The SMART Inclusion Podcast

In the season finale of the Smart Inclusion podcast, host Todd Q. Adams welcomes Charletta Lewis, General Partner at Mighty Oaks Capital Partners. Charletta shares her unconventional journey from law enforcement to Silicon Valley, and now back to Houston as an investor. This episode dives into her unique approach to venture capital, how she supports underrepresented founders, and the importance of community-driven investing. They also discuss her portfolio success stories, including Mula Wireless, and the broader need for systemic changes in how venture capital engages with diverse founders. If you’re passionate about social entrepreneurship, conscious capitalism, and the future of investing, you don’t want to miss this insightful conversation.

We have been through an EXCITING JOURNEY of SMART Inclusion: Energy Transition, Investing, and Sustainability Podcast! Our host, Todd Q. Adams, starts to wrap up the season by revisiting powerful themes and stories that showcase how investing in community-driven, socially conscious solutions is essential to the energy transition. Todd dives into highlights from the season, discussing the innovative ways small and medium-sized businesses, indigenous-led ventures, and tech-forward training programs are shaping the path forward. Join Todd as he connects the dots between sustainability, economic growth, and equity, setting the stage for an inclusive clean energy future!

Timestamps:

[00:00 - 01:00] – Introduction to SMART Inclusion

[01:00 - 02:00] – Making a Difference and Making Money

[02:00 - 03:00] – Empowering Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in EV Charging

How can small and medium-sized businesses thrive in the EV revolution? In this episode of the "SMART Inclusion" podcast, host Todd Q. Adams chats with Kobby Osei-Kusi, CEO of Pirl EV Charging, about innovative ways to join the clean energy movement. From his journey from Ghana to Wall Street and into clean energy, Kobby shares insights on making EV charging smarter, more accessible, and sustainable. Explore topics like democratizing EV infrastructure, grid load management, and the role of small businesses in energy transformation. Whether you're a business owner, entrepreneur, or sustainability advocate, this episode offers practical tips and big-picture inspiration to help shape a cleaner, greener future!

Timestamps:

[00:00] Introduction: Host Todd Q. Adams introduces the episode’s focus on democratizing EV charging and energy access with guest Kobby Osei, CEO of Pirl EV Charging.

[02:15] Kobby’s Journey: Kobby shares his story from growing up in Ghana to becoming a leader in energy infrastructure and EV charging.

[06:10] Transition into Clean Energy: Kobby discusses his work with AES in Africa and his transition from corporate energy to founding his own clean energy company.

[09:45] Founding Pirl EV Charging: Kobby reveals the motivation behind founding Pirl and its mission to democratize EV charging for small and medium-sized businesses.

[14:00] Challenges and Successes in Building Pirl: Kobby talks about bootstrapping Pirl, creating its first product, and raising capital to grow the company.

[18:30] Pirl's Ecosystem Approach: Kobby explains how Pirl creates solutions that benefit the entire energy ecosystem and enable small businesses to easily adopt EV charging.

[21:30] Closing Remarks: Todd and Kobby reflect on the future of EV charging and how Pirl is helping democratize the energy transition.

[22:15] For Small Business Owners: Learn how investing in EV charging infrastructure can benefit small businesses by generating revenue and improving customer engagement.

[23:00] For Entrepreneurs: Kobby shares tips for navigating long sales cycles and bootstrapping in the clean energy sector.

[23:26] End of Episode: Todd thanks Kobby for his insights and encourages listeners to follow the podcast for more episodes on clean energy and sustainability.

Resources:

Kobby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/oseikusi/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/pirl-technology/

https://www.transportation.gov/urban-e-mobility-toolkit/e-mobility-benefits-and-challenges/challenges-and-evolving-solutions

https://www.aes-africa.com/services/greening-renewables/

https://cewd.org/

In this powerful opening, host Todd Q. Adams dives into the key role of community benefits in clean energy projects, sharing insights into the “four pillars” that drive local impact: economic development, quality job creation, community partnerships, and greenhouse gas reduction. Todd explores how storytelling connects communities to clean energy projects, helping demystify innovations like wind farms, solar arrays, and data centers. Through the experiences of leaders like Brett Isaac of Navajo Power Home and Jason Rodriguez of Froliq, we see the real-world value of initiatives that prioritize both environmental and economic benefits. This episode unpacks the urgency of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 and the monumental investments needed for a sustainable future, with the U.S. positioning itself as a global leader in this transition. Todd also highlights innovative solutions, from small businesses to tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, all working to bridge the skills gap in the green economy and redefine workforce development. Tune in to learn how you, too, can join this transformative movement and play a role in a brighter, more inclusive future for all.

Timestamps:

[00:00 - 01:00] – Welcome to the SMART Inclusion Podcast Introduction to the podcast’s mission to connect investing in people, capital, and the planet.

[01:00 - 02:00] – Equity Economics Defined: Todd explains "equity economics" and its focus on inclusive economic growth in the energy transition.

[02:00 - 03:00] – The Four Pillars of Community Benefits An overview of the four pillars: economic development, job creation, community partnerships, and emissions reduction.

[03:00 - 04:00] – Connecting Through Storytelling The role of storytelling in making clean energy projects more relatable and engaging for communities.

[04:00 - 05:00] – Justice40 and Big Tech’s Impact Insights on Amazon and Microsoft’s role in clean energy initiatives through community-focused projects.

[05:00 - 06:00] – Federal and Global Clean Energy Investment Discussion on the U.S. government’s infrastructure investments and the global push for net-zero by 2050.

[06:00 - 07:00] – Small Businesses as Economic Drivers Highlighting the impact of small businesses in local employment and clean energy growth.

[07:00 - 08:00] – Spotlight on Past Guests Todd shares insights from past guests like Brett Isaac and Jason Rodriguez on community benefits in action.

[08:00 - 09:00] – Bridging the Skills Gap in Clean Energy Exploration of innovative solutions in workforce development to address the skills shortage in clean energy.

[09:00 - 10:00] – The Economic Impact of Data Centers Examining how data centers contribute to job creation and economic growth in the clean energy sector.

[10:00 - 11:00] – Community-Centered Clean Energy Projects How community involvement is essential to the success and sustainability of clean energy projects.

[11:00 - 11:53] – Looking Ahead to Future Episodes Preview of upcoming conversations on democratizing EV access and engaging local communities in the clean energy movement.

Resources:

https://www.iea.org/

https://www.ussif.org/sribasics

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/leveraging-renewable-energy-investments-for-rural-development/

https://trellis.net/article/tapping-power-effective-esg-storytelling/

In this episode of Smart Inclusion, host Todd Q Adams talks with Jason Rodriguez, founder of Froliq, about the critical workforce skills gap in the clean energy sector. With the ongoing clean energy transition, there is an urgent need for trained professionals to fill the jobs being created in this industry. Jason shares his journey from market research at Z Prime to founding Froliq, which focuses on innovative training solutions that leverage technology like virtual and augmented reality. The discussion highlights successful projects with partners like Exelon and the importance of engaging diverse communities to build a strong pipeline for the future workforce.

Are you ready to join us on a new episode of SMART Inclusion Podcast? In this episode of SMART Inclusion, we explore how diversity and inclusion are essential for the global clean energy transition. Our host breaks down the challenges in closing the workforce gap, particularly for women and people of color, in traditionally male-dominated sectors such as oil, gas, and construction. With the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act unlocking $2 trillion in funding, the episode highlights how innovative partnerships are forming between utilities, community colleges, and labor unions to build a skilled and inclusive workforce. The episode also spotlights Texas as a leader in clean energy job creation, adding 100,000 jobs in the last two years. Tune in to learn how inclusivity in the energy sector can lead to a more sustainable and equitable future!

Join us in this insightful episode of the SMART Inclusion podcast as we discuss equity economics, climate impact investing, and the exciting ways climate tech investing is being democratized for everyday investors. Our guest, Nisha Desai, founder of Intention, shares her inspiring journey from working in energy startups to launching a fund aimed at giving regular people the opportunity to invest in climate solutions.

Come with us as we dive deep into the energy transition and its intersection with workforce equity, particularly highlighting the role of women in traditionally male-dominated industries. Your host shares personal experiences working in I.T. and the energy sector, reflecting on the underrepresentation of women in these fields and why their contributions are vital to a successful clean energy future.

Welcome to an exciting, new episode of SMART Inclusion Podcast, host Todd discusses energy justice and empowerment with Brett Isaac, founder of Navajo Power Home, a pioneering energy development initiative based on the Navajo Nation. Brett shares the journey of creating a utility from the ground up, bringing sustainable, clean energy to homes that were historically excluded from power infrastructure. From the legacy of the 1936 Rural Electrification Act, which intentionally left tribal lands without access to electricity, to the innovative solutions Navajo Power Home is implementing, this episode takes a deep dive into the intersection of energy, equity, and culture. Brett discusses the role of equity economics, how his community is leading in renewable energy, and the challenges of accessing capital for energy solutions that serve marginalized communities. Whether you're interested in sustainable energy models, economic empowerment, or the future of energy independence in Indigenous communities, this episode is full of actionable insights!

In this episode of the SMART Inclusion Podcast, we explore the intersections of equity economics, tribal justice, and energy independence. Our host delves into the historical exclusion of tribal nations from energy infrastructure development and how they are now at the forefront of innovative clean energy initiatives. Learn how Indigenous communities are shaping the future of renewable energy, building economic independence, and setting models for sustainability. We also discuss the U.S. government’s efforts to right historical wrongs, including grants from the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which support tribal ownership of renewable energy assets.