Ahead of CHARGE Europe 2025 in Istanbul, we caught up with Sandra Baer, CEO of Personal Cities and Brand Ambassador for SmartCitiesWorld. A sought-after speaker on city livability, Sandra explores how urban leaders are reimagining the future across climate, energy, AI, and beyond. We spoke with her about the future of cities, the power of trust, and her role as MC of CHARGE 2025.
1. You’ve spent years in conversation with city leaders around the world. What are some of the most exciting or unexpected ways cities are reimagining livability right now?
The most exciting developments in cities and urban spaces reflect “new actions” on enduring challenges. Just three changes come to mind:
- Every local community is working to understand AI and to leverage and own its “mountain of data” to make better data-driven decisions—becoming more efficient, generating new revenue, and improving city operations for the benefit of its community.
- There is a new focus on environmental design that creates more sustainable infrastructures and healthier city economies—how we better use renewable energy to create urban green spaces. From urban food production to vertical farms to more walkable cities, leaders are seeing the benefits of these nature-based solutions.
- Savvy city leaders are doing a better job of engaging with and investing in youth—for example, fostering entrepreneurship by making AI available to startups and researchers, showcasing the work of young leaders to allow them to present AI-driven solutions to urban challenges, and including youth in city meetings, town halls, and conferences to gain their ideas and insights. Our future is in the hands of younger innovators; combined with the experience and wisdom of city leaders today, we are finding better ways to include the needs and ideas of youth in every culture to reshape urban living.
I believe that cities are where the action is. As they evolve over time, they have been and will continue to be the heartbeat of our lives. While many cities are still “recovering” from Covid, dealing with a changed workforce and workplace, and adjusting to innovations in transportation, energy, the built environment, and social issues, I remain confident that cities will find new ways to engage and inspire. Amidst accelerating unpredictability and uncertainty, cities will shine a light on a path to a different future.
2. You’re currently writing a book on trust. How do you see trust influencing the way energy companies engage with the people and communities they serve?
Trust is the new critical infrastructure. For the energy industry especially, it is imperative that we demonstrate the qualities of trust: competence, transparency, and reliability. Every stakeholder—customers, employees, and investors—values these qualities. In their absence, the lasting reputation of a company is on the line.
Astute energy companies will examine their internal and external communications to ensure truthfulness around a confluence of challenges—environmental impacts, economic anxieties, cybersecurity risks, and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Clearly, in the face of persistent disruption, building trust is the mandate.
Looking Ahead to CHARGE3. This year’s theme is “Staying consistent in uncertain times.” What does consistency mean to you in leadership — and why is it so difficult to maintain during volatility?
I love this theme! It captures the essence of our dilemma as leaders: to inform, to change mindsets, to change behaviors for the good. The trend of misinformation and disinformation undermines public confidence in the reliability and effectiveness of new energy solutions.
So beyond consistent messaging, our opportunity is to be persistent. Here is the challenge for both: Can we preserve the gains of modernity by generating even more energy, but in sustainable ways? We can be cautiously optimistic because many of the technologies we will need already exist. Yet two changes will be crucial: we must generate vast amounts of electricity sustainably, and we must use sustainably generated electricity to power everything. The question is, how fast can we adopt these changes?
4. What do you hope attendees will walk away with after CHARGE — not just in terms of insight, but practical action?
Right now, I would love it if each attendee could create a set of three big questions they want answers to at CHARGE. And, before they return home, could they give us three actions they plan to take from what they learned? I am a fan of conferences that speak to our curiosity, that lead us to new thinking—and ACTIONS.
5. You’re stepping in as MC for CHARGE Istanbul this year — what’s one thing you’re especially excited to bring to the stage?
I am honored to have this role at CHARGE. I know CHARGE as a brilliant event, always open to discovering new ideas, voices, and solutions. In a world where uncertainty is the only constant, our gatherings must become more than mere forum they must be catalysts for real transformation.
At CHARGE Europe, my hope is that we foster not just dialogue, but genuine collaboration and courage to pursue bold decisions. Our stage will be a playground for imagination and a forge for resolve, where every participant leaves with both a head full of fresh perspectives and a heart determined to act.
If we can send people home not just inspired, but equipped—ready to lead with clarity, creativity, and resilience—then together, we will have “CHARGED” the future in the most meaningful sense.
The big idea for successful conferences today is to give the audience the gift of actionable ideas. I promise to create a valuable, entertaining, and stimulating experience.