I can’t tell you the number of strategic investors and partners I’ve been introduced to. I give them a lot of credit for our success.

From Indigenous communities to global investors, clients repeatedly highlight that Chad leads with humility, purpose and action. His long-time collaborator, Nick Findler, shared a recommendation that reflects how those who know him see him. Chad is not just a partner; he is a force in innovation and impact. Humble, capable and relentless. His footprint is meaningful across businesses, governments and First Nations.

Alongside ClimateDoor, Chad co-founded Unify Partners, a firm focused on empowering Indigenous Nations, nonprofits and social enterprises through funding access and strategic co-development. Through Unify, he helps communities design and own renewable energy systems that generate lasting value. The company reflects his belief that equitable climate solutions require trusted relationships and shared ownership.

His global influence also expands through roles with Foresight Canada, Green Technology Asia and numerous engagements bridging opportunities across Canada, the European Union and Asia. Whether walking fields in the Amazon, hosting delegations with the EU Ambassador, or supporting Canadian innovators at global summits, Chad has become a connector of markets, communities and solutions.

Empowering Communities and Advancing Climate Solutions

Chad’s leadership is guided by the principle that communities must have agency in shaping their future. Through Unify Partners, he supports Indigenous Nations as they design clean energy systems that unlock food security, housing, local employment and long-term economic self-determination. His perspective is clear and deeply rooted in respect. Clean energy is just the beginning. When Indigenous Nations lead design and ownership, the benefits continue for generations.

At ClimateDoor, he helps ventures cut through noise and reach global partners who can accelerate their growth. His work at COP summits, trade missions and international conferences often focuses on turning climate ambitions into actionable strategies. He regularly speaks about the importance of blending financing mechanisms, infrastructure readiness and cross-border collaborations to make real progress.

Chad’s reflections from global events reveal his awareness of both urgency and opportunity. After being recognized as a Clean50 Emerging Leader, he wrote about Canada’s potential to shape the future of cleantech and the responsibility that comes with it. He consistently speaks about the deeper stack behind innovation, noting that energy, water and Indigenous leadership are often overlooked foundations of scalable climate technology.

Beyond professional impact, Chad maintains grounding through his personal life. He stays balanced by hiking British Columbia’s trails, exploring the world with curiosity and spending meaningful time with his wife, Zameena, and his family. These moments remind him that climate work is personal. It shapes the world future generations will inherit, including those closest to him.

Vision for the Future: Building Pathways That Last

Chad believes the climate economy is entering a defining decade. He sees a future where collaboration replaces fragmentation and where communities, founders and governments share ownership of lasting solutions. His personal philosophy reflects that belief. I believe in the power of connection and collaboration. Through partnership we can tackle the big challenges of decarbonization.

Looking ahead, Chad is committed to expanding ClimateDoor’s impact across global markets while deepening work with Indigenous Nations, cleantech founders and funding partners. He envisions a climate ecosystem where solutions scale faster, capital flows more efficiently and communities retain long-term value from the systems that support them.

His advice to innovators mirrors his own journey. Plant the tree now. Take action today. Progress is built through momentum, not perfection.

Editorial Note

Chad Rickaby’s story reminds us that climate leadership is not defined by titles or accolades, but by choices. It is shaped by the people we walk alongside, the communities we listen to and the moments when we choose action over hesitation. His work demonstrates that scaling climate solutions is not only a technical endeavor. It is an act of stewardship, connection and shared responsibility.

For founders, investors, governments and readers, his journey offers a simple but powerful reflection. Meaningful progress begins when we choose to act with intention, to collaborate with humility and to build solutions that honor both people and planet. The next era of climate innovation will be written by those who believe, as Chad does, that possibility lives in the decisions we make today.