Deborah Gael is the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Koolboks, a fast-growing cleantech startup making solar-powered refrigeration accessible to off-grid and weak-grid communities. Since launching in 2018, she has led the company’s operational strategy, scaling it to 25+ countries and forging partnerships with major players like Danone (Fan Milk) and Orange Energies.
Born on a small French island in the Caribbean, Deborah grew up witnessing the early effects of climate change, from rising sea levels to increasingly violent storms. These lived experiences, combined with her engagement in Sub-Saharan Africa, fueled her mission to bring clean, affordable cooling to underserved communities. Her leadership has helped position Koolboks as a key player in climate tech and energy access, earning global recognition such as the Food Tech Challengers Award (2024) and the Start Up Energy Transition Award (2025).
Deborah brings a strong foundation in HR and operations, having held leadership roles at BNP Paribas, American Express, and Fluor Corporation. She holds a Master’s in Human Resources & Labor Relations (ISGP Paris), a PGCE (University of Southampton), and studied Applied Foreign Languages at Université Paris Nanterre. In 2021, she was named one of VivaTech’s Top 10 Female Founders and now serves on the Board of La French Tech Lagos, promoting Franco-African innovation and advocating for women in tech.
Deborah is passionate about building purpose-driven companies that drive impact and resilience in a changing world.