Name : Tetsuya Tanaka
Department/Position : Global Business Department, Intern
Area of Expertise/Assigned Duties： Agreen Development, Operational Supports (e,g, Manuals, Investor pitch etc.) , Event Planning, Market Research
University: Amherst College Amherst College
Major/Studies : Computer Science and Political Science Computer Science and Political Science
Career Background: Originally from Shiga, Japan, and Wuxi, China. Currently attending Amherst College in the United States as an international student.
Hobbies/How I Spend My Days Off :Badminton, Photography, Reading, and Traveling
Student Activities/Organizations :
Student Senate, Amherst College Badminton Club (Treasurer & Coordinator), Japanese Cultural Club, TEDxAmherst (Videography Director), Ideas 2 Innovation (Technical PM), 180 Degrees Consulting, Admission Blogger, Student Photographer
Q.Please give us a brief introduction of yourself, including your career history.
Hi! My name is Tetsuya, and I’m a rising sophomore at Amherst College in the U.S., double majoring in Political Science and Computer Science. Having lived in Japan, China, and the U.S., I’ve been immersed in diverse cultures, which has shaped my interest in working in internationally collaborative environments.
My journey in sustainability began in high school, sparked by a classmate’s skeptical remark: “One person’s actions won’t make a difference.” Since then, I’ve been deeply involved in environmental initiatives. As the head of my high school’s Sustainability Committee, I led projects such as introducing a composting system to the dining hall, publishing our first annual sustainability report to the Board of Trustees, and organizing Earth Day workshops. I also served as the Northeast Regional Director for the National High School Climate Forum, a network of 150+ schools focused on climate action and research.
At Amherst, I’ve continued to pursue sustainability and operational innovation—developing digital tools such as a lost-and-found platform and internal systems for the Office of Sustainability.
Outside of academics, I’m passionate about badminton. I’m currently organizing Amherst’s first-ever collegiate badminton tournament, with over eight participating schools including Brown, Dartmouth, and Yale.
Q. Reason for Joining Green Carbon？
I wanted to gain firsthand experience in startup operations and understand how innovation translates from theory to practice. My background in sustainability from high school made me keenly aware of the need for incentive-based climate solutions, and Green Carbon felt like the ideal place to contribute while learning.
Q. What kind of work are you involved in? Please tell us about your job responsibilities.
Over the past few months, I have been primarily involved in Agreen development, research and analysis, operations, and event planning at Green Carbon.
- Agreen Development: I’ve contributed my computer science knowledge by reviewing the app’s technical features, suggesting improvements, and recommending tools best suited for its development.
- Research & Analysis: I conducted market research on topics such as product pricing in different countries and key stakeholder mapping. I compiled these findings into concise reports, helping the team make data-driven decisions.
- Operations: I created public-facing manuals to help explain complex concepts like AWD (Alternate Wetting and Drying) in an accessible way. I also supported the creation of investment materials, including designing graphs and figures using Adobe Illustrator.
- Event Planning: Together with a few other interns, I helped plan and execute Green Carbon’s first event at the new office, welcoming over 70 participants. I contributed to both the logistics and the presentation materials.
What I appreciate most about working at Green Carbon is the intentionality behind the assignments. Rather than randomly delegating tasks, the team actively engages with each intern’s goals and tailors their responsibilities to maximize learning and growth.
Q. What do you find rewarding about your work?
It’s incredibly rewarding to work on projects that are part of a larger environmental mission. Whether drafting an investor pitch or testing a new UI for Agreen, I know the work contributes to a real-world ecosystem of climate action. The learning curve is steep, but that’s what makes it meaningful.
Q. What challenges have you faced so far?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced so far has been learning the overall structure and process of the carbon credit market. It involves a range of specialized terminology and organizations I wasn’t familiar with before joining Green Carbon. However, many of the staff and fellow interns kindly took the time to explain the mechanisms behind the market and supported my learning process. Now that I’ve gained a better understanding, I’m able to assist new interns as they get up to speed.
Q. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope to launch my own initiative or company that addresses a pressing societal need by leveraging my IT expertise. Whether it’s in sustainability, education, or public infrastructure, I want to create solutions that combine technology with real-world impact—building systems that not only function efficiently, but also empower communities.
Q. Finally, please give a message to those who want to work at GreenCarbon.
At Green Carbon, you’re not treated like “just” an intern. You are empowered to own your work, ask tough questions, and collaborate with teams who are genuinely committed to tackling climate challenges. If you’re curious, motivated, and ready to dive into work that actually matters, this is the place to be.
