Graduate Bianca Dager Jervis (Class of 2003, Ecuador) believed something magical was happening the moment, many years ago, when she saw with her own eyes how pig manure was transformed into processed compost with the help of earthworms. She was in high school when she had an unexpected encounter with Francisco Aguilar (Class of 1998, Ecuador), a recent EARTH graduate who was implementing a community work program near her home. Following Francisco’s instructions, she picked up a shovel for the first time. Her task was to clean up the manure, transport it to the bin that contained the worms, and then watch as, over time, the magic happened, turning waste into nutrient-rich compost that helps crops grow.
At first she thought to herself, “How disgusting!” But the process impacted her so deeply that she wanted to learn more. She was seeing how the world of agriculture—and life itself—is like alchemy, where one thing transforms into another: a seed into a tree, a flower into a fruit, organic waste into nourishing material for the soil. Francisco saw Bianca was developing a calling she hadn’t yet recognized in herself, and he encouraged her to apply to EARTH. A few months later, she traveled to Costa Rica to begin her studies, where she learned to embrace showering in cold water and working near tropical frogs, and grew used to the torrential rains under which she and her classmates often had their lessons.
Bianca is restless, curious, and persistent. In her twenties, she co-founded Premios Verdes, a platform that recognizes, amplifies, and connects social and environmental projects across Latin America. Each year, Premios Verdes highlights 500 projects, requiring Bianca and her team’s constant commitment to discovering transformative initiatives and working alongside them.
In the public sector, Bianca served as Ecuador’s Vice Minister of Environment. In this role, she translated her passion for sustainability into public policy. She was a key advocate for conservation strategies, sustainable development, and circular economy initiatives in the country. She understood that beyond ideas, true transformation requires political will, strategic alliances, and effective communication.
She worked closely with communities, businesses, and international organizations, championing the idea that economic growth and environmental conservation do not have to be at odds, but can strengthen each other.
“For me, the most exciting part was starting from scratch, defining priorities, and making sustainability a cross-cutting pillar in public policy. Advocacy in public policy is incredible because it leads to tangible results. I tell my kids, ‘See those little juice boxes? Your mom was one of the people who pushed for the plastic straws to be removed.’ My time at the Ministry of Environment changed my perspective. It put a human face on conservation. Traveling across the country exposes you to real challenges and risks, teaching you how to shift from conflict to a shared vision. There’s nothing more powerful than that. The Ministry shaped me so much that it defines what I do today.”
Out of this deep passion and blend of worlds and knowledge, Bianca founded Setenta-Treinta—a consultancy that believes businesses should not only be profitable, but also responsible towards people and the planet. Through it, Bianca has guided brands and companies toward positive impact models. As if that wasn’t enough, she also co-founded Weya Latam, a sustainable fashion platform that proves elegance and ethics can go hand in hand.
“Weya Latam was born from a long reflection on the richness of our country. Ecuador is a land of extraordinary biodiversity. We have the Galápagos, the Amazon, the Andes, the Chocó, and with that natural diversity comes immense ethnic and cultural wealth. Weya seeks to elevate Ecuadorian craftsmanship to a level of luxury, giving it the value it deserves. My focus is on connecting nature with various sectors, from conservation to private industry and production. Restoring ecosystems is not just an environmental act—it’s a powerful strategy to strengthen the resilience of our production systems, much like soil fertilization or pruning.”
Bianca thrives on constant movement and aims to break the inertia and disconnect many people have from nature in today’s globalized world. In 2024 she launched 21 Días, a podcast she describes as a “shot of awareness.” The episodes are short, with engaging and immersive storytelling. This project is her creative space, where she reflects on urgent global issues such as climate change, and, most importantly, curiosity and consistency as tools for change.
Each episode ends with a reflection—an invitation to adopt positive habits to relieve the burden on our planet and natural resources. “It’s invaluable when someone questions something for the first time, something they had never thought about before, and suddenly understands its impact and the cost of inaction—because doing nothing also has a price, and it can be devastating.”
Bianca continues to bet on transformation. She knows that real change doesn’t happen in speeches or documents, but in action—in every decision made by a company, a government, or an individual. Her story proves that sustainability is not just a destination, but a path in constant evolution.