Conversations in Cleantech

Overcoming Barriers Threatening the EV revolution with Michael Bakunin | Conversations in Cleantech | Season three, Episode one

In this episode of conversations in cleantech we’re joined by Michael Bakunin, Chairman of EpicCharging and Managing Director of Advanced Mobility at global consulting firm FTI Consulting. 

 

After leaving a successful career in telecoms in Moscow, Michael decided to explore international opportunities by attending IE Business School in Madrid. It was here he discovered that Nissan was in the process of releasing the first mass-market EV, the Nissan Leaf and this event completely altered his career trajectory. 

 

From this, his adoration for EVs flourished and he has since dedicated his life to spreading his extensive knowledge through his Youtube channel, Bakunin Live | Electric Vehicles and increasing EV ownership by helping companies create innovative solutions to overcome barriers. 

 

In this conversation in cleantech, Michael shares an insightful look into how to skyrocket the EV revolution - from the collaboration needed between different agencies to how to tackle one of the main barriers to ownership: charge points. 

 

Hosted by Ben Sparks, Vice President of Brightsmith, this episode of conversations in cleantech is a deep dive into the future of EV vehicles and how electrification will power every aspect of our transportation networks in the world of tomorrow.

 

*All views are Michael's own.

 

Timestamped guide:

00:55 - Introduction to Michael 

02:32 - About Michael and his journey so far 

06:44 - Do you have any funny career stories to share?

10:35 - How can culturally different organisations learn to collaborate?

12:28 - Why has it been important to share your content on YouTube?

17:42 - What are some of the themes driving EV charging in the US?

25:01 - How are consulting companies helping firms navigate the EV charging environment?

28:49 - What are the opportunities and challenges on the start-up side of the marketplace? 

31:45 - In the vehicle-to-grid sector, what are the main challenges organisations are trying to solve?

33:53 - What most excites you in the EV space in the next three to five years?

 

Connect with your host Ben Sparks on LinkedIn. 

Find your guest, Michael Bakunin on LinkedIn. 

Thanks for listening to Conversations in Cleantech brought to you by Brightsmith. 

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production. 

conversations in cleantech | season three trailer

Hello and welcome back to Conversations in Cleantech - we hope you missed us as much as we missed doing the podcast! It's almost time to launch our thrilling third season, and we're delighted to share a little bit more about it…

 

As the podcast that celebrates the cleantech industry and the people that power it, for this season we want to take a deeper dive into an area which is increasingly influential in driving sustainability for a cleaner, greener tomorrow. 

 

You guessed correctly! In season three, we'll explore the acceleration of future mobility. 

 

Whether it's expediting the EV revolution, maximising the potential of micro-mobility, or transforming transport networks, we'll be exploring how these innovations and the trailblazers behind them are propelling us towards a brighter tomorrow. 

 

For a refresher on the podcast: your host is Jenny Gladman, one of the three partners of Brightsmith, a cleantech search firm, and based at our London HQ. This season, Jenny is joined by co-host, Vice President of Brightsmith, Ben Sparks, who is based at our Austin office.

 

At Brightsmith we partner with people and organisations globally, who are as passionate as we are about creating a cleaner future through technology, innovation and strategic change under the philosophy of ‘live your purpose’. 

 

Ultimately, our aim for the conversations in cleantech podcast is to provide support to the cleantech community, highlight the pace at which we are travelling towards a cleaner future and inspire everyone to live their purpose.

 

With the first episodes of season three launching soon, be sure to subscribe now wherever you like to enjoy your podcasts.

 

This, is Conversations in Cleantech.

engineering a cleaner future with caroline hargrove | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode seven

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by caroline hargrove, cto of ceres energy. 

ceres are pioneers of a unique technology that aims to deliver clean energy that addresses climate change and air quality. creating a fuel cell from ceramic and steel, ceres aim to provide a technology that ticks all the cleantech's fuel cell needs - cost-effective, robust, scalable and transitional. 

 

our guest for this episode is truly a leading force in engineering. at the beginning of her career, caroline was awarded a phd from cambridge where she went on to gain extensive experience in f1 engineering working at mclaren. more recently, she spent three crucial years as cto of babylon health during a very interesting time in the world and joined as cto of ceres in november after three years as a board member.

 

alongside these incredible roles, caroline also has another med-tech board role, she's a trustee of a charity, a fellow of the royal academy of engineering, was previously a visiting professor at oxford, won the CPIs first women of engineering and manufacturing award in 2017 and was named one of the 50 most influential women in engineering in the uk. 

all of this deservedly culminated in caroline receiving a CBE for services to engineering in 2020.

 

in this episode, caroline discusses a plethora of topics, including but not limited to; the importance of raising the visibility of engineering as a career, why passion is key in living your purpose, her experience as a woman in engineering and how ceres are pioneering within the fuel cell space.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group and emily hart, principal consultant at brightsmith this episode of conversations in cleantech contains a wealth of knowledge, insight and advice to those within the cleantech space or looking to come into it. 

timestamped guide:

00:50 - introduction to carloline

02:09 - introduction to co-host, emily

02:38 - about caroline and her journey so far

07:57 - did you always know you'd do something technical?

10:08 - what was it about cleantech that really appealed to you?

13:05 - how are you settling in at ceres?

18:46 - how would you explain the fuel cell sector and the potential impact it can have for our planet?

26:11 - is there anyone you've worked closely with or seen from afar that has really inspired your career?

31:05 - were there any other challenges you had to overcome to get to where you are today?

36:31 - what are the highlights from your career?

42:57 - could you tell us about how you've approached inspiring young people to follow their passion and purpose?

48:12 - what do you envisage for the cleantech space in the future?

 

connect with your hosts,  jenny gladman and emily hart, on linkedin.

find your guest, caroline hargrove on linkedin.

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a loaded hype production.

making batteries more sustainable with carlton cummins | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode six

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by carlton cummins, co-founder and cto of aceleron energy.

 

aceleron energy believe that it is their duty and responsibility to design products that meet the needs of both our present and our future.

 

guided by circular economy principles, they have created the world’s first battery that is fully maintainable, capable of upgrades and with more capacity than ever before.

 

serviceable, scalable and upgradable, aceleron have engineered with the whole world -  not just the developed world - in mind, a principle which shows in the modular nature of their battery tech.

 

from being named shell young entrepreneur of the year in 2017, featuring on the forbes 30 under 30 and being named as one of the top 10 entrepreneurs of barbados - carlton's accolades are certainly impressive, before even looking at his credentials as a brunel graduate and co-founder of the groundbreaking battery tech company, aceleron. 

 

in this episode, carlton discusses where his passion from cleantech came from, why he was drawn to creating sustainable batteries, the vision behind aceleron and where the business is heading, the importance of being a global citizen, what he has learned from the different places he's lived and the challenges that come with doing things differently.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this episode of conversations in cleantech is an insightful discussion on the importance of ensuring a global energy transition and how circular, sustainable batteries are the missing piece of the cleantech puzzle. 

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to carlton

01:45 - about carlton and his journey so far

03:39 - tell us a little about aceleron

06:36 - for those who aren't as familiar with the battery tech space, is there anything specific you can share with our listeners about the industry?

09:48 - what led you to batteries in particular?

11:19 - what are the specific challenges that you and your co-founder amrit have had to overcome in the past few years?

13:31 - what is it like taking your new technology home to barbados?

14:25 - how have you found taking your technology to countries that aren't part of the developed world?

17:47 - how have you found the collaboration perspective of cleantech?

22:01 - are there specific things from the different countries that you've lived that have shaped your journey?

26:60 - what do you envisage for energy storage and the cleantech space in the future?

31:12 - what is the vision for aceleron?

32:18 - what are your final thoughts?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, carlton cummins on linkedin.

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

taking charge of the future with daria hedberg | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode five

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by daria hedberg, business development and esg manager at geyser batteries.

 

geyser batteries are taking charge of the future by creating high-power, heavy-duty, energy storage solutions based on novel proprietary water-based electrolytes through unique engineering and manufacturing know-how.

 

energy storage is a key part of the clean power puzzle, and through their innovation, geyser are providing an option that is safe, sustainable and designed for use at scale for the transportation, heavy machinery and power grid sectors.

 

with an unconventional yet and inspiring entry into cleantech, daria has a passion for what she does that shines through in this conversation.

 

in this episode, she discusses the importance of aligning your purpose, mission and values to where you work, provides insight into making career choices, her unique take on living your purpose, the future of batteries and cleantech, plus her thoughts on creating an inclusive and equal environment with the tech and engineering spaces.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this episode of conversations in cleantech is an insightful discussion on cleantech, careers and all that feeds into them with a guest who has a wealth of worldly experience. 

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to daria

01:51 - about daria and geyser batteries

03:07 - can you tell us a little about your journey into cleantech?

06:08 - how many languages do you speak? and how does that work with all of these other learnings?

07:19 - battery technology is quite polarising in the cleantech space. as someone really embedded in it, can you share your thoughts and wisdom on this?

10:16 - how does your purpose, values and mission align with geyser batteries and this space you've now found yourself in?

11:38 - what else motivates you?

13:17 - what are the challenges you've faced day-to-day or in the sector?

14:50 - what have you really learned about yourself in the last year?

15:19 - what are some of the highlights of your career?

17:40 - thirty years ago there were very few women in tech and engineering and that is changing - how do you feel about that?

18:54 - what could we all do collectively to level the playing field in terms of diversity?

20:46 - how does the phrase live your purpose resonate with you?

22:10 - is there anyone in particular who has inspired you?

23:41 - looking ahead at the future of battery tech and clean technology generally, is there anything you see on the horizon?

26:04 - are there any other pearls of wisdom you'd like to leave with our listeners?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, daria hedberg on linkedin.

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

unlocking geothermal energy‘s potential with karl farrow | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode four

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by karl farrow, ceo of ceraphi energy.

 

ceraphi is on a mission to deliver an impactful change to carbon reduction, providing a decarbonising baseload 1-2-1 energy transition solution. to do this, ceraphi are actively counting down to net-zero 2050 and measuring the contribution their innovative technology solution and strategic approach are having on the so-called race to net-zero.

 

founder and ceo karl has a wealth of understanding of the international energy sector - an entrepreneur and innovator with more than 30 years of experience, karl gained the majority of his knowledge in oil and gas production. however, he came to the realisation that by tapping into his expertise and applying the logic for drilling for oil and gas to geothermal, he could help unlock the potential of the world's cheapest, cleanest and most efficient baseload 24/7 energy.

 

in this conversation in cleantech, karl discusses taking a different approach to geothermal energy, CeraPhi’s mandate on the Paris Agreement 2050 and why the "race" to net zero is a myth, the importance of having a big goal to make an impact
- plus much, much more.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this episode of conversations in cleantech is an insightful discussion on geothermal energy and the wider renewables space, with a guest who is not afraid to speak his mind and values actions over words.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to karl

01:23 - geothermal 101

05:35 - can you give us some insights into the turns your career has taken?

08:43 - why did you land on geothermal?

11:33 - what is the longer-term mission of ceraphi?

15:20 - the energy transition

17:58 - what has your experience of collaboration in this industry been?

21:53 - what have some of the ups and downs on the roller coaster of the start-up been?

25:17 - who are the people who have inspired you along your journey?

29:49 - what do you see in the next 5-10 years for geothermal?

32:25 - what would your final message be to our listeners?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, karl farrow on linkedin.

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

communicating the renewable energy revolution with juliette sanders | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode three

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by juliette sanders, a self-proclaimed energy geek and head of communications at equinor.

 

after graduating with a masters in manufacturing engineering from the university of cambridge, juliette realised her passions lay in the communications side of the energy sector, tapping into her technical knowledge to creatively and effectively communicate in a way that inspires action.

 

from custom-made wind turbine earrings to her killah jules youtube channel, juliette's passion for renewable energy sources, particularly wind, is evident - both throughout her career and personal life. 

 

in this conversation in cleantech, juliette discusses diversity for innovation’s sake, teachable moments from managing crises, offshore wind innovation 101 and how the UK is leading the way in offshore wind - plus much, much more.

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, and marta colina alonso, researcher at brightsmith group this episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging discussion on the renewable energy revolution, with learnings on the importance communication plays in raising awareness and educating on cleantech, as well as encouraging action and inspiring change.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to marta (co-host) 

1:15 - introduction to juliette sanders

2:09 - tell the audience a little bit about yourself

2:47 - where did your particular interest in this technology come from?

3:43 - how did you go from engineering to communication?

8:15 - can you give us a bit of an insight into the sector, not just what it is, but the importance of it and where it fits in, in the wider spectrum of the energy transition?

12:20 - in your opinion, what do you think each of us can do to help tackle climate change?

13:37 - i wanted to ask you how you use your communication skills to spread the word about energy transition?

17:27 - what would the importance of having women in the sector mean for the future of energy, and the future of the planet?

23:44 - how does it feel for you personally, to be part of a movement that's making such a positive impact on the planet now and also, for the future in the years to come?

26:08 - you've mentioned the transition you had from an engineering background into a communications role. But who or what has inspired you to, you know, take that path?

28:25 - going back through your career as an entirety, are there any real kind of peak moments, any real highlights other than the wind turbine at the festival?

34:39 - what's the one message you would like to leave with our listeners, anything they would like to tell them?

 

killah jules youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC85Ld9YGG6EPoiz3j0q9hyQ

future women in energy panel: https://youtu.be/FuanhRlQy9s

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, juliette sanders on linkedin.

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

redefining solar energy with christophe williams | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode two

in this episode of conversations in cleantech, we’re joined by christophe williams, co-founder and ceo of naked energy.

 

naked energy is revolutionising solar energy with the world's highest energy density solar technology, virtu. a whole new category of solar energy, naked energy's goal is to enable businesses around the world to cleverly use the space they have available to produce substantially more sustainable, on-site energy in a cost-effective way.

 

with a background in the global advertising industry, christophe worked on award-winning, ground-breaking campaigns for high profile names such as BMW, Toshiba and Sony Erikson. despite his success, christophe came to the realisation that something in his career wasn't quite right; a fortuitous meeting and several conversations later, christophe decided to follow in family footsteps, heading into engineering and cleantech.

 

in this conversation, christophe reflects on his cleantech journey and taking the leap from arts to science, lessons learned on the "solar-coaster", the value in cleantech partnerships, plus what is next for naked energy - hint, it's pretty impressive stuff.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging discussion on the solar tech fuelling the future, with learnings on product development, community and challenges the industry faces that are insightful to both cleantech connoisseurs and novices.

 

timestamped guide:

00:49 - introduction to christophe

02:35 - tell our listeners about how you found yourself building one of the most unique solar companies in the UK

14:32 - what does cleantech mean to you?

21:59 - how long do you think it'll be before our government to see solar in the same way as other more progressive countries?

27:26 - how does it feel knowing that every day you have made a difference?

32:12 - as a founder of a cleantech company, what has been a real high and what has been a real low?

36:36 - can you share a bit about how you're expanding your partner network and how that's supported your business?

39:51 - what is next for naked energy?

45:02 - what is one message or piece of advice you'd give somebody who is thinking about a career in cleantech?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, christophe williams on linkedin

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

the buzz behind end-to-end e-mobility with tomas edwards | conversations in cleantech | season two, episode one

welcome to the first episode of season two of conversations in cleantech!

in this instalment, we’re delighted to be joined by tomas edwards, head of marketing at GoWithFlow.

a "newbie" to the cleantech sector, tomas left his corporate career to find a position with purpose earlier this year - which he has, as head of marketing at gowithflow. inspired by a conversation he had with his daughter, the recent change of gear within his career means tomas has unique insights into what it's like to take a leap of faith into a portuguese cleantech start-up, all in the name of pursuing your passion.

 

a brilliant marketeer and ally of women in tech, tomas is truly fuelling the future within his role at gowithflow; in this conversation he also explores the value of connections within the cleantech community, the buzz behind e-mobility, why end-to-end solutions are vital in tackling the corporate carbon challenge and EVs are a key part of solving the motobility puzzle.

 

hosted by jenny gladman, director at brightsmith group, this latest episode of conversations in cleantech is an engaging listen for anyone looking to learn more about why working in cleantech is so rewarding, how the e-mobility sector is tackling climate change and how we can all play our part in lowering emissions.

 

timestamped guide:

00:50 - introduction to tomas

02:51 - tell us a bit about yourself

04:59 - talk to us about your understanding of what the cleantech space is, what it means and fits within that umbrella

06:42 - how can we all work together for a cleaner future, and how does that fit in with what you're doing with gowithflow?

14:28 - the value of collaboration in cleantech, and how that ties in with living your purpose.

20:02 - what motivates you on a day to day basis?

25:21 - How do EVs, in particular, have an impact and what part do they play?

32:26 - who are some inspiring people within the sector?

34:50 - what big changes are on your horizon - within the team or wider industry?

37:07 - If you could leave our listeners with one last message, what would it be?

 

connect with your host, jenny gladman, on linkedin.

find your guest, tomas edwards on linkedin

notable cleantech inspirations mentioned by tomas:

ade thomas, green.tv - angela hultberg, ikea (seconded to cop26) - catherine marris, motability - poppy mills, ubitricity - chris pateman-jones, connected kerb.

 

thanks for listening to conversations in cleantech, brought to you by brightsmith.

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

conversations in cleantech | season two trailer

Hello and welcome back to Conversations in Cleantech - I hope you missed us as much as we missed doing the podcast! It’s almost time to launch our exciting second season, and we're delighted to share a little more about it...

 

As the podcast that celebrates the cleantech industry and the people that power it, for this season we want to take a dive into one area which is hugely influential in driving sustainability for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.

 

That’s right: season two is all about the technical innovation fuelling the future!

 

Whether it’s spearheading solar panel innovation, redefining fuel cells or overhauling how we move, we’ll be taking a little more time on an educational overview of why these innovations and innovators are the ones that are sparking change.

 

For a refresher on the podcast: your host is Jenny Gladman, one of the 3 Directors of brightsmith, a cleantech search firm based in London, now operating globally. We partner with people and organisations who are as passionate as we are, about creating a cleaner future through technology, innovation and strategic change, under the core philosophy of “live your purpose”. 

 

Ultimately, our aim for the conversations in cleantech podcast is to provide support to the cleantech community, highlight the pace at which we are all travelling towards a cleaner future and inspire everyone to live their purpose.

 

With the first episode of season two launching very soon, be sure to subscribe now wherever you like to enjoy your podcasts.

 

This, is Conversations in Cleantech.