Scaling Clean

Our most recent guest brings two decades of electrical industry experience. Brandon Moss is the CEO of Shoals Technologies Group, one of the major players in our industry. Brandon's leadership journey includes roles at Southwire Company, Lutron Electronics, and Stanley Black & Decker. Shoals Technologies Group is the leading provider of electrical balance of systems, or eBOS — electrical solutions that enable the rapid deployment of large-scale solar energy projects. Shoals is well respected in our field and among the more mature clean economy companies, having gone public in 2021. 

Here are Brandon’s B3P’s:

6:36 - Despite recent headlines and political noise, solar energy remains in a strong position and is expected to stay that way for years. It’s the fastest energy source to deploy and continues to offer one of the lowest levelized costs of energy. With rising electricity demands, the growth trajectory for solar looks very promising.

8:41 - One neat thing about solar plants is their immense size. Even small adjustments, like modifying a product or its delivery, can lead to major efficiency gains for solar power projects and EPC customers.

14:50 - Early in your career, the most valuable thing isn’t chasing titles or higher pay. It’s finding a role where you can learn, grow, and have the support of mentors who are genuinely invested in your development. Leadership opportunities will come with time, but long-term success is about playing the marathon, not the sprint.

#Cleantechers - 

After more than 40 interviews with some of the clean economy’s most thoughtful leaders, I’ve recorded my last episode as host of the Scaling Clean podcast.

Since launching the show in 2021, I’ve had the privilege of learning from – and sharing the wisdom of – executives driving the clean energy transition. Their insights have made me a better leader and hopefully offered our audience tools to lead with more clarity, purpose, and resilience.

I’m thrilled to pass the microphone to my colleague and friend, Melissa Baldwin. As Tigercomm’s Senior Vice President, Melissa brings a fresh perspective to the mic. She’ll be asking smart questions about everything from AI’s role in marketing to what clean economy CEOs are doing to sustain high performance in turbulent times.

Melissa started her series by interviewing me about what I’d learned. I’m probably the least impressive guest she’ll have, so we should probably get this episode out of the way. The good news is that we kept it short! We reflect on the journey so far and talk about the themes and takeaways that emerged from these 40+ episodes. In the coming weeks, we will condense these insights into a resource that will live on the Tigercomm website. 

Thank you to every guest who shared their story, and thank you to our listeners.

#Cleantechers -

The latest episode of Scaling Clean will be my last hosting the show, because someone else at Tigercomm will be taking over the microphone. I get to end my tenure in the host chair with a guest who’s spent a lot of time growing companies. Mark Lewis is a veteran of some small, obscure companies you've never heard of, such as @Credit Suisse and @General Electric.

From those, he became the CEO of Toronto-based ONEnergy, then got into fusion and investment. Mark's now managing director of Lime Rock New Energy, an innovative private equity manager that specializes in partnering with and growing clean energy companies. 

In his time, Mark has looked under the hood of many businesses, and I've wanted him on the show for at least two years. You’ll learn a lot from what he's seen by evaluating what works and doesn't in cleantech corporate leadership teams. 

Here are Mark’s B3P’s: 

9:07 - When a team member isn’t the right fit, waiting to make a decision only makes things harder. Trust your instincts, recognize misalignment early, and make the necessary change decisively and respectfully – knowing it can be better for both the individual and the organization.

16:17 -  Surround yourself with the best talent. You won’t always be the smartest person in the room, and you can’t be an expert at everything. So, create an environment where individuals feel valued, supported, and able to thrive alongside others.

23:28 - Stay focused on your vision and resist the temptation to chase every new opportunity. Discipline in saying “no” to a new shiny thing is essential to building a strong, sustainable business.

Thanks for coming on the show, Mark.

#Cleantechers –

My most recent Scaling Clean guest is a rare, career-long cleantecher. Zoe Gamble is a lawyer-turned-CEO who now serves as President of CleanChoice Energy, founded by my long-time buddy, Tom Matzzie. But this isn’t her first time leading a company. Zoe already served as CEO of Pine Gate Renewables, where she grew the company from 8 to 86 employees in just two years. I think you’ll find her a wealth of management experience. 

Here are her B3P’s:

5:07 - Don’t overlook the small details early in a career. These "little things" tend to grow in significance over time. Being meticulous and attentive to the small stuff builds a strong foundation, because unresolved minor issues can become major problems later in your career.

13:17 - When life gets hard, especially at work, our instinct is to jump in and fix things right away. But that’s often not the best approach. Instead, we need to slow down, be still, and pay attention in a new way, because the same thinking that got us into a tough situation won’t help us find a better way out.

15:13 - Your current experience of life is shaped by the future you're imagining. For example, if you know you're about to leave for a fun vacation, you'll feel differently in the moment than if you're about to head into a stressful meeting, even though neither event is happening yet. Feeling successful comes from having a clear, self-created vision for the future.

18:58 - When you are inheriting a leadership team as a new CEO, take the time to truly understand what someone is capable of and what they are genuinely committed to. The people who helped build the company to its current stage may not be the right ones to lead it into the future. Their past contributions should be honored, but reaching new goals may require a different team or approach.

Thanks for coming on the show, Zoe.

Cleantechers - 

We have had guests on Scaling Clean with a lot of different backgrounds, but I think my most recent guest is the first who combines journalism, corporate communications, legal, renewable energy development, and an operations background on her rise to be the CEO of Indianapolis-based Geneex Solar. If we've ever had a Renaissance CEO on the show, Emily Williams is it. 

Here are her B3P's:

14:37: An effective CEO's success depends on the team they build and trust. Their role is to set clear leadership principles, define a vision, align people, and outline success while empowering the team to execute.

16:25 - To avoid underleading someone, have regular one-on-ones with them and ask what their top priorities are. It’s a simple but powerful way to ensure you are aligned without micromanaging. Catching misdirection early will keep everyone focused on what matters most.

19:57 - Hiring for grit and resilience beats hiring for resumes. Look for people who can build trust, bounce back from hard conversations, and thrive in people-driven work.

Thanks for coming on the show, Emily.

Cleantechers - 

My most recent Scaling Clean guest started in software and then migrated to digital marketing. But for the last 15 years, she's helped lead GroundWork Renewables, a California-based company offering on-site solar meteorological stations for utility-scale power developers, operators and owners. I had the pleasure of meeting Ann last year at RE+, and within five minutes of talking with her, I knew we had to have her on the show.

Here are Ann’s B3P’s:

4:34 - Working in the solar industry is like being in the midst of new technology era — rapid innovation and constant evolution. But what sets the sector apart from others is its deep culture of collaboration. Solar companies often work together toward a shared mission, making it one of the most collaborative industries.

8:50 - In moments of doubt, remember that when one door closes, a window often opens. Even in an empty conference hall, the right connection could shape your company's future for years to come. Opportunities have a way of appearing when you least expect them.

19:10 - Firing someone can be seen as a positive act, not just for the company, but for the individual who is being fired. If someone isn’t thriving in their role, they likely aren’t happy either. The goal should be to help them find a position in which they can excel.

Thanks for coming on the show, Ann.

#Cleantechers - 

On the show, we've had leaders with a variety of backgrounds. Some, like my guest in this episode, have come from investment and finance. But few have achieved so much so quickly in their careers as Jo-Jo Hubbard. This McKinsey veteran got her start in a fintech startup, then moved into renewable energy finance. From there, she helped found the UK-based Electron, a SaaS company, out to transform energy trading to make the grid cleaner. 

Jo-Jo now runs Electron as CEO. Her company helps grid operators and municipal suppliers with what it calls “local flexibility markets” to help them adapt to our renewables-heavy grid. 

Here are Jo-Jo’s B3P’s:

16:05 - When you manage other people, you make them more productive by creating space for them to grow. And the more you create space for yourself, the better you become at doing that for others. It’s important to prioritize the time to exercise, meditate, or take a walk without a cell phone.

20:28 - The difference between running a cleantech company and a more mature company is the pace of growth. Cleantech is still evolving alongside the energy transition, creating a collaborative spirit. Companies with overlapping skills often work together. It’s a dynamic, problem-solving mindset of “let’s figure this out together.” More mature industries have well-defined market parameters and sizes, which makes collaboration less about exploration and more about execution.

27:41 - Hire people who are passionate about your company’s mission and inspire excitement among the entire team. Startups demand hard work, and having colleagues who energize others and share your commitment to a meaningful cause can make all the difference. 

Thanks for coming on the show, Jo-Jo.

#Cleantechers - 

My most recent Scaling Clean guest has a compelling background. You might say he’s not afraid to get his hands dirty. 

Russ Bates grew up in the southern Indiana coal fields, starting his career as a union electrician, then moving up the ladder to foreman, and eventually VP. At the 26-year mark, he moved into company ownership, and he's now the founder of the Cleveland-area NXTGEN Clean Energy Solutions. NXTGEN is a one-stop shop for solar, wind, battery storage, and EV charging station projects. 

Here are Russ’s B3P’s:

5:08 - Clean energy is drawing people to it because it seems every day brings a new breakthrough. 

14:34 - As a CEO, ask yourself: “Is this decision going to be sustainable? Is this decision going to lead us to do enough business” to take care of your family and employees. There’s so much going on in this sector, especially with an election approaching, that could derail a business plan. It’s important to be mindful of those questions so you are best prepared for future changes. 

25:35 - When you need to make the tough decision to fire someone, make sure you are confident in your reasoning as to why. Then, do it quickly. The employee might not have done something wrong but just weren’t the right fit. In those situations, sometimes the best thing for them is for you to part ways with them.

Thanks for coming on the show, Russ.

My most recent Scaling Clean guest has been at the helm of her company for 16 years. Geraldine Gray runs Endiem, a Salesforce practice based in Houston. Her company works to help companies drive commercial growth by aligning their strategic goals with their Salesforce options. She has served clients in a wide number of sectors, not just in cleantech.

Geraldine has also been very public about her successful battle with cancer, and I want to acknowledge her courage in sharing that story on LinkedIn. From several friends of mine, I've learned that overcoming such a challenge often brings an exceptional level of perspective and wisdom.

Here are Geraldine’s B3P’s:

2:16 - There’s no “easy” button for making your business successful. You need to be resilient and just grind it out, looking for continuous improvement. The search for continuous improvement comes with challenges, so be okay with accountability and negative feedback.

19:10 - Working in cleantech is different than mature industries. People in the renewable industry tend to have several roles over several companies, while those in the oil, gas and chemical companies tend to stay at one company for a very long time. The benefit is that they bring a broad range of experience and knowledge to a project, but it’s hard for them to see what’s possible in the future vs. what needs to be done today. People in the renewables industry tend to have a broader mindset.

28:00 - Success in a business depends on how a leadership team executes its strategies. Tactics is doing things right. Strategy is doing the right things. You must have strategic marketing, strong sales and business development executed by people who care, not just have an engine that's generating leads. Don’t pursue opportunities that are a bad fit, with no strategy behind them. 

Thanks for coming on the show, Geraldine.

My newest Scaling Clean guest is Katie Mehnert. She got her start in oil and gas, and she’s become a leading thinker and evangelist for growing the clean energy talent pool as CEO of Ally Energy, a global consultancy based in Texas. Katie’s journey through the incumbent parts of the energy sector has given her an enhanced perspective on being a clean economy CEO. 

Here are Katie’s B3P’s

12:38 - As a leader, you have to surrender the notion that you can control everything, because you can’t. CEO doesn’t stand for “Chief Everything Officer.” Rather, it’s about making sure you pull in the best team you can, and help them make things happen.

16:28 - Visible leadership is when someone leads a company, rather than runs it. To be a visible leader, determine what your “why” is, and march forward. My “why” is to help give my child a cleaner future. But, the world will not be a better place if you are on the sidelines, playing it safe. 

23:26 - When you look to hire someone, it is important to consider what the workforce values right now. The job search is no longer about the gold watch – the best benefits and pay can only get you so far. People instead look for a purpose. Create a purpose within your company that attracts people and gives them a reason to enjoy their work.

Thank you for coming on the show, Katie.