Frances Sawyer

Frances Sawyer is an experienced leader and strategist dedicated to fostering a democratic and equitable climate-safe future. As the Founder of Pleiades Strategy since June 2021, Frances provides strategic planning, program design, and policy research services aimed at amplifying impact for mission-driven organizations. Frances serves as the Bay Area Lead Fellow at Coro Northern California, participating in a leadership development program for mid-career professionals. Prior roles include Chief of Staff at Detect, where efforts focused on developing accessible at-home molecular diagnostic tests; Policy Advisor to Tom Steyer during their 2020 presidential campaign; and Deputy Director of External Affairs in the California Governor's Office, focusing on decarbonization goals and the Global Climate Action Summit. Additional experience includes leadership positions at the Kahle-Austin Foundation and Internet Archive, NextGen Climate, and Fahr LLC, as well as founding WriteLegacy, a writing service. Frances holds a Master of Forestry in Environmental Resource Management from the Yale School of the Environment and a bachelor's degree from Yale University.