Karen Kho joined StopWaste’s green building program in 2003. Prior to that, she advocated for sustainable cities in the Bay Area, supported community development initiatives across the U.S., and served as a federal transportation policy analyst. She holds an undergraduate degree in Development Studies from UC Berkeley, and a master's degree in Urban and Regional Planning from MIT. 

What do you do at StopWaste? 

My title is principal program manager, but my role straddles both programs and administration. I oversee the Agency’s built environment projects and am the lead staff person coordinating our external fund-seeking, particularly for the Energy Council. Most recently I led the formation of a regional Construction Innovation Cluster that was selected as a finalist for the U.S. Economic Development Agency’s Build Back Better Regional Challenge. As part of the Agency’s leadership team, I’m involved in organizational strategy and development: thinking about how our long-term goals and vision are aligned with our internal budgeting, programming, decision making, and professional development. 

What is your favorite part of working here?  

I've always liked StopWaste because it feels like a hybrid between a nonprofit, a public agency, and a private entrepreneurial firm. I appreciate that we have the public service ethic of a government agency and a mission that is more like a nonprofit. I also like the fact that we can be nimble and innovative, similar to the private sector. There are always opportunities to take our work to the next level and we have the ability to incubate new ideas through a public service lens.  

How has the Agency changed over the years and what has stayed the same? 

Over the years our goal has evolved from a narrower focus on the waste stream in Alameda County to addressing issues more systemically. We’re not just focused on maximizing tons of waste diverted or kilowatts per hour saved. Our “multiple benefits” approach has shifted to incorporate the equity and community impacts of our work. We’re thinking more deeply about where the acupuncture points are so that we can be more systemic and strategic. For example, we’re connecting our environmental goals to local economic development strategies, so that we can support the growth of circular economic businesses. 

I'm excited about the place that the Agency is in right now – like everyone, we’ve done a lot of reflecting over the course of the pandemic. It caused a lot of disruption, but that disruption can be helpful for setting a new course. I think that we used it as an opportunity to take a fresh look at our programs and strategic direction. 

Do you have a life motto that you live by? 

The one that I’m trying to live by now is being the change that I want to see out in the world. There's so much that we can feel negative and depressed about when we look around and things that seem out of our control. It can be demoralizing working on environmental and social issues, but I always come back to a grounding question: How can I embody what I want to see every day in my work? That fuels me to keep on going. 

What do you like to do when you’re not working? 

I like to be outdoors and go for hikes. I also enjoy cross country skiing in the winter when there's enough snow. And I like to travel. My family is scattered all over the world, and there’s always some reason to visit them. I find that traveling for longer periods or living overseas shakes up my assumptions about what’s possible. When you immerse yourself in a different culture, you experience different outlooks and worldviews. This helps in gaining a new perspective while also appreciating what you have.