What are you doing to make your business more sustainable and profitable? Many times, these things can seem at conflict. One is taking the long-term approach to business while another is driving immediate cost savings.

If you’re facing this challenge, or you’d just like to make your business or team more profitable, then you’re going to enjoy my interview with Chris Kemper, CEO and Founder of Palmetto. He is a mission-oriented leader focused on technology solutions to climate change. Chris’ approach blends capitalism with environmentalism, focusing on re-imagining decentralized energy systems and a decarbonized future.

Palmetto is a South Carolina company committed to the creation of a distributed, decentralized energy source called The New Utility, which will replace the fossil-fueled, centralized energy model of The Old Utility. 

They are working towards this democratization of energy by putting power and control back in the hands of consumers and inspiring them to make environmentally responsible choices. To this end, Palmetto has developed a clean energy marketplace, with proprietary technology designed to make it easier and more affordable for homeowners to source their energy from renewables like solar power. They’ve developed products that reduce costs and drive widespread distribution of simple energy management solutions.

He’s previously held positions at the United Nations and Tradition Financial Services.

LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cchristopherkemper/ 

Palmetto Website: https://palmetto.com/ 

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER FROM THIS EPISODE:

• How Chris made a fortune starting his first business at 8 years old…. that allowed him to afford real estate later in high school.
• How he learned the hustle of entrepreneurship.
• Nature or nurture when it comes to risk taking?
• How a frustrating moment led to a big AHA moment for his business.
• Owning the entrepreneurship corner.
• How the Palmetto Platform helps entrepreneurs.
• His secret to achieving a Net Promoter Score of 87!
• How to help your business become more profitable AND sustainable.
• Where a dose of “humble pie” helped him grow in his career.
• The number one trait of a CEO.
• The question Chris uses to select four employees for his company’s leadership program “What would you do differently if you were CEO?”
• The two levels of leadership that Chris uses to develop his team.
• How he is using his own leadership curriculum.
• Why he journals once per day.
• Three success strategies for every employee.

QUOTES:

“What we do in a fiscal quarter is more than what the United Nations does in a year to reduce climate change.”

“Be long-term oriented in your career. It takes a long time to build something.”

“Give yourself a break and keep it light.”

RESOURCES:

How to Lead and Serve Your Team, Chris’ upcoming book

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