Toles O'Laughlin began her environmental career working as a Rosenberg Humphrey Fellow in the Native American Program on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington, D.C., in 2002 in a summer position. Toles O'Laughlin also, within this period, was an Assistant Community Liaison Worker at the New York City Department of Environmental Protection for four years. Another internship position Toles O'Laughlin held was as an EPA Region 8-ECO Intern at the US Environmental Protection Agency, where she engaged in environmental networks with federal and tribal governments. Toles O'Laughlin also participated in the Urban Program Internship with the Natural Resource Defense Council, where she participated in drafting environmental justice policy. Toles O'Laughlin was also given the honor of participating in the Judicial Externship Program with the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York with the Honorable Richard M. Berman.

Toles O'Laughlin has been in various forms as a Law Clerk at organizations such as the Center on Race, Poverty, & the Environment and the Superior Court of the US Virgin Islands. Due to concentrating her Master of Environmental Law & Policy degree on energy, Toles O'Laughlin has held positions such as the Energy Communications Program Manager at the Maryland Energy Administration, where she worked on strategic planning and development of the energy communication campaign. Toles O'Laughlin also held the position of Legislative Fellow with the District of Columbia Department of Energy and Environment for a year. Continuing her work in the DMV area, Toles O'Laughlin became the Executive Director of the Maryland Health Network, where she worked on creating the Baltimore City Climate Resolution, calling for 100% renewable energy use within Baltimore by the year 2050. After this, Toles O'Laughlin became the first African-American woman to join 350.org as the North American Director, where she supported US and Canadian organizers and campaigners.

Toles O'Laughlin holds many positions with organizations such as Climate Critical, Toles O'Laughlin Ventures, and the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Toles O'Laughlin is the Founder of Climate Critical, a non-profit organization that provides holistic and educational support to activists in the climate movement. In 2023, Climate Critical received the Anthem Award for the Climate Burnout Report. Toles O'Laughlin holds many positions at Toles O'Laughlin Ventures, including Principal Advisor, Chief Climate Futurist, and Environmental Advocate. Toles O'Laughlin Ventures focuses on public interest policy and environmental strategy advisement. Toles O'Laughlin is also the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Grantmakers Association, a non-profit organization focused on effective philanthropy for the planet, which holds $200 billion in assets and represents over 200 foundations globally. Toles O'Laughlin has served on many boards, including the Maryland Climate Coalition, EcoWomen, the Green Leadership Trust, and Women's Voices for the Earth. Toles O'Laughlin is a prolific public writer and podcaster who has contributed to publications and popular media in the Nation, including Rolling Stone, Grist, The Hill, and the Think 100% Coolest Show Podcast.