The Green Light

“Park it, plug it, profit.” Did you know sustainable-minded companies could earn upwards of $8k per summer just for parking just one EV at specified times? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Claire Broido Johnson, who was recently hired as COO at Fermata Energy, about all things V2G, or vehicle-to-grid. Claire is well known for having founded SunEdison alongside Jigar Shah, as well as for having deployed $11B of the stimulus package during the Obama Administration. Catherine also spoke with Claire about Fermata Energy’s projects with Revel & NineDot Energy, the first V2G system on NYC’s grid, as well as their projects with New Hampshire Electric Cooperative & also Verizon at the Brooklyn Naval Yard. Fermata Energy was also the first company to have a V2G bidirectional charger approved by Nissan for use with the LEAf  in the U.S. & we can’t wait to see what they are able to accomplish under Claire’s leadership. 

If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

What impact is the Inflation Reduction Act having on the development of green hydrogen projects in the U.S.? Catherine spoke with Mona Dajani, Global Head of Renewable Energy and Hydrogen at Shearman & Sterling LLP, about this and how the U.S. is now leading the world in terms of green hydrogen legislation. They also spoke about the ways in which the U.S. is rapidly ramping up its 8% EV adoption rate, following in the footsteps of countries like Norway, which has an 82% EV adoption rate. Mona shared insights on the key global trends she’s seeing in renewables - from carbon capture to offshore wind, and learning more about how she came to work in our space, and what it takes to succeed in her role.

Mona has a wealth of knowledge and is one of the few people who has achieved a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, an MBA, as well as a JD. She is also a regular contributor to outlets like Financial Times, CNN, POLITICO, Bloomberg Energy, Fox Corporation, The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR and USA TODAY, serves on the Board of American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) and is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) C3E Women in Clean Energy Ambassador. Mona is an exceptional leader and we look forward to seeing what she’s able to accomplish on behalf of our industry in her new role at Shearman & Sterling. 

If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

How can solar engineering, procurement & construction companies increase gender diversity & inclusiveness in a short amount of time? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Janani Ramkumar, VP of Operations at CS Energy, about how CS Energy was able to increase women employees by 70% & achieve 40% women in its C suite in about a year’s time. It all started when Jan, Dawn Robinson & Diana Palazzi Mery founded CS Energy Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) during the pandemic. From providing mentorship to facilitating robust recruiting events & partnerships with organizations like Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) & National Girls Collaborative, CS Energy WiRE has been able to create many more opportunities for women, both at CS Energy as well as within the broader clean energy industry.

Catherine also spoke with Jan about her upbringing in India, how she decided to work in a STEM field within clean energy, & her significant efforts to provide informal mentorship & coaching in order to give back. They also spoke about her recent promotion at CS Energy & her new leadership role with the WRISE New York Chapter. 

If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Doseke Akporiaye, about becoming the new Executive Director of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). Hailing from Nigeria with a background in computer programming & management consulting, Doseke has led an incredible career to date. From starting her own consulting business to successfully launching the Nigerian branch of off grid solar company Oolu & expanding it to 60% of the country, Doseke has proven her expertise in both the non-profit as well as the for profit worlds. Catherine spoke with Doseke about how she transitioned into clean energy, what it was like to launch these companies & what initiatives she’s most looking forward to pursuing at WRISE. They also spoke about why Doseke believes the clean energy industry needs more women founders as well as more support for women in non-technical roles. 

With job boards, career fairs, webinars & over 40 local chapters, WRISE provides exceptional resources for systematically excluded communities looking to enter into & grow within the clean energy & sustainability industries. Learn more about WRISE: bit.ly/41utNnN.

If you’re looking for your next role in cleantech, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs. If you’re a cleantech employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier candidates, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. 

How can renewable energy companies & professionals level up their marketing communications? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Megan Meany, a seasoned broadcast journalist who has worked for NBC, CBS, CNN & FOX about elevating pitch & presentation skills; finding the optimal use of industry jargon & data; & how to crush it on camera. They also spoke about the need to hone in on essentialism as well as the power of good storytelling for any audience. 

Megan’s experience is unique in that she has worked for major TV networks as well as several Fortune 500 companies, including SAP, AT&T & Kohler, as she deeply understands the communication weaknesses within corporations & how they can be improved. Megan hosts & executive produces digital events; teaches virtual master classes for women; & offers private 1:1 communication coaching. You can get in touch with Megan directly via LinkedIn or through her website (www.megamedia.co).

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

Why are only 1.6% of S&P 100 senior executives Latinas & how can this gap be overcome? In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Marta Ronquillo Newhart, who has worked for companies like Westinghouse Electric Company, Boeing, Medtronic & Johnson Controls, about this as well as how the ‘chingonas’ & male mentors in her life helped propel her career. They also spoke about how Marta’s African American peers blazed trails in corporate settings for her to follow & why you sometimes need to ignore advice others have about what steps to take in your career. Marta is also heavily involved with Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA), which helps prepare Latinos for board readiness & she talks about the ways in which companies & individuals can get involved. 

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

How impactful can a renewable energy nonprofit membership program be when it comes to the triple bottom line - people, profit & planet? According to American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), over 75% of its 25 total women or BIPOC-owned cohort member companies have significantly grown their businesses as members of ACORE’s Accelerate Membership Program, a recipient last year of the groundbreaking Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Constance Thompson, SVP of DEIJ at ACORE, about how companies like 548 Enterprise were able to receive funding from U.S. Bank as a result of their participation in ACORE’s program & why programs like this are key to building a more equitable, just & sustainable future for all.

They also spoke about Constance’s transition into the renewable energy sector, her advice for others looking to do the same, & ACORE’s recent report, ‘Opportunities to Diversify the U.S. Renewable Energy Manufacturing Supply Chain,’ that ACORE recently published with support from Amazon Web Services (AWS) & BW Research. Constance also spoke about her involvement with Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) & why she encourages more women to take on speaking engagements through WRISE’s Speaker Bureau. 

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

What does it take to found & lead a clean energy investment firm & tech company simultaneously? Catherine spoke with Uche C. Isiugo Jr., PhD, CEO & Founder of Infranergy & Managing Partner at Emerging Infrastructure Capital about this as well as how his upbringing and living on two continents influenced his entrepreneurial path in energy. They spoke about his prior experience outside the industry at Boeing, Chevron, & Citi, and how he transitioned within cleantech at NextEra Energy Resources & Key Capture Energy before launching his own companies.

Uche was also named to the Forbes Next 1000 Honoree 2021 list, which celebrates bold & inspiring entrepreneurs, & included judges like Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Meta & Founder of Lean In & OptionB.Org; Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedIn & partner at Greylock; Carla Harris, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Morgan Stanley; Asahi Pompey, President, GOLDMAN SACHS FOUNDATION & more. 

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI) grew its programming by 40% over the past 2 years. Clean energy fellowship & internship programs like these are critical to enable the industry to scale by educating & training new talent & connecting them with leaders in the industry. In this Green Light episode, Catherine spoke with Esther Morales, Executive Director of CELI, about the recent growth & shifts in their programming & the ways in which the organization is enhancing its focus on diversity, equity, inclusion & energy justice, including through its EDICT fellowship, a joint program offered by CELI, Elemental Excelerator & FutureMap. From working on Obama’s campaign, to working in the White House & for the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) & U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Esther has clearly brought a wealth of knowledge & experience to CELI. We are excited to see what more CELI will accomplish this year as a result of Esther’s leadership, as CELI’s fellowship & internship programs are needed now more than ever to help those from outside the industry transition into clean energy. 

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.

What is it like to lead one of the world’s largest energy storage integrators? Catherine spoke with Andrew Tang, Vice President of Energy Storage and Optimization at Wärtsilä Energy, about this & how, as a first generation Chinese immigrant, he opted to pursue a renewable energy career path over following his siblings’ footsteps with a medical career. They also spoke about how he broke into the clean energy industry, leveraging his experience at a utility, tech startups & within the telecom industry; how vital mentorship is, including through one of his mentors, Janice Lin; as well as about some of Wartsila’s exciting artificial intelligence projects. 

Are you looking for your next role in climate tech? Join the largest growing network of cleantech professionals and be the first to know about when industry leading cleantech companies first post new job openings, from development to finance to marketing, by checking out our website: dylan-green.com/latest-jobs.