Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Siyeon Joo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi! My name is Siyeon (pronounced “she-yun”), and I’m an 18‑year‑old climate and gender justice activist from Louisiana. I’m a first‑year Public Health student and content creator who shares vlog and coming‑of‑age style videos on Instagram, where I talk honestly about activism, identity, and growing up online.

I’ve been involved in the climate movement for 5–6 years, starting with digital climate strikes in middle school. Since then, I’ve worked with The Climate Initiative, EarthEcho International, and NOAA in roles ranging from youth ambassador to campaign lead. Much of my work centers the Gulf South and immigrant communities, reflecting my experience as a first‑generation Korean immigrant raised in South Louisiana. I’ve helped shape local, national, and international policy, hosted climate education webinars, led climate‑fiction book talks for teens, co‑created toolkits and fundraising materials, and organized in‑person ocean conservation and policy summits.

In 2024, I joined Girl Up USA as a Youth Advisor and now serve as the US South Coalition Leader, supporting chapters across 11 states. I helped launch campaigns on voter registration, gender equity, and climate justice; produced the LeadHER Voices podcast and blog series for Women’s History Month; and collaborated with partners like NASA and OceanWise.

My mentor once told me that progress moves at the speed of trust, and that motto is what I attempt to internalize and emulate through advocacy and storytelling. I use research, policy, and social media to make complex issues feel personal and actionable for young people, especially girls who might feel isolated or unsure they belong in these spaces. Although I have contributed to federal and international campaigns and initiatives, I’m proudest of the local work through shoreline cleanups, voter registration drives, tutoring, and conversations with neighbors from Cancer Alley to Baltimore.
In every project and platform, I prioritize honesty, integrity, and community-driven work that transforms climate and gender justice from overwhelming abstractions into tangible possibilities—one story at a time.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

When I was invited to host the Los Angeles Youth UN Foundation Leadership Summit with Girl Up, I expected to feel confident. I naively believed I had years of climate advocacy under my belt, from lobbying efforts to educational webinars. But instead, I found myself overwhelmed by imposter syndrome. Surrounded by youth leaders who had been organizing period product drives, leading healthcare webinars, and speaking fluently about gender equity, I questioned whether my work in environmental justice even belonged in the room. I worried that climate activism was too tangential, too niche, to contribute meaningfully to a gender justice movement.

That summit became a turning point. Listening to climate justice champions speak about how environmental degradation disproportionately affects women and girls, from food insecurity to displacement, I realized that my work had always been intersectional, even if I hadn’t named it that. I began to see climate justice not as separate, but as deeply embedded in the fight for gender equity. That pivot in perspective reshaped how I approached advocacy: I began mentoring girls interested in the intersection of climate and gender justice, and I leaned into storytelling that honored both. Now, whether I’m creating content or organizing campaigns, I center the lived experiences of those most affected by the climate crises. The gender and climate justice movements must coexist for either to achieve any progress, and that was a lesson I am grateful to realize at such a young age.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

There’s an incredible quote I hold onto from Warren Buffet: “you’re only looking for 3 qualities in a person: enthusiasm, intelligence, and integrity.” From my experiences, I’ve distilled my own guiding qualities into discipline and passion.

Discipline has led me to where I am now, but passion has brought me to where I am today. Discipline has carried me through long hours of planning, research, and organizing. It is the reason I hold high expectations for both my team and my individual work, while still balancing the qualities required to serve as a team player and a leader. When people ask how I balance academics, activism, and content creation, I emphasize that I prioritize structure and direction so I can accomplish what needs to be done while contributing 110% of my energy.

Passion, on the other hand, has kept me energized and connected to the communities I serve. It motivates me to show up each morning, no matter how strenuous the day ahead may be. I am intentional about where I invest my time and resources, and I would never pursue something I don’t believe in. To me, success requires knowing the value of your project, recognizing your worth, and having the courage to stand by your convictions.
Together, these two qualities they’ve shaped not only my work ethic but also the way I approach challenges in climate and gender justice advocacy.

Hosting the She’s So Social summit taught me that discipline means showing up consistently, even when the work feels overwhelming, and passion means believing in the value of what you’re building. That combination gave me the direction to launch my own social media page, where I now reach millions monthly, and the determination to stand by projects I believe in. But perhaps most importantly, discipline and passion helped me accept imperfection. I’ve made mistakes as a researcher, activist, and content creator, and each misstep became a lesson in resilience. Success in my field isn’t about flawless execution; it’s about having the discipline to keep going and the passion to stay true to your purpose, even when the path is messy.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siyeonjooish/
• Facebook: @siyeonjoo
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siyeon-joo-7a6b00279/