7 Career Tips From 2 Top Women Innovators In Clean Energy

Companies, government agencies, academic institutions and nonprofits are ramping up their efforts to find creative solutions to climate change, every day. That means there are more potential job opportunities for smart, ambitious, women who want to have their careers make a difference by working in the clean energy space, no matter what skillset you have.

Every organization needs finance people, IT people, HR people, marketing and communications people, and operations people. Many also need policy people and academic institutions need faculty and admissions teams, as well as the other roles. Companies are growing sustainability practices too, because they need to step up their game on reducing their carbon footprint and how they report that work and the results of it.

What if you want to work on the cutting edge, maybe in a startup or supporting startups in an incubator or accelerator or the innovation unit of a larger company?

Here are seven career tips from two women at the top of their game in the clean energy space.

One is Dr. Jennifer Gerbi, Deputy Director and Acting Director of ARPA-E, the innovation arm of the Department of Energy, who previously spent many years in Corporate America.

The other is and Laura Pagliarulo, CEO of SolaREIT, a startup expanding access to renewable energy with creative financing for communities to pay for solar power. She previously spent many years in the solar energy space and is now leading a solar financing startup. 

These are excerpts from my recent interviews with each of them on my podcast, Electric Ladies:

·      Recognize what you’re learning where you are, no matter how miserable you are: Dr. Gerbi made a critical point about focusing on the value of where you are, not just the parts that are disappointing. “I learned something from all of (her past jobs) and I appreciate them.” Even, she said, “if things aren’t going well, just learn from it, use it as this is your school. Now this is your school about how not to be a boss, or this is your school about how to get people to work together.”

·      Learn about yourself in the process: As Pagliarulo put it, “I have learned more about myself in the startup process than I ever have working at any other company and in the defined roles.”  Even though her previous roles were “very entrepreneurial,” she said, “this sort of opportunity (at SolaREIT, a startup) where it’s not defined and it’s wide open” has allowed her to learn more about herself as a person, as well as about her skills and talents.

·      Look for new ways to use your skills: Both women have rearranged their skills to land in great roles. This is something I work with my clients on all the time too, which really helps people move forward. Gerbi said that when she received a call from someone about a potential opportunity at ARPA-E, she “realized is all the business experience” she had from working in a huge multinational corporation for many years in various roles could be applied to ARPA-E in a different way.

Pagliarulo had worked on the execution side of solar for many years and when the SolaREIT opportunity popped up, she realized she could use that experience on the solar financing side too. 

·      “Be honest with yourself”: Gerbi emphasized this, adding, “If you are miserable and stressed out, as she put it, and do not see anywhere to grow, “don’t be afraid to move around,” even though “it is terrifying leaving a job and finding another job.”

·      Do your research: Before Pagliarulo joined SolaREIT, she said she did “about nine months of research” on things like, “Do I think this is a viable thesis? Do I think this is at least a fighting chance of being successful?” She wanted to assess if it was a good idea on her own.

·      Lean on your network: Pagliarulo emphasized building and maintaining your network, staying in touch with people one way or another: “Your network is really important…..I still maintain contact with people that I’ve worked with over the past 20 years…. Those are the people who know you and support you and can open doors on a regular basis.” She also said that within that network, “finding mentors has been really important for me and having a sounding board for decisions has been really important.”

·      Believe in the mission of what you’re doing: Gerbi put it bluntly, “If you believe in the mission and you have a passion, it is amazing what kind of bull crap you can put up with and not be a mess at the end of the day, because you believe in what you’re doing.” This is something Pagliarulo and all my 300+ podcasts guests have emphasized as well.

Both women are optimistic, because, as Gerbi said, “I think there is room for a lot of optimism out there…. I just want people to know there’s so much amazing work going on by amazing people…(and) it gives you more hope for the future.”

Listen to the full interviews with them on my Electric Ladies podcast: Dr. Jennifer Gerbi and Laura Pagliarulo,