Lucie Gerber

A Purpose-Driven Journey into the Water Sector

Lucie Gerber’s path into the water sector is rooted in a deep personal commitment to environmental protection and corporate responsibility. She began her career working on projects aimed at fighting plastic pollution and raising awareness of ocean impacts, blending project management with sustainability advocacy.

Her work later brought her to South Africa, where she supported WASH initiatives for underserved communities. There, Lucie also helped build a water-focused team at Quantis, further strengthening her connection to water and its role in community health, business responsibility, and environmental stewardship.

These experiences brought her environmental mission and water advocacy together, ultimately inspiring her to launch her own company in 2023.

Building a Human-Centered Approach with LeafTurtle

Lucie is the co-founder of LeafTurtle, a company she launched with her former mentor to bring a more human-centered, implementation-focused energy into the water sector. LeafTurtle specializes in governance, partnerships, and turning assessments into real, on-the-ground action.

Working with a diverse portfolio, including international food companies, industry federations, and organizations across Switzerland, Lucie splits her time between project delivery and business development and operations. At the core of her work is a clear mission: to give voice to water by helping stakeholders understand their impacts and take meaningful steps to improve them.

Finding Community Through CWiW

Lucie joined the Community of Women in Water (CWiW) by coincidence while attending World Water Week in Stockholm two years ago, and immediately felt at home. She describes CWiW as a safe, supportive community where women can speak openly, ask for help without judgment, and feel genuinely understood.

For Lucie, CWiW represents connection and solidarity across the many different corners of the water sector, bringing together diverse experiences while fostering mutual support.

Leadership Grounded in Knowledge, Empathy, and Humility

Lucie believes strong leadership in the water sector rests on three core pillars:

• Deep knowledge of your field
  
• Empathy, especially when leading people
  
• Self-confidence balanced with humility — knowing both your strengths and your limits
  

She emphasizes that leadership is not about visibility or control. As she puts it, “A great leader is someone who can disappear, and the team keeps moving forward.” For Lucie, true leadership shows up in empowered teams and sustainable progress — not personal recognition.

Unlocking Innovation Through Collaboration

When it comes to innovation, Lucie sees one of the biggest barriers as what she calls “egos and logos.” Too often, organizations focus on individual recognition rather than genuine collaboration. Many also remain stuck at the assessment stage, reporting, analyzing, and strategizing, without moving into action.

Lucie believes real innovation requires shared ownership, cross-organizational partnerships, and a willingness to break down silos in favor of collective impact.

Advice for the Next Generation of Water Leaders

Lucie’s advice for women entering the water sector is simple and powerful:

“Trust yourself, and be yourself.”

She encourages early-career professionals to stay curious, keep learning, and seek out ground-level, field experience whenever possible. Understanding how systems work in practice, before moving into more corporate or strategic roles, provides invaluable perspective and credibility.