A healthy rhizosphere (i.e., the dynamic but narrow area of soil surrounding plant roots) stimulates microbial activity, which enhances root and plant growth, nutrient exchange, respiration, and carbon storage. Inspired by the natural processes within this soil region, UpRhizer seeks to help organizations at or via their roots.
Regeneration. Opportunity. Integrity.
Dahni-El Giles is passionate about addressing the climate crisis, promoting regenerative business, protecting the environment, and creating opportunity for others. He provides thought partnership, strategy, and public speaking services about the climate crisis and climate action to businesses, non-profits, community groups, and government agencies, especially those pursuing regenerative, environmental, or positive social impact.
Currently, Dahni-El serves as Senior Counsel at Sila Nanotechnologies, a breakthrough applied battery materials company. He also independently advises companies including Planet FWD, the leading carbon management platform making it easier for consumer brands to take climate action. (Here’s an example of Planet FWD’s work with Ritual.)
Previously, he served as Senior Counsel at Kraft Foods Global, Inc. (now known as Mondelēz International Inc.) and Hampton Creek (now known as Eat JUST, Inc.), providing business and legal counseling for each company’s sustainability, supply chain, R&D, and corporate affairs teams. At Eat JUST, he co-authored the “Hampton Creek Sustainability KPI Calculation Methodology”paper about calculating key sustainability performance indicators related to the impacts of product ingredients on greenhouse gas emissions and freshwater consumption. He is also the co-founder of the Global Regeneration CoLab, a group connecting experienced ecological problem solvers with land management and other climate crisis mitigation projects. Over the course of his career, he is most proud of co-founding DonorsChoose.org, a crowdfunding platform directing over $1 billion to U.S. public school classrooms.
Dahni-El earned an A.B. from Harvard University and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. An En-Roads Climate Ambassador, Oliver Scholar, Coro Fellow, and Bleeker Fellow, he serves on the board of the Ecological Citizen’s Project. He also served as a board director at Code Nation for ten years and as a trustee at St. Paul’s School for six years, where he chaired the Climate Action Task Force in 2021-2022 to produce five recommendations amid a robust 50-page report to reduce the school’s Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and more.
Thought Partnership
Understanding your goals, industry, and competition is a first step to building a successful platform for people, purpose, and profit. Dahni-El provides a thoughtful and critical outside perspective as well as problem solving and creative insights to your organization by examining the high level operation and looking beyond its walls.
Strategy
Planning a sustainable organization requires a nuanced understanding of how every aspect of your operation impacts the planet, its people, and your reputation (media and otherwise). With knowledge of commercial practicality and sustainable business methodology, Dahni-El develops strategies that go beyond good intent to generate real, positive impact.
Public Speaking
The climate crisis is intimidating. Understanding it and what to do about it can also be intimidating. An experienced attorney, Dahni-El understands the value of careful listening, planning, and tailoring a message to an audience. In his workshop “The Optimist’s Guide To The Climate Crisis: How To Do More Than Hope,” Dahni-El conveys what you need to know, what makes a difference, and what you can do.