Today we spoke with Corey Donovan, a recent graduate from Rice University now working as a Financial Analyst at Cemvita, a biotech startup creating nature-inspired solutions to empower the energy transition. Corey told us all about how he got to where he is now, from the process of picking his unique major to getting real world experience as an undergrad. We also discuss the value of experiential learning and finding mentors to look up to, in addition to the most important hard and soft skills for success in the startup world. Finally, we spoke about Corey’s next steps and all of the exciting things in his future! 

Keynotes:

-  Hard and soft skills necessary for startup work

- Why startups instead of larger companies

- Getting real world experience as a student

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

What is Energy Investment Banking? In this episode with Mark McDonald, Director at Marathon Capital, we learn why investment banking is different from other forms of finance, and how necessary it is in the energy transition. Mark walks us through a deal, describes how the current socio-economic climate is changing the market, and gives us insight on his own career in finance. A must listen if you are interested in investment banking, energy finance, or finance careers. 

Resources to support listening:

https://www.wallstreetprep.com/knowledge/ultimate-guide-to-debt-leveraged-finance/

https://lev.co/blog/financing/preferred-equity-vs-mezzanine-debt/#:~:text=As%20the%20names%20imply%2C%20the,which%20we%27ll%20discuss%20later

Keynotes:

• Investment Banking Deal Structure
• Energy Financing Gaps
• Investment Banking's Role in the Energy Transition

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

Samir Chowdhury is a junior at Stanford University studying Management Science & Engineering. In 2020, he founded the Youth Climate Action Team, a global 501c4 climate justice advocacy nonprofit that focuses on community organizing and the power of young people. He initially dedicated himself to climate policy, but soon realized that this didn’t align with his personality and working style, which is how he found his way to energy and investment. More recently, he's completed various energy investment internships and is now starting a fund at Stanford. Samir emphasizes the importance of utilizing your strengths and values to dictate your path, and also encourages students to not be afraid to pivot. He finishes the episode by telling us how students can make a climate impact through energy and the best ways to get involved.

Keynotes:

- Making a climate impact through energy

- Following your strengths and values

- Getting involved in the sustainable and transition investing spaces

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/ 

Imagine a world where microgrids rule and businesses and communities generate their own energy onsite–that’s the world that our guest on this episode envisions for the future of energy.

Joining us on the show is Bill Nussey: serial entrepreneur, fellow energy podcaster, author of Freeing Energy and founder of the Freeing Energy Project, and partner at Engage and Tech Square Ventures. Following a successful career as a tech entrepreneur with four exits, Bill found his new passion in promoting local energy: distributed energy generation and consumption, primarily with solar and batteries. Over the last seven years, he’s built the Freeing Energy Project into a best-selling book, a podcast with 100 episodes, and a platform to showcase the value of distributed energy to increase energy reliability while expanding energy access globally.

Bill joins us on the show to talk about the value of local energy, the key obstacles to implementation of local energy, how we’ll navigate regulatory red tape, and where the biggest opportunities in the energy transition are. Be sure to tune into this episode to learn more.

Keynotes:

-The value of local energy generation and consumption to reduce emissions and increase reliability

-Why battery and solar cell supply chains might not be as big of an issue as they seem

-Why the energy transition is the biggest opportunity for impact that the world has seen in the last 50 years

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

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

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

Today we spoke to Mudit Agrawal. Aside from being Energy Terminal’s Director of Programs, Mudit’s experience in startups and clean energy is extensive. His energy journey began in climate advocacy, but then when he got to Duke he began getting involved in energy startups like Joules Accelerator, Ribbit Network, and Nextera. Mudit explains how he got these jobs, what it’s like to work at startups, and how important it is to network/build relationships. He also outlines the value of gaining startup experience, such as learning how to be a flexible and versatile individual. Finally, we conclude the episode by discussing his work at Energy Terminal, so give this episode a listen to learn more about our Emerging Leaders Program and Community Hub!

Resources Mentioned:

Ribbit Network

Climate Base

Emerging Leaders Program

ET Community Hub

Keynotes:

- The benefits of getting startup experience as an undergrad

- Networking and relationship building is critical in today’s job market

- How to find jobs at startups

“The energy transition is by far the largest mobilization of capital and the largest use of capital the world has ever seen.”

Wil Vanloh, Founder and CEO of Quantum Energy Partners joins us on the show to tell us not just why the energy transition is revolutionizing energy finance, but how to take advantage of the emerging opportunities. 

Having founded his own investment bank at age 24 and Quantum at age 28, Wil has been at the forefront of major transitions in the industry from the shale revolution to the clean energy transition. In the conversation, we talk about how Quantum’s strategy has changed amid major energy events, how they think about impact alongside financial returns, and where the industry is heading. We also discuss the gaps in the market, the opportunities for young people to get involved, and why a career in energy can be more impactful than any other industry.

This is a special episode released in collaboration with Energy Dialogues Perspectives Series.

Keynotes:

-The biggest changes in the energy industry in the past 25 years

-The opportunities for global impact working in the energy industry

-Why we need diverse and flexible funding solutions for different energy companies

-How the energy transition is changing the way we think about investing

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

Casey Goldstein is a student at Duke University with experience in climate tech and venture capital. He first got involved in entrepreneurship as a high school student, and he shares how skills can be transferred from any experience into the professional world. He then went on to work with various startups, and eventually, began his internship at MCJ Collective. In the conversation, Casey emphasizes the importance of proactive outreach, whether that be physically putting yourself in rooms with other entrepreneurs or sending cold emails. He is also incredibly passionate about getting other students involved in climate related industries, so he co-founded College to Climate, a program that helps college students get into climate tech.

Resources mentioned:

My Climate Journey

College to Climate

Keynotes:

- The importance of cold outreach skills and the opportunities proactive communication unlocks

- The value of gaining first-hand experience with startups and in entrepreneurship 

- Tips for getting started in the climate tech and venture capital space

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/

When you think of energy poverty, you probably think of rural areas far off the grid or halfway across the world. However, the often unseen reality is that there are people right here in the U.S., in our own communities, who struggle to keep the lights on in the face of surging energy prices.

In this episode, we engage in a panel-style discussion with returning guest Scott Tomlinon, CEO and Founder of Choir Power; Jade Davis, board member of Choir and Senior Vice President of Energy Policy at the Port of Cleveland; and David J. Neff, serial entrepreneur and partner at venture capital firm Ecliptic capital. Our guests bring together a unique mix of perspectives and experiences to tackle energy poverty from three main lenses: technology, policy, and investment.

Tune in for an engaging conversation on the causes of energy poverty and the solutions that will solve it.

Keynotes:

-The prevalence of energy poverty both domestically and abroad

-The side effects of energy poverty on health, education, and the economy

-How technology, policy, and investment can merge to end energy poverty for good

-The most impactful avenues to reduce energy poverty

And follow us on:

Newsletter: https://www.energy-terminal.com/newsletter-signup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/energy-terminal

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/energyterminal/