Carolina Tohá is the founding member and president of the Fundación Instituto Ciudad (City Institute Foundation), a civil society organization dedicated to the promotion of urban policies centred on people and emphasizing equality and sustainability.

During her term as the Mayor of Santiago, she led a series of urban and social reforms that earned the municipality national and international awards and recognitions. She was also co-president of the Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport for the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.