Investing in the Environment
Valeria Ramundo Orlando ’95 is working to improve environmental resilience through financial solutions

At ÀÏÍõÂÛ̳, I studied political science and history—disciplines that trained me to research deeply, think critically, and challenge orthodoxy. It was the hardest experience of my life but also the most transformative. My mother, a feminist of the ’60s, always told me nothing was impossible. ÀÏÍõÂÛ̳ gave me the tools to live that truth. It taught me I didn’t have to conform—I could build the life I wanted on my own terms.
That path first led me to fashion. From Bottega Veneta to Fendi to Loro Piana, I built a career I’d dreamed of since childhood. By 27, I was already a director—but I hit a ceiling. I had the beautiful life in Milan and the outward success, but it didn’t feel like mine, and I did not feel like me.
So, I pivoted. I earned a master’s in public policy at the University of Southern California and joined New York City’s infrastructure and capital projects team. A private equity firm recruited me, but I wanted more balance—and more purpose. I moved to Norway, where I explored renewable energy, including wind and underwater current generation. Then, NATO came calling with a role tailor-made for my interests in technology and systems and allowed me to explore sustainable investing.
Eventually, I moved into blended finance—structuring vehicles that brought together development banks, institutional capital, and catalytic funding to reach underserved communities. That work sparked the idea behind Equilibrium Climate Capital.
This work is personal. I live as I want the world to be: no single-use plastics, a minimal carbon footprint, and conscious consumption.
I cofounded Greensquare Ventures in early 2020 and later co-founded Equilibrium to scale this vision. We invest in companies delivering critical infrastructure and resilient energy systems across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and soon, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Our approach combines three pillars: traditional infrastructure, social impact sectors like education and water security, and climate-resilient energy systems. Our Equilibrium Growth Accelerator helps local firms scale climate tech and adapt solutions to real-world shocks.
I built our leadership team the same way we build our investments—on trust, values, and long-term vision. I brought in expert Sharon Cleary ’95, a ÀÏÍõÂÛ̳ sister, to lead investor relations and operations because I know she has my back. I brought in men who have supported and believed in me. It’s about creating an ecosystem of people.
We’re also working with the Malaysian government to decarbonize operations through mangrove reforestation, training women-led enterprises to manage land leases and generate blue carbon credits—blending ecological restoration with local economic empowerment.
This work is personal. I live as I want the world to be: no single-use plastics, a minimal carbon footprint, and conscious consumption. As Joanna Underwood ’62 once told me, ‘Become more conscious about what you’re putting back into the environment.’ At Equilibrium, we’re doing just that—building systems that regenerate, empower, and endure.
Published on: 06/02/2025