Climate AI & Sustainability in Manufacturing with Leise Sandeman, Co-founder of Pathways

Epidsode: https://henryharrison.com/leise-sandeman/

Pathways: https://pathwaysai.co/

Leise's Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leise-sandeman/

Episode Summary:

In this enlightening episode, host Henry Harrison sits down with Leise Sandeman, the co-founder of Pathways, a company using AI to revolutionize sustainability in manufacturing. Leise shares her journey from Denmark to the U.S., her educational and professional background at Harvard, MIT, and McKinsey, and her passion for making sustainability accessible and actionable for businesses around the globe.

Key Takeaways:

1. Leise’s Journey to Entrepreneurship

Growing up in Denmark and her early exposure to sustainability.

Education at Harvard and MIT, where she met her co-founder, Alex.

The pivotal moments that inspired her passion for sustainability, from working at McKinsey to an immersive experience at Tata Steel in India.

2. The Vision Behind Pathways

The company’s mission: simplifying sustainability for manufacturers.

How Pathways automates life cycle assessments (LCAs) with AI, replacing manual, time-intensive processes.

The practical approach to reducing emissions by leveraging existing company data.

3. Challenges and Opportunities in Climate AI

The critical role of regulation in driving sustainability.

How AI is transforming the manufacturing landscape by making decarbonization pathways clear and actionable.

Real-world success stories, from small ready-mix concrete producers to large multinational manufacturers.

4. Mentorship and Building the Right Team

The importance of mentors who inspire belief and guidance.

The dynamic partnership with co-founder Alex, emphasizing shared values and hard work.

The disciplined approach to securing venture capital, ensuring alignment with investors knowledgeable about the manufacturing and sustainability sectors.

5. The Future of Pathways

Scaling up to serve the global materials manufacturing industry.

The company’s vision of creating a comprehensive data layer for sustainable manufacturing.

Leise’s optimistic outlook on leveraging technology for meaningful environmental impact.

Notable Quotes:

“Sustainability isn’t highbrow or elitist—it’s real, practical changes made every day.”

“Our customers are way smarter about decarbonization. Our job is to make the pathway visible for them to take action.”

“It’s a privilege to work on something I love every single day.”