Getting to Action: The Art and Science of Sustainable Decision-Making

Marianne Langridge, PhD, is a systems thinker, innovator, and sustainability leader with more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of technology, the environment, and organizational development. As the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Sustainable Synthesis Limited, a Public Benefit Corporation, Langridge helps public, private, and nonprofit organizations design and implement sustainable solutions that integrate science, economics, and human-centered design. She also serves as Executive Director of the Verde Valley Regional Economic Organization, driving sustainable economic prosperity through regional collaboration. Previously, Langridge spent over two decades at global engineering firm CDM Smith, where she held multiple leadership roles, including Senior Vice President and member of the Executive Management Committee. There, she led strategic initiatives in research, innovation, and enterprise-wide collaboration, with a focus on resilience, smart infrastructure, and water analytics. Her work also includes facilitating complex change efforts, teaching project and program management, and advancing sustainability efforts for municipal, state, federal, private and nonprofit organizations. She holds a PhD and MS in systems engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and dual undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics from Bucknell University. She also earned executive training in green technology from ESADE in Spain and is a certified 500-hour yoga teacher, integrating mindfulness and wellness into her leadership approach. A respected thought leader and published author, Langridge regularly speaks on innovation, trust-building, and systems transformation.