# Harshitha Kakani > Sustainability & AI Location: San Francisco, California, United States Profile: https://flows.cv/harshithakakani My journey began at UC Santa Cruz, where I explored the intersection of AI, data science, and sustainable food systems. Since then, I’ve carried forward a commitment to environmental stewardship, applying my skills across climate tech, food sustainability, and carbon markets. Currently, as an Associate in Carbon Operations at 3Degrees, I manage data collection, life cycle assessments, and verification for projects that generate carbon credits under voluntary and compliance markets. I also leverage AI to automate sustainability reporting frameworks, streamlining compliance and improving data quality. Beyond carbon markets, I am passionate about sustainable farming and engineering solutions that strengthen food systems, enhance resilience, and align with a just, low-carbon future. Let's chat :) ## Work Experience ### Carbon Associate @ 3Degrees Group, Inc. Jan 2025 – Present | San Francisco, California, United States ### Sustainable Software Developer @ Real Food Challenge Jan 2024 – Present Developed a web platform using Django, AWS, PostgreSQL, React, and AI frameworks to align institutional food purchasing with Real Food Challenge 3.0 standards. Built a sustainability calculator to process diverse inputs, automate data ingestion, and generate metrics on GHG emissions, carbon footprint, water use, and biodiversity impact, improving data accuracy and engagement by 30%. Designed interactive data visualizations for food mapping, conducted market analyses to benchmark procurement options, and delivered actionable insights for sustainability strategy. Collaborated with cross-functional teams and partners including the Global Food Initiative, FoodLogiQ, SupplyChange, ensuring robust vendor verification, streamlined workflows, and stakeholder adoption. ### Sustainability API/Web Dev @ Dyme Jan 2024 – Jan 2025 Developed SEO-optimized hotel pages with WordPress, Elementor, and Yoast SEO, increasing organic traffic by 15% in three months and amplifying visibility for sustainability-focused properties. Integrated Duffel API and custom PHP scripts to automate hotel data retrieval, booking workflows, and sustainability tagging, streamlining operations and improving user experience. Optimized site performance on Vercel, cutting load times by 30% while maintaining a seamless UI. Co-led content strategy, automating AI-generated sustainability blogs and travel guides to boost engagement and highlight carbon-conscious travel options. Leveraged web scraping and data automation to identify climate-conscious travelers, improving targeted outreach by 20%. Aligned hotel offerings with carbon credit and offset frameworks, positioning the platform as a driver of sustainable tourism and environmental accountability. ### Eco-Conscious Marketing Lead @ Novvum Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 Conducted market research and developed SEO strategies that boosted organic traffic by 30% and improved engagement by 25% through data-driven campaigns and UI/UX optimization. Implemented cross-platform strategies supported by detailed analytics reports, enabling stronger strategic decisions. Created SEO-optimized content on ERP systems and small business solutions, using meta tags and performance analytics to enhance brand visibility and drive measurable growth. ### Machine Learning Researcher - Sustainable Sensor Networks @ Baskin Engineering at UCSC Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | Santa Cruz, California, United States Manipulating MudWatt interface algorithms to prioritize energy yield from MFC(Microbial Fuel Cells) from a soil deployment. Guided by Professor Colleen Josephson with jLab in Smart Sensing which researches wireless sensing and communications systems, with a focus technology that furthers sustainable practices. ### Food Systems Working Group Co-Chair @ UCSC Center for Agroecology Jan 2022 – Jan 2024 | Santa Cruz, California, United States Overlooking daily and weekly operations of the group, such as creating meeting agendas and facilitating core team meetings. Maintaining consistent communication internally and externally with other organizations. Identifying and outreaching to networks across the campus food systems. Marketing and outreach for the Group’s projects to the rest of campus. Sharing and receiving best practices with CSU/UC/CC (community college) campuses and to support equitable food systems movement. Promoting and organizing quarterly festivals/mixers. Working with FSWG advisors to identify the needs of the group and work to address them (these include programming, logistics and financial needs). Grant-writing, grant administration, and budgeting. ### Real Food Calculator Research Assistant @ UCSC Sustainability Office Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 | Santa Cruz, California, United States Research food products against the standards in concert with UC Sustainable Food Service Policy standards. Fostering a more sustainable and healthy food system. Work with translating product research data into the FoodPro database. Used database to run tests and understand the food system trends. ### Full Stack Web Developer @ University of California Basic Needs Jan 2023 – Jan 2024 | Santa Cruz, California, United States Developed and maintained dynamic web applications using a diverse tech stack (React, Node.js, Python, SQL, MongoDB, Express.js, Docker, AWS, GitHub, HTML/CSS). Designed and optimized UI components and conducted Figma-based UX testing, driving a 20% increase in user satisfaction and 25% higher engagement through redesigns and A/B testing. Consolidated basic needs resources for all 8 UC campuses into a comprehensive website, presenting user testing results at the CHEBNA 2024 Summit, which led to a 15% improvement in usability. Implemented scalable back-end solutions and RESTful APIs, reducing load times by 30% and boosting data retrieval speeds by 40%. Deployed applications on AWS for high availability and performance, while collaborating cross-functionally to ensure seamless front-end and back-end integration, enhancing overall site performance by 20%. ### Orientation Leader @ University of California, Santa Cruz Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 | Santa Cruz, California, United States Serve as an academic and social resource to students new to campus and the university by answering questions, planning and attending events, leading small groups, and helping acclimate new students to college life. ### DRC Notetaker @ University of California, Santa Cruz Jan 2021 – Jan 2024 Promptly attend all lectures and take clear and concise notes. Provided copies of notes to DRC-approved students. Maintain the confidentiality of all information related to DRC students. Take appropriate notes and deliver them within two days of each class. ### Statistics Tutor @ University of California, Santa Cruz Jan 2022 – Jan 2023 | Santa Cruz, California, United States ### Events Assistant for Sustainable Food Summit @ Ecovia Intelligence Jan 2024 – Jan 2024 | San Francisco, California, United States ## Education ### Bachelor of Science - BS in Artificial Intelligence, Statistics University of California, Santa Cruz ## Contact & Social - LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/harshitha-kakani --- Source: https://flows.cv/harshithakakani JSON Resume: https://flows.cv/harshithakakani/resume.json Last updated: 2026-04-11