Adolescence plays a crucial role in shaping individuals' ecological values and pro-environmental behavior, with their early ecological experiences being pivotal. Therefore, the enduring exposure to ecological issues during the formative years of corporate leaders may impact their inclination towards ecological practices in their firms' environmental engagement. However, the existing literature fails to consider the influence of corporate leaders' early ecological exposure on corporate environmental engagement. This research defines early ecological exposure of corporate leaders as the environmental conditions they experienced during their adolescence. Using a sample of Chinese A-share listed firms from 2009 to 2019, we examine the link between the board chair's early ecological exposure and corporate environmental engagement. Findings indicate that the board chair's early ecological exposure nagetively affects environmental engagement. This nagetive connection is amplified by the board chair's gender, education degree, political ties, presence of independent directors, and environmental munificence. This study contributes to the literature on corporate environmental engagement. It also expands the upper echelons theory by examining leaders' life experiences and deepens the understanding of the role of chairpersons.