As global pressure builds around climate change, energy access, and resource security, technology leaders are facing a simple question: What are we building, and who does it truly help?
Faiz Chowdhury, Founder and Vision Leader of Graphene Valley Corporation, is answering that question with a public personal commitment: the PL&I Impact Pledge.
The pledge centers on one principle — that progress must be measured not only by profit and loss, but by measurable impact on people and the planet.
“In my business, we do not judge from a P&L,” Chowdhury says. “We use PL&I. Profit allows us to continue. But Impact is the measure.”
Why This Matters Now
The urgency is clear:
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Global energy demand is projected to rise nearly 50% by 2050.
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More than 675 million people still lack access to electricity.
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Over 2 billion people lack safely managed drinking water.
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Climate-related disasters have increased fivefold over the past 50 years, according to UN data.
Chowdhury believes advanced materials like graphene, along with responsible innovation, can help address these gaps. But technology alone is not enough. Intent matters.
“Success is using our abilities and talents to have a positive impact on people and our world,” he says. “Reducing suffering and optimizing the ability of people to succeed and thrive.”
The pledge reflects lessons from his own journey, from growing up in rural Bangladesh to building companies focused on clean energy, mobility, and advanced materials.
“Without impact to improve the world, my goals are not being achieved,” he says.
The PL&I Impact Pledge: 7 Personal Commitments
Chowdhury’s pledge outlines seven concrete behaviors he commits to practicing and promoting:
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Evaluate every major business decision through an Impact lens, not just financial return.
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Prioritize technologies that improve energy, water, food, or economic security.
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Build teams with strong ethical values and long-term thinking.
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Publicly track measurable impact outcomes, not just revenue growth.
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Invest time mentoring young innovators focused on real-world problem solving.
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Avoid projects that create harm, pollution, or systemic instability.
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Align personal conduct with professional values.
“Personal and professional success are intertwined inexorably,” Chowdhury says. “If we compromise ourselves to gain financially, we are hurting our family by not being the people we are supposed to be.”
He emphasizes humility in the face of global challenges.
“I realize that I am merely a nano-person in all of humanity. One among 8 billion. But I am obligated to use the talents I was given.”
The “Do It Yourself” Impact Toolkit
Chowdhury is encouraging individuals — not just CEOs — to take the pledge in their own lives. He has outlined ten free actions anyone can take:
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Learn about one major global issue (energy, water, food, climate) this month.
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Reduce personal energy waste at home.
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Cut water waste by fixing leaks and shortening showers.
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Support local innovation and small problem-solving initiatives.
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Mentor a student or young professional.
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Volunteer time for environmental or community projects.
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Ask employers how their products create measurable positive impact.
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Share educational resources about sustainable technology.
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Track personal consumption habits for 30 days.
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Reflect weekly on whether your work contributes positively to others.
“A larger vision keeps us from getting upset by bumps in the road,” he says.
30-Day Impact Tracker
Participants are encouraged to track progress using this simple framework:
Week 1: Learn and assess — Identify one area where your daily habits affect energy, water, or waste. Week 2: Act — Make one measurable change (reduce electricity use, car trips, or food waste). Week 3: Influence — Share what you learned with three people. Week 4: Sustain — Commit to one long-term habit aligned with impact.
Measure progress in simple metrics:
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Hours volunteered
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Kilowatt-hours reduced
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Gallons of water saved
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Conversations started
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Waste reduced
“Success is measured by results and the impact those results have,” Chowdhury says.
A Call to Action
Chowdhury invites entrepreneurs, engineers, students, and families to take the PL&I Impact Pledge and share the toolkit within their communities.
He believes change does not begin with scale. It begins with intent.
“Success is using our abilities and talents to have a positive impact,” he says. “Impact is the measure.”
Readers are encouraged to take the pledge personally, apply the toolkit, and share it with at least five others.
To read the full interview, visit the website here.
About Faiz Chowdhury
Faiz Chowdhury is the Founder and Vision Leader of Graphene Valley Corporation, based in Sheridan, Wyoming. A UC Berkeley graduate in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science with a leadership certificate from MIT Sloan, he is a serial entrepreneur focused on advancing graphene and other breakthrough technologies in energy, mobility, and sustainability. His guiding philosophy centers on PL&I — Profit, Loss, and Impact — with Impact as the ultimate measure of success.
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