Yadira Diaz shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Yadira, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing the chance to turn my passion into something that truly makes a difference in this world. I’ve seen how much potential there is for businesses to operate smarter, save money, and protect the planet at the same time and I can’t stop until that becomes the norm, not the exception. If I ever stopped, I know I’d spend the rest of my life wondering “what if,” and that’s just not something I can live with. This work is more than a mission, it’s part of who I am.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Yadira Diaz, the Founder and Chief Impact Officer of Gradible, a climate tech company based in Miami helping businesses save money while reducing their environmental impact.
Before starting Gradible, I worked in corporate sales and I couldn’t ignore how much waste and inefficiency I saw all around me. That realization, along with living in Miami and seeing the effects of climate change firsthand, pushed me to turn my career toward something that created lasting impact.
Gradible started with a simple idea: make sustainability practical and profitable. We built a marketplace of over 250 innovative business solutions that help organizations cut waste, energy, and water use while accessing rebates, tax credits, and incentives to offset costs. What makes us unique is how we connect environmental impact with business performance showing that doing good for the planet can also be great for the bottom line.
Right now, we’re expanding Gradible’s digital platform to make it even easier for companies to find solutions, track results, and future-proof their operations. My goal is to prove that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be smart.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dad saw me clearly long before I ever saw myself. He’s the reason we moved from Puerto Rico to Florida, he wanted my brother, sister and I to have access to the best schools and every opportunity possible. He always pushed me to do well in school and believed in my potential even when I doubted it. Because of him, I joined a dual enrollment program and graduated high school with my associate’s degree already completed. He used to call me his “bella genio” (his beautiful genius) and it made me feel like I could do anything I set my mind to. That belief shaped everything about who I am today and how I approach my work.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that your whole world can be flipped upside down in the blink of an eye and that nothing in life is guaranteed. It taught me resilience, faith, and perspective. When things fall apart, you realize what truly matters and who you really are. Success feels great, but struggle reveals your strength. It’s in those moments of uncertainty and pain that I’ve grown the most. They’ve made me more grounded, more grateful, and more fearless in chasing what I believe in.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I rely most on the ideas and innovation of the incredible companies we represent in our marketplace at Gradible. They’re the ones creating real, measurable change in the world, developing solutions that make it easier for businesses to operate smarter and more sustainably. Their creativity and willingness to push boundaries inspire me every day. That collaboration is the heartbeat of our business. I’ve always believed we get farther, faster, together and I hope Gradible continues to prove that collective innovation is how we build a better future.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I did everything in my power to make a difference, that I used my gifts to help others, protect the planet, and create something meaningful that outlived me. I want to be remembered as someone who led with heart, who turned her passion into purpose, and who never gave up on the idea that business can be a force for good. More than anything, I hope my story inspires others to believe that they can build a life and a career that serve both people and the planet.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gradible.co
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yadira-d
