You want to get involved in cleantech, but how do you find the right role?

To answer this question, we brought product management expert and author of the B2B Innovator’s Map, Daniel Elizalde, on the show. Daniel has worked with companies like Tesla, Microsoft, ABB, and GE to help them drive innovation and product success. He also serves as a mentor for cleantech startups through Third Derivative and Greentown Labs. Having worked with companies across the industry, Daniel has an unparalleled perspective on what opportunities are out there and how people can find their dream job in climate tech. In the episode, we cover this and more, including what product management jobs look like, the biggest problems facing cleantech startups, the best opportunities at cleantech startups, the most important skills to work on, and the fastest growing verticals in energy transition.

You’ve seen the buzz about nuclear fusion, but when and how will it affect our energy systems, and what comes next? And what role will nuclear fission continue to play in decarbonization of our electricity grid?

Here to answer these questions and more is Rachel Slaybaugh, nuclear engineer and investor at early stage deep tech venture capital firm DCVC. Rachel earned a pHD in nuclear engineering and has worked across industry, academia, and finance, including as an associate professor at UC Berkeley. In her work as Program Director at ARPA-E, she oversaw millions in government funding for advanced nuclear. And now in the private sector, she serves as Principal at DCVC, directing venture capital investment in promising energy startups.

Tune in for expert insight on how nuclear energy can enable our transition to a 100% clean grid and what we need to make that happen.

In Episode 19, Michael and Chloe Young, Energy Terminal’s Director of Partnerships, are joined by Dr. Alice Hill, David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at the Council on Foreign Relations. Dr. Hill is a thought leader, author, and policy maker who has written two books on climate resilience. Previously, she served as special assistant to President Barack Obama and as Senior Director for Resilience Policy on the National Security Council, where she led the development of national policy to build resilience to catastrophic risks. The episode draws on Dr. Hill’s extensive experience in the public sector to identify the most-needed policy developments, how we can succeed in getting pro-energy policies passed, and where students can get involved. We then talk about the specific ways public and private entities can implement to increase our energy system’s resilience to climate threats and how we can combine technical and policy strategies to maximize effectiveness.

In Episode 18, Hope and Michael are joined by Paul Sankey, renowned oil analyst who has been covering oil markets and oil majors for more than three decades. In the face of massive changes with Covid and the war in Ukraine, Paul breaks down the key trends he’s seeing in the market and what we can expect in the coming months. We move on to the strategies that oil & gas companies are using to decarbonize, how they can be successful players in the energy transition, and the companies he recommends people keep an eye on. We close out with some ideas on how the economy can become more energy efficient and how natural gas might help us decarbonize.

In Episode 17, Liz Dennett, VP of Data Engineering and Data Architecture of Wood Mackenzie joins Michael and Hope to talk about carbon accounting, climate disclosures, imposter syndrome, and much more. The conversation starts with a focus on carbon accounting and the need to record, analyze, and store huge amounts of high-quality data to quantify decarbonization and provide accurate climate disclosures. With this need comes a need for top talent, and Liz highlights the skills that hiring managers are looking for and how young professionals have the opportunity to quickly become leaders in their organizations by building skills in sustainability. We then move on to a discussion on imposter syndrome and how to approach conversations with leaders and executives.

Arina Khotimsky recently finished her undergraduate degree at MIT, where she studied Material Science & Engineering with a focus on climate and energy. She served as the Co-President of the MIT Energy and Climate Club, the organization which runs MIT’s EnergyHack, Energy Conference, and many other notable events. We spoke to Arina about her involvement in this club and the lessons she learned, such as the importance of overcoming the fear of reaching out to get involved in extracurriculars. She also gives students advice for making the most of on and off campus opportunities. We conclude the episode by talking about what’s next for her, which includes pursuing a Masters in International Energy at Sciences Po in France!

Keynotes:

- Getting involved in energy and climate on a college campus

- Overcoming the fear of failure when it comes to new opportunities

- Why energy is such an exciting field

For the last 70 years, Jones Power has been a leader primarily for midstream oil & gas projects, but now, they’re diving headfirst into renewable development and emerging as a top company for renewable project construction.

John Clark, CEO of Jones Power, joins us on the show to talk about the concept of energy transition vs. emissions transition and how we consider the balance of clean energy with energy that is reliable, secure, and affordable as we seek to both decarbonize and end energy poverty. We also discuss how to navigate such a bold transition with company culture, how to have productive conversations with people who don’t agree with you, and the changes John hopes other traditional energy companies make to promote sustainability.

Tune in for an insightful discussion with a pro-energy, anti-emissions leader with a big vision for our energy future. To learn more about Jones Power, check out their website here: https://jonespower.com/about-us/.

Keynotes:

-The difference between emissions transition and energy transition

-Balancing clean energy with energy security, reliability, and affordability

-How the shift toward working in clean energy affected company culture, and tips for managing such a transition within a company

-How to have productive conversations with energy dissidents

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