The world stands at a pivotal crossroads. As we confront growing challenges such as climate change, inequality, and resource depletion, the need for innovative and sustainable solutions has never been more urgent.
For women innovators, the path is often full of barriers, from societal expectations to limited access to mentorship and opportunities. However, mentorship has the power to transform this narrative, helping young women bridge the gap between ambition and achievement.
Nicole Watson, founder of the Econic Earth Foundation, is a driving force in this change. With a deep commitment to sustainable innovation and empowering young women, she is creating pathways for the next generation of female leaders. Her work focuses on providing off-grid communities, particularly students, with access to education, clean energy, and brighter futures. Nicole’s journey, shaped by diverse international experiences and a strong commitment to environmental conservation, stands as a testament to how one person can make a global impact.
Econic Earth Foundation: Bridging Gaps in Education and Sustainability
Nicole’s journey began in a small town of Castlegar, BC, Canada, but her career and educational pursuits soon took her across the globe. At 17, Nicole spent a year in Belgium as a Rotary Club Exchange Student, which ignited her passion for global engagement. After returning home, she studied Fine Arts at Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design then left in her 2nd year of studies to pursue a modeling contract with Elite Hong Kong, marking the beginning of her international career.
Following Asia her modeling career took her to Australia, where she found herself managing an immigration and international student services office between acting classes and small gigs. It was here that she played a pivotal role in launching two affiliate offices for the company in New Delhi, India, and Tokyo, Japan. After 6 years down under, Nicole left Australia, then worked for a year in Mexico, before settling in Los Angeles.
It was during her time in Los Angeles that Nicole co-founded and launched the Econic Earth Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit based in California, driven by her passion for sustainability and her desire to make a meaningful social impact. Through the course of programs and initiatives econic earth participated in a solar and water filtration installation in Calcutta, India in partnership with Sanlaap India and Sanlaap North America, a school and library building project in Marsabit, Kenya in partnership with FASAL Kenya and Green Sun Cities, Treeplanting, the WATTS On Solar Light program which has reached nearly 10,000 students, and production of two documentary films on the unexpected impacts of solar on the lives of students. The first titled “Sustainable Future; Survivor Girls” (2016) and the second titled “LIGHT” (2023) which along with screenings at film festivals and has also screened at the United Nations in New York thanks to UNAFF and at Cop 16 at the Aeon Collective Pavilion. The foundation is currently in development of a third documentary film and multi-country scale up of the WATTS On program. More to share soon.
After five years of running the foundation, Nicole became frustrated with the limitations of the donor-dependent funding model to keep her programs running. In 2020 during the covid pandemic she decided to deepen her knowledge and return to school pursuing an executive MBA in Sustainable Business at Business School Lausanne in Switzerland, as well as Women in Leadership courses at IMD, both teacher her more about how impact-driven businesses could create long-term, sustainable change and how to structure those.
Nicole’s diverse background— including experience in the nonprofit sector, student services, the film industry and fine arts, along with an MBA in Sustainable Business—has equipped her with a well-rounded skill set. And her expertise in creativity, storytelling, and business management has been key to the foundation’s growth and success.
The Foundation’s Shift: Empowering Communities Through Education
Econic Earth was initially established to support environmental and wildlife conservation. However, Nicole quickly realized that without empowering the communities on the frontlines of these environmental issues, it would be nearly impossible to protect wildlife and ecosystems.
Many of these communities, often located in remote, off-grid areas, have long lacked access to basic education and resources due to their lack of connection to essential infrastructure. This realization led to a shift in the foundation’s mission: to focus on empowering communities through education and sustainable solutions using solar power. As Nicole explains, “To protect the last wild places and the wildlife that resides there, the people who live alongside them must first be empowered with knowledge, tools, and opportunities. It’s very difficult to protect the environment when a person is in survival mode.”
Education: The Gateway to Empowerment
She believes education, especially for those in the most marginalized communities, is the most powerful tool for social change—especially when it empowers young women. “When we educate girls and young women, we’re not just investing in individuals; we’re investing in entire communities,” Nicole says. “The next generation of women innovators will lead us toward a more sustainable and equitable future.”
A Global Vision: Building a Sustainable Future
Nicole’s vision is not limited to econic earth’s initiatives. She’s also dedicated to creating a global impact by providing solarpowered solutions to off-grid communities while fostering innovation in education and sharing that knowledge with the world in both public speaking opportunities, film production and screening opportunities, and other public presentation events. One of the foundation’s standout programs mentioned a few times in this article and one of Nicole’s focus area’s right now is the “WATTS On Lighting Students’ Lives” program. This solar lighting program is designed to empower students living without electricity, enabling them to study after dark and improve their academic performance as well as mental health and wellbeing.
Currently, with the support of the international organization ChildFund, the program now operates in Kenya, Zambia, and is scheduled later this year to launch in Cambodia. In 2026 there are plans to expand into Senegal, Uganda, Indonesia and beyond. Nicole’s longterm goal is to reach one million students by 2030, brightening their lives and providing them with access to solar-powered lighting to unlock educational opportunities and health and safety support. She ensures this by aligning a 1-2 year monitoring program with teachers and education officials to make sure the students take care of the light, attend school and are motivated to perform well. The program partners monitor educational improvements as well as perform qualitative research in the communities on impacts at the household level.
In addition to solar lighting, Nicole is working on solar-powered hubs— electrified commercial centers that will provide off-grid communities with access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and business opportunities. These hubs will serve as vital resources for communities that are often overlooked in the digital and economic age. She is also researching designing a more sustainable solar lamp to replace the ones she currently purchases from suppliers which would improve the environmental impact and make the program less donor dependent.
Nicole’s global vision for sustainable change combines innovation, mentorship, and education to create a lasting positive impact: “When women have access to opportunities, they change the world.
Innovative Projects for Empowerment: Lighting the Way for Future Leaders
The “WATTS On Lighting Students’ Lives” program is one of econic earth’s flagship initiatives. By providing solar-powered lights to students living off-grid, Nicole and her team are helping to better students’ lives by giving them tools to study at night, which has led to significant improvements in academic performance, attendance, and overall educational outcomes. The program operates in some of the world’s most remote areas, where millions of children lack electricity.
The program’s impact includes:
- Improved educational performance and attendance: With the ability to study after dark, students have shown significant improvements in focus and performance. Teachers have noted higher attendance rates as students are no longer hindered by the lack of lighting.
- Cost savings and economic benefits for families: Many families rely on expensive and harmful kerosene lamps. The solar lights help save money while reducing exposure to harmful fumes, offering both economic and health benefits.
- Reduced environmental pressures and deforestation: Solar lighting decreases the need for firewood, helping preserve forests and reduce the impacts of deforestation—crucial for maintaining local ecosystems.
- Reduced carbon emissions: Each solar lamp prevents around 92 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually, contributing to climate change mitigation.
- Improved community morale: The solar lights bring hope and a sense of pride to communities, inspiring optimism and empowering individuals to shape their futures.
- Improved health and mental wellbeing: Solar lighting eliminates the harmful effects of kerosene fumes on eyes and lungs, creating a healthier and safer environment for families, while reducing stress.
- Reduced human-wildlife conflicts: In areas where wildlife is integral to daily life, solar lighting reduces the use of fire-based lights, minimizing human-wildlife conflict and creating safer environments for both people and animals.
- Increased safety and security: A significant and often unexpected impact of the program is improved safety for women and children. In many areas, solar lights serve as a deterrent to criminals, providing protection from assault inside the homestead at night, violence and theft. When a solar lamp is hung outside the homestead, perpetrators not wanting to be identified in the village will not attempt to enter. This is also reducing pregnancy and stds.
These impacts are profound. Teachers can also prepare lessons at night, and benefit from the program. The program has also had a remarkable effect on gender equality, as it enables girls to continue their education after dark, and protect their personal safety, leading to higher enrollment, and greater family support to pursue education in addition to higher graduation rates.
Conclusion: Empowering the Next Generation
Nicole’s work through Econic Earth demonstrates that change is not only possible—it’s essential. By combining sustainable innovation, education, and mentorship, she is creating pathways for young women to become leaders and innovators in their communities. Her dedication to providing solar solutions, empowering students, and sharing impactful stories is transforming the world, one community at a time.
As Nicole continues her work, she is inspiring countless young women to pursue their dreams. The next generation of young leaders is rising, and they are at the forefront of creating a more sustainable and equitable world.
Call to Action: Join the Movement
The work of Econic Earth relies on the support of people like you. A simple $5 donation can light up a child’s life, both literally and figuratively. Your contribution will provide solar lighting to a student who lacks access to electricity, brightening their life, enabling them to study and succeed as well as benefiting an entire household. We’re also looking for country level sponsors, with the goal of reaching one million students by 2030 globally. By sponsoring a country, you can help provide education and empowerment to the communities that need it most. We are also open to moving into new countries not yet listed, so if you believe there is need in a specific region and would like to support our program, please feel free to contact us.
Visit www.econicearth.org to learn more about our projects and how you can get involved. Together, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for the next generation of women innovators and leaders.
