What if something as simple as a small solar light could change a child’s future?

In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Trish Pinnella speaks with Nicole Watson, founder of the Iconic Earth Foundation, about how access to clean light is transforming education, safety, and opportunity for students living in off-grid communities.

Through her program Watts On – Lighting Students’ Lives, Nicole and her partners are providing solar lamps to students in rural regions where electricity is unavailable. These lamps allow children to study after sunset, improve school performance, and help families feel safer at night.

Nicole shares the powerful stories behind the program—from its early pilot in Kenya to expansion into Zambia and Uganda—and explains why such a simple technology can create ripple effects across education, health, and community wellbeing.

The conversation highlights an important truth: sometimes the most transformative solutions are also the simplest.

About the GuestNicole Watson is the founder of the Econic Earth Foundation and creator of the Watts On – Lighting Students’ Lives program.

Her work focuses on renewable energy solutions that support education, safety, and environmental sustainability in off-grid communities around the world.

Nicole combines her background in filmmaking and storytelling with on-the-ground humanitarian initiatives that deliver measurable impact.

Learn more:

https://econicearth.org/

https://www.wattson.org/

LIGHT | Award-Winning Short Documentary Film on How Solar Energy is Transforming Students’ Lives: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=shared&v=KzZIGK41Z9w

About the HostTrish Pinnella is a board member and Marketing Chair at Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, where she drives community growth and amplifies women leading climate solutions. Her climate work began in green building and renewable energy and now focuses on connecting technology, policy, community, and storytelling to accelerate climate impact.

About WCS Talks UnpluggedWCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global network advancing women’s leadership in climate, energy, and sustainability.

Each episode features conversations with innovators, founders, and leaders working to build a more sustainable future.

Produced By Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Marieke brings a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability.

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Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability:

womencleantechsustainability.org

Episode ID: 1000764253585

GUID: 032a343c-77a6-46e0-a60b-30ab3b10b763

Release Date: 29/04/2026, 08:00:00