Episode 129: Pritha Hariram - Climate Adaptation
In this episode of Leadership Conversations: The Untold Secrets of the C-Suite, Nick Jonsson welcomes Pritha Hariram, Head of Department, Water at Ramboll, for an in-depth discussion on climate adaptation and why it has become one of the most urgent leadership challenges of our time.
Climate adaptation goes beyond environmental responsibility—it is a strategic, economic, and social imperative. Pritha brings a grounded, systems-level perspective shaped by her work across water infrastructure, urban development, and resilience planning. She explains how climate risks such as flooding, water scarcity, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events are no longer future concerns but present realities that demand immediate and coordinated action.
Throughout the conversation, Pritha emphasizes the importance of proactive planning rather than reactive crisis management. She highlights how cities, businesses, and governments must shift from short-term fixes to long-term resilience strategies that account for uncertainty and evolving climate patterns. This includes rethinking how infrastructure is designed, how communities are protected, and how water resources are managed sustainably.
Pritha also discusses the critical role of systems thinking in climate adaptation. Effective solutions, she explains, require collaboration across sectors—engineering, policy, finance, and community engagement. Climate adaptation cannot succeed in silos. Leaders must foster cross-functional partnerships and create frameworks that allow innovation, data sharing, and integrated decision-making.
A key theme of the episode is the human dimension of climate adaptation. Pritha underscores the importance of equity and inclusion, noting that climate impacts often affect vulnerable communities first and hardest. Successful adaptation strategies must therefore consider social resilience alongside technical solutions, ensuring that no communities are left behind as systems evolve.
Listeners will also gain insight into real-world examples of climate adaptation in action—from resilient urban drainage systems to nature-based solutions that work with ecosystems rather than against them. Pritha explains how these approaches not only reduce risk but also create long-term economic and environmental value.
Whether you are a business leader, policymaker, sustainability professional, or simply someone seeking to understand how climate uncertainty will shape the future, this episode offers practical guidance and thoughtful leadership insights. It is a compelling reminder that climate adaptation is not just about surviving change—but about designing systems, communities, and organizations that can thrive in it.
Contact Pritha Hariram to collaborate with her.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pritha-hariram-2164b115/
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