Conversations in Cleantech offers insight into the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working in the cleantech space from the investors, leaders, entrepreneurs, accelerators & technologists within it. We talk all things cleantech, sustainability, renewables, agritech, solar, wind, e-mobilty, hydrogen & energy storage. The time for cleantech is now – join the revolution and live your purpose. Conversations in Cleantech is bought to you by Brightsmith, the cleantech search specialists.
Episodes
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Tuesday Dec 05, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode co-hosted by Brightsmith Founder and Director, Jenny Gladman, we are thrilled to be joined by Gérard Gatt, Founder and President of Sakowin Green Energy.
Sakowin is an eco-conscious deeptech company founded in 2017, who have developed a non-thermal plasma process to efficiently break down methane and produce decarbonised hydrogen.
Gérard’s diverse career journey makes him perfectly placed to talk about both the “clean” and “tech” sides of cleantech.
From co-founding Citrix to now leading Sakowin Green Energy; how his team are key to accelerating progress in a challenging area with unknown scientific frontiers; to his passion for contributing solutions to the energy transition; Gerard shares details and insights into how he is pioneering a different way of producing hydrogen.
01:26 - Introduction to Gerard
05:18 - What inspires you and makes you tick?
06:41 - What do you do to relax and enjoy yourself?
09:50 - What would you hope for the industry in the next seven or eight years?
15:22 - What types of people do you think that we need to be solving the energy transition and taking those leaps forward?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.
Find your guest Gérard Gatt on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Tuesday Nov 21, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode co-hosted by Brightsmith Founder and Director, Jenny Gladman, we are thrilled to be joined by Emily Olinger, Chief People Officer, and Rob Hanson, CEO of Monolith Materials.
Monolith is working on clean commercial-scale green hydrogen production through a process called methane pyrolysis. While Emily and Rob work for the same business and share the same mission, they have vastly different roles within Monolith and face very different challenges on a day-to-day basis.
In this insightful conversation, we’ll explore several topics gaining insights from the perspectives of Emily and Rob - from Rob’s story that led him to found Monolith 10 years ago and Emily’s unconventional route into cleantech to the challenges of scaling production, building the right culture and ensuring long term viability of Monolith.
01:26 - Introduction to Emily and Rob
05:01 - Rob, what was the inspiration behind Monolith, and how did you get started?
09:45 - Emily, how has your journey at Monolith been so far?
11:57 - Emily, how do you go about finding mission-driven, purpose-driven individuals?
14:03 - Rob, how have you built such a great yet diverse executive team?
16:16 - Rob, how do you go about facing the challenges that come with scaling a startup quickly alongside the gigantic task of the operations of Monolith? And how do you keep yourself sane in the process?
19:00 - Rob, how has it been going from an early-stage startup to being extremely competitive in this space?
20:52 - Do you see the globe coming together to solve climate issues and trying to find the right solutions? If so, how do you see this working at Monolith?
26:12 - Emily, do you think your career will remain in this sector from now on?
27:11 - Are there any hot tips you've got for building a culture that aligns with what you're trying to achieve?
30:14 - What does the short and medium-term future for Monolith look like? How do you see the business needing to adapt to industry changes and demands?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.
Find your guests, Emily Olinger and Rob Hanson on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
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Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow. Parallel Carbon are a UK-based business that is on a mission to reverse climate change by building technology that removes carbon dioxide from the air while producing hydrogen to eliminate emissions. In this insightful conversation, Aranzazu discusses the journey she has been on, from PhD in Electrochemistry to co-founding and growing Parallel Carbon since 2021. In addition to her groundbreaking work, she is a passionate advocate for women's rights and fighting gender bias. In this episode, Aranzazu also shares how she’s approached the adventure of “founding a business while founding a family” shedding insights into how she balances both worlds. 01:09 - Introduction to Aranzazu 02:12 - Aranzazu’s background and career journey 04:01 - What inspired you to start Parallel Carbon, and where do you see the business going? 06:05 - How has it been founding a business while also founding your family? 11:46 - How has the relationship with your co-founder contributed to the business’ success? 14:39 - What would your advice be to other women who may be looking to move into the cleantech space in a leadership role, but then are also looking to start a family? 20:05 - Are there any specific strategies or practices that allow you to balance work and life? 22:59 - Can you share any highlights of the positive impact that you're seeing with Parallel Carbon?
Find your guest, Aranzazu Carmona Orbezo on LinkedIn. Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. This is a Loaded Hype production. |
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Tuesday Oct 24, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode co-hosted by Jenny & Ben, we are delighted to be joined by Adam Knudsen, CEO of Dynapower.
Dynapower is a leading energy storage and power conversion manufacturer based out of Vermont, USA - their products energise and strengthen vital industries, all while helping to shape a shared vision of a clean energy future.
In this inspiring conversation, Adam discusses Dynapower's history and evolution over the past 60+ years, and how they have adapted to remain relevant in the changing cleantech market.
He explores the importance of people and culture within the cleantech sector, and his focus on integrity, customer collaboration, and positive leadership.
A must-listen for anyone within cleantech, especially those who are managing teams and looking to cultivate a positive culture!
0:49 - Introduction to Adam Knutson
2:00 - Career journey and business evolution at Dynapower
5:28 - Powering a cleaner planet through technology and innovation
9:47 - Energy storage solutions and the company's unique approach
16:39 - Customer-led innovation in cleantech industry
19:58 - Leadership, culture, and talent acquisition in a business
23:44 - Retaining and recruiting talent in the clean energy industry
30:12 - Maintaining positivity in an industry with ups and downs
33:18 - Balancing business values and environmental mission
36:21 - Cleantech trends and market relevance
Connect with your hosts Jenny Gladman and Ben Sparks on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Adam Knudsen on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Tuesday Oct 10, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode, we’re thrilled to be joined by one of Brightsmith’s trusted partners, Connected Kerb.
Connected Kerb are on a mission to create an EV charging network for everyone, with true innovation and problem-solving at their forefront.
An environmentalist with a PhD in biology, in this episode Chris shares his story of being a leader within the cleantech space.
From the lessons learnt as a first time CEO to addressing the industry skeptics: in this episode, you can expect to discover all of the fascinating details behind Chris, Connected Kerb and start-up culture.
With insights such as how collaboration is crucial to progress, why local authorities hold the key to to wider electrification, maintaining a positive mindset when things get tough, plus team management and how a culture of accountability drives internal innovation: there is a cleantech pearl of wisdom for every person in this episode!
1:33 - Introduction to Chris Pateman-Jones
3:00 - How do you go about shaping a culture of accountability and shared decision making with your team?
5:45 - Who are Connected Curb, and where do they fit into the charging infrastructure space?
11:16 - How would you address some of the recent scepticism in the EV charging space?
14:33 - What else can the industry do to make the transition more appealing?
19:34 - What is your view on the capacity of the grid when thinking about the long game?
23:44 - I know you're a big believer that local authorities certainly hold the key to broader nationwide electrification; can you explain to our listeners why that is?
28:19 - As a first time CEO, what would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned so far?
33:26 - How do you go about maintaining positivity when things are tough?
35:07 - What would your advice to any person be in terms of how could they navigate a route into this industry?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Chris Pateman-Jones on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering cleantech companies and the leaders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode, we’re delighted to be joined by Maria Fennis, the CEO of HyET Hydrogen.
HyET Hydrogen is a leading SME in the field of electrochemical hydrogen compression, founded in 2008 and headquartered in the Netherlands.
Maria is somewhat of a cleantech veteran, having worked in renewable technology her whole career - from hands-on product development within solar right through to now, heading up a hydrogen company in a gripping growth phase.
In this episode, Maria shares her incredible journey from Chemistry graduate to CEO with inspiring lessons along the way.
From taking to the helm of HyET hydrogen for the last four years and how coaching helped her to build her own leadership character, to why team spirit drives HyET forward and words of wisdom which could be the catalyst to your own career in cleantech - this episode is certainly not one to be missed!
Timestamped Agenda:
00:49 - Introduction to Maria
04:16 - Can you share the vision for HyET Hydrogen?
07:34 - How has your journey from solar to hydrogen CEO been?
11:10 - The hydrogen industry is at a tipping point right now - sitting right at the heart of the industry, what does the next year or two look like for the hydrogen space?
14:13 - Who in the sector have you really admired and think is doing some amazing work?
16:40 - How have you found the learning curve of people?
18:53 - What lessons have you learned since you've been CEO and taken on that responsibility?
20:31 - How has having a coach benefitted you?
22:18 - How do you go about keeping a positive mindset and getting a bit of downtime?
22:23 - If someone's assessing their career and how they could be a part of tackling climate change, what would you say to them?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Maria Fennis on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this podcast episode, we’re delighted to be joined by William Bergh, the founder of Swedish cleantech company Cling Systems.
William’s passion for climate change, love of technology and commitment to being part of the solution led him to found Cling Systems, a company that is on a mission to close the loop of electric vehicle batteries, ensuring they are reused, repurposed and recycled.
Including his background growing up in Sweden and studying in Hawaii - which sparked his passion for nature and the environment - this podcast covers William's intriguing and unique journey so far.
From playing Soccer and studying Environmental Science to meditation, motivation, how circularity works and why it’s so important - William and your host, Jen, also dive into the rewards and challenges of being a founder within the cleantech space.
Take a listen today to get your cleantech fix!
Timestamped Agenda:
00:49 - Introduction to William
04:16 - What was your reason for studying in Hawaii?
07:29 - What brought you back to Sweden?
08:14 - The Scandinavian education system is just incredible compared to almost every other country in the world, how do you feel that benefits the people there?
12:30 - Can you tell us the story of how Cling was born, from the motivation to the idea to the infancy of the business?
23:47 - Outside of people, what are the biggest challenges that you faced as a founder?
30:47 - Is there anything really important to you, to help keep that positive mindset and also to have a dual focus in life, so it's not all about work?
34:46 - Can you leave our listeners on a note about resilience and not giving up the fight for change, but also having some sense of acceptance on how we live with it?
Find out more about Cling Systems here: clingsystems.com
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, William Bergh on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
Tuesday Aug 22, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this episode, we’re joined by Ana Haurie, CEO and Co-Founder at Respira International - a business that creates capital market solutions to enable long-term partnerships and aligns the interests of carbon credit project developers, buyers and capital providers.
As an inspirational woman within the carbon community, Ana shares her story behind starting Respira International and how she became an activist in her mid 50s.
Also breaking down the significance of the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) and the challenges it faces, she also discusses the journey of an entrepreneur and how it is not always all exciting…
An absolute must-listen for anyone who is interested in the fascinating world of cleantech, as Ana’s honest and inspirational story gives a real account of the VCM and the challenges it faces in the years to come.
Timestamped guide:
01:09 - Introduction to Ana
02:01 - Inspiration for Respira International
03:49 - The importance of the Voluntary Carbon Market
06:08 - How the Voluntary Carbon Market works
08:58 - Integrity in the Carbon Market
14:21 - Women in Carbon Community
16:47 - The highs and lows of setting up a business
21:04 - The importance of making mistakes in your career
22:49 - Advice for people who want to get into the Carbon Market
Connect with your hosts Jenny Gladman and Alexa Mangeant, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Ana Haurie on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this episode, we’re joined by Mike Simpson, Founder and Chief Commercial and Product Officer at Cheesecake Energy.
Contrary to the name, Cheesecake Energy is not a purveyor of desserts! Instead, they are a pioneering cleantech start-up developing thermal and compressed air energy storage technology.
Despite Mike's background in aerospace engineering, by the time he had finished studying in the field, he knew he wanted to live his purpose and work in cleantech.
The perfect listen for those curious about cutting-edge cleantech or founders looking for fascinating facts about start-up life; this episode covers all you could need to know, including the challenges of innovating new technologies; funding challenges and strategies for securing grants and investments; the traits of successful entrepreneurs that Mike has observed; and the advice he would give his 16-year-old self.
Get ready to be inspired to live your purpose in cleantech!
Timestamped guide:
00:49 - Introduction to Mike
02:15 - For listeners who don't know Cheesecake Energy: who are you and what is your mission?
04:25 - What is the real-world usage for energy storage?
06:39 - How was the idea of Cheesecake Energy born, and how did you bring the team together?
07:57 - How have you found trying to grow the business at the right rate, ensuring you’ve got the right grants, the right funding or the right investment?
10:21 - What are the top challenges you’ve faced to date?
13:22 - What are the things you didn’t expect with growing a team?
20:40 - How do you destress?
22:20 - How do you keep a positive mindset?
23:30 - What are some of the traits of founders that you’ve seen that you think makes them successful?
25:53 - How much impact do you believe that startups will have in their wider battle on climate change versus the corporates?
28:04 - if you had to go back and give your 16-year-old self a piece of advice, what would that advice be?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guest, Mike Simpson on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Tuesday Jul 25, 2023
Welcome to Season Six of Conversations in Cleantech! From inspiring stories and words of wisdom to future foresight and the tech from the bleeding edge of cleantech, during this season you can expect to learn all about how pioneering start-ups and the founders at their helm are propelling us towards a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
In this episode, we’re joined by Marta Krupinska, CEO and Dominque Airey, Client Partnerships Director at Cur8, a company at the forefront of carbon removal technology.
Dynamic duo Marta and Dominique have some impressive accolades under their belts -
CEO of Cur8, Marta is a serial tech entrepreneur, proud migrant and advocate for diversity. Alongside founding four companies with two successful exits, her contributions to the tech industry have earned her recognition from esteemed publications, including Forbes and the Evening Standard.
Client Partnerships Director, Dominique (Dom), has 15 years of experience across mission-driven startups, nonprofits and corporates. A passionate advocate for scaling organisations that deliver sustainable social and environmental impact, her achievements include being named one of Third Sectors “Most Promising CEOs” and featured in Management Today's 35 Women under 35.
In this conversation with Brightsmith Director, Jenny Gladman, Marta and Dom explore the challenges of building trust and credibility in an emerging industry surrounded by scepticism. With an emphasis on the need for education, funding and action to scale carbon removal solutions, they find motivation in the opportunity to build an industry that can make a truly meaningful impact on climate change.
Timestamped guide:
00:48 - Introduction to Marta and Dom
06:03 - An explanation of what Cur8 is
12:33 - There's a real lack of knowledge and education about the carbon market. How do we change and navigate that? And how do we make sure that over the next few years, it looks very different?
18:58 - How are you addressing the sceptics?
28:31 - how do you both stay positive when things get tough?
32:37 - Something I always like to discuss with female leaders in businesses is your advice to other females contemplating a career in this space, either founding a business or joining a business. Is there anything you'd specifically share with our female listeners?
35:58 - What does the carbon industry need from a talent perspective?
Connect with your host Jenny Gladman, on LinkedIn.
Find your guests, Marta Krupinska and Dominique Airey on LinkedIn.
Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith.
This is a Loaded Hype production.