After being raised as a child amid the spectacular and serene desert landscapes of Arizona, she gathered through her work and studies a vast international experience, from Lima to Lille, Nairobi to New Delhi.

Her experiences and work in ecological and social responsibility has continued throughout her career, building her strong background in sustainability. After studying political philosophy and journalism in California, Figueroa worked as a social entrepreneur in political education, before returning to graduate school to study international affairs and economic development. Then it was onto roles on climate policy at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, Siemens, and later sustainable development at the German Institute of Development and Sustainability – a leading think tank working on sustainable development policy and leading research projects across the Global South.

As Chief Sustainability Officer at Breitling and a board member of Villars Institute, she is working to create value through pioneering initiatives and to support perceptions of status that include aspects of sustainability.

HER YOUTH

Something about the desert landscape of Arizona is just so calming. I was anxious when I was living in Paris, and I didn’t understand why. And I think a lot of it was simply because at no point could I see further than 400 meters. Maybe some people look at a desert and see emptiness and desolation, but there’s spectacular life there, and landscapes that may appear barren at first are actually fecund.

At university, I volunteered on a presidential campaign. It wasn’t successful, but for a hot minute during the New Hampshire primary and in the somewhat obscure town of Dixville Notch, we thought our candidate would be the nominee. After university, I became a social entrepreneur and worked with the US Congress to host students for a Model Congress in the actual halls and committee rooms. This had never been done before, so it was a really special experience.

After years of researching, I wanted more direct action in my work. I was able to expand my expertise in sustainable development research to practical roles in corporate sustainability and in a contrasting setting, moving from development policy to the luxury goods industry. In 2020, I had the opportunity to join Breitling, and today I am still able to apply each aspect of my past experience in this challenging and multidimensional role.

HER WORK

The luxury industry plays an important role in shaping notions of status. The potential to shift perspectives of status to also include considerations related to sustainability is a meaningful opportunity for broader value creation.

We have a great opportunity to do this at Breitling. It’s an incredibly well-known brand with 140 years of history, and an extraordinary platform to be able to communicate from. At the same time, we’re making a real impact by focusing on contributing to prosperity for communities around the globe and scaling up our actions to support nature. As just one example, together with our partners, we have been able to develop tailored education for underserved communities, supporting socioeconomic development, increasing inclusivity, and contributing to the inspiring work of social impact leaders. We’ve also been able to lead in our industry on key aspects related to nature, including the most ambitious climate targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, and being the first to issue a report according to the guidance of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.

The luxury industry is a symptom of socio-economic inequality. We’ve been doing the best we can within our sphere of influence, leading the way for industry transparency and pioneering action for communities and nature. We detail all our efforts in our annual Sustainability Mission Report, available at Breitling.com, where we make all our efforts public.

Transparency is key to our sustainability efforts. It’s been a guiding principle for us, setting a new standard in our industry. For me, transparency is essential in the sustainability journey because it signals moving beyond the paralyzing state of shame. It allows us at the same time to truthfully reflect on our impacts, to hold ourselves accountable to our stakeholders, and thereby build a currency of trust among us to support our ongoing collaboration.

About once a year, I take an extended trip to visit members of gold supply chains in Latin America with my colleagues at Breitling and beyond. This is essential because it helps us understand the bigger picture. I have personally met miners in our supply chain at their work sites. To understand the broader context, I’ve even visited illegal mining operations. This experience has provided a lot of context around the industry and underlines why we are engaging to support positive change in the broader system to impact communities and nature.

I am deeply inspired by nature. At the same time, I also live with eco-anxiety. So, to stay positive, I enter nature and learn from its wisdom. Nature is the most spectacular teacher. It is just so endlessly generous to us, constantly sharing its gifts, and helping us to remember that we, of course, are nature too. I think the biggest question we should ask ourselves is: ‘What are the gifts we can return to nature, and honor it, and recognize it as our teacher and giver of life?’

ON VILLARS

When I first attended the Villars Summit in March 2023, I was astounded by their activity. For better or for worse, I don’t usually attend conferences or summits, but Villars is a must-attend because it’s so essential for me to understand the current edge in developments around nature and the planet.

Villars is in such a unique and awe-inspiring location. Being among the mountains also expands the mind so that you can think about the bigger picture. It’s one of the reasons why I live in Switzerland. The mountains mean so much to me, and I’m with them as often as I can be, skiing and hiking – sometimes every week, and always traveling by the world-class public transport available across Switzerland.

I’m really looking forward to contributing to the Villars Institute board – and I think I can do this through storytelling. As individuals, we’re all storytelling – it’s the nature of our humanity, and how we advance who we are. It goes back to the Indigenous roots we all ultimately have but, in some cases, have been severed from at different stages along the way. So, I think storytelling is a way to return to ourselves and the greatest aspects of our humanity.

Breitling issues an annual sustainability mission report. In its 2024 edition, it becomes the first in its industry, and a frontrunner globally, in the adoption of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards.