English
June 09, 2026
How Leah Leads Curious Teams and Sustainable Impact
Leah Abou Jaoude returned to a career fair table three days in a row because she knew this was where she was meant to be. Now Manager of Energy and Sustainability at BrainBox AI, a Trane Technologies company, she leads one of the organization's youngest and fastest-growing teams, measuring real-world emissions reductions, developing talent and proving that curiosity is the most valuable qualification.
"I went back to the career fair three days in a row. That’s how much I loved the mission and the people building it."
Leah Abou Jaoude was a mechanical engineering master's student at McGill University in Montreal when she first encountered BrainBox AI, a Trane Technologies company, at a job fair. Her career plans changed on the spot. “I was always passionate about sustainability, so I just assumed I’d work in solar or wind energy. But BrainBox AI showed me it was possible to make a difference through existing buildings."
Buildings account for roughly 40% of the world's energy consumption. If you make even the smallest dent per building at an aggregate level, you're going to have a huge impact.
Leah Abou Jaoude
Energy & Sustainability Manager, Trane Technologies
A few weeks later, BrainBox AI invited her to an open house and offered her a position as the team’s data mapping analyst. She quickly went on to manage the Energy and Sustainability team, which grew from two to what will be 15 people by the end of this summer.
From intern to manager: growing past impostor syndrome
It didn’t take long for Leah to become the team lead. “One of the executives in the company reached out, became my mentor and quickly offered me the opportunity to lead. I accepted, but imposter syndrome walked with me hand in hand every step of the way.”
Looking back now, Leah says the trust others placed in her helped build her confidence. “I still challenge myself every day, but I’ve learned that often the most growth happens before you feel fully ready.”
Leah is quick to point out that this kind of opportunity doesn't come along everywhere. “I was given a lot of opportunities that I wouldn't necessarily have been given at another company. BrainBox AI operates with the energy of a startup. It’s fast-moving, collaborative and built on direct communication. At the same time, it sits inside the infrastructure of a global organization. “I feel like I can reach out to pretty much anyone, and they're open to hearing my feedback and giving me theirs.”
Small steps, big change: projects with positive environmental impact
This opportunity, and the trust that came with it, shaped how Leah approaches her work. When she spotted the need to start calculating energy savings, she was given the freedom to build her team around it. “It hasn’t always been easy, but I’m very proud of my team and the work we do.”
Leah’s team was put to the test with one of their largest clients, Dollar Tree. “We had 3,900 sites and a brand-new measurement and verification method that we came together and designed from scratch.” It was a leap of faith, but results that would otherwise have taken five years to deliver were able to be turned around in a matter of months. “It’s the best feeling, being able to tell a client they’re saving emissions with us.”
When it comes to sustainability, there’s so much that feels out of our control. But knowing that you’re making a difference every day helps tackle climate anxiety a little bit at a time.
Leah Abou Jaoude
Energy & Sustainability Manager, Trane Technologies
For Leah, sustainability has never been just a professional interest. “It's been important to me since I was a child. I love swimming in the ocean, walking in the park, breathing fresh air. I think anyone who likes any of these things is by default someone who cares about sustainability.”
Growing yourself and your team: leading with curiosity
That same passion is something Leah works hard to cultivate in the people around her. She manages one of the youngest teams at BrainBox AI, and her philosophy is curiosity over credentials. “I always hire on potential. If you can be trained and you’re curious and willing to learn, then you’ll be the person I prefer over someone who's technically proficient but lacking curiosity.”
In fact, Leah’s proudest leadership moment isn't a project; it's a person. When a senior member of her team expressed a desire to move into a development role, Leah didn't hesitate to support her, even though she knew losing her would be a blow to her team. She worked with her on a transition plan and helped her gradually transition to her new role. “She's thriving,” says Leah proudly.
Leah and her Energy and Sustainability team
People first: putting your best people forward
Leah’s leadership style is built on openness, accountability and a genuine investment in people's futures, something she's now extending across the wider Trane Technologies organization. When a member of her team became the first BrainBox AI employee ever to complete Trane Technologies' renowned Graduate Training Program, she was front and center at the virtual graduation ceremony.
“I felt like a proud mom.”
“He came back from the program with new skills, new connections and a deeper understanding of the broader company.” Leah is already thinking about how to send more of her team through the program and help them share the knowledge they gained with the rest of the team.
It's that same instinct that brought her back to that career fair table three times in one week: the belief that the best way to make a difference is to keep building and growing — the tools, yourself and your people.
Of course, I believe in our sustainability goals and working towards making the world a healthier place. But I'm also here day-to-day because of the people I enjoy talking to and working with every day.
Leah Abou Jaoude
Energy & Sustainability Manager, Trane Technologies
The future is ours to create.
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