Conversations in Cleantech

Riding the Rollercoaster of EV Start-ups with Amy Dobrikova | Conversations in Cleantech | Season three, Episode three

In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech we're joined by Amy Dobrikova, Vice President of Fleet Solutions at Blink Charging. 

An entrepreneur at heart, Amy has ridden the rollercoaster of EV fleet start-ups since the beginning of her career - playing a pivotal role in helping them to accelerate, in turn hitting the gas on the electrification of fleets. 

In her current role as Vice President of Fleet Solutions, Amy is working globally to provide a 'one-stop solution' for every type of fleet whether the fleet is public or private, large or small. Through collaboration with various stakeholders, Amy and the Blink Charging team are working tirelessly to tackle the challenges associated with fleet charging to drive forward the EV revolution. 

In this insightful conversation, Amy offers pearls of wisdom from her own experiences of the good, the bad and the ugly world of EV fleet start-ups - from why you have to have a burning passion for your work to why being open to opportunities is the only way to succeed. 

Hosted by Brightsmith Vice President, Ben Sparks, this episode takes a deep dive into the EV fleet sector to understand how the transport networks of the future will take shape. 

 

Timestamped guide: 

01:03 - Introduction to Amy 

01:39 - About Amy and her current responsibilities Blink Charging

02:20 - Could you start by giving an insight into your career journey? 

03:31 - Could you tell us a little more about Blink and how they are positioned in the market?

04:42 - What does a typical day look like for you at Blink?

06:06 - How are you fostering partnerships with the different stakeholders needed to electrify fleets?

07:31 - What are some of the big challenges to overcome within EV charging?

09:20 - What are some of your key learnings from your time with Blink?

10:09 - What advice would you give to someone entering the cleantech sector?

12:01 - What have been your biggest career tipping points and looking back what advice would you give to yourself in those moments?

13:48 - What does living your purpose mean to you?

14:39 - How did you originally make your move into cleantech?

16:25 - The good, the bag and the ugly of cleantech start-ups

19:19 - What advice would you give to someone wanting to work in the world of cleantech start-ups?

20:51 - How do you see the EV charging infrastructure changing over the next five years?

22:06 - What are the challenges you foresee from an EV charging infrastructure perspective? 

23:22 - What token of wisdom would you like to finish with?

Connect with your host, Ben on LinkedIn. 

Find your guest, Amy on LinkedIn.

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

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production. 

Amplifying Clean Transportation Networks with Maryline Daviaud Lewett | Conversations in Cleantech | Season three, Episode four

In the latest episode of the Conversations in Cleantech podcast, we are joined by Maryline Daviaud Lewett, Director of Business Development and Transformative Technologies at Black & Veatch. 

Maryline's climb into cleantech could be described as somewhat unconventional. Maryline originally set out to pursue a career in journalism in her native France before she made the move across the pond. An early adopter of clean technologies, Maryline followed her passion and started her cleantech journey in the US, studying for an MBA in Sustainability Management, which led her into a career in which she could live her purpose. 

Since then Maryline has held a number of positions across a broad number of specialisms in the sector which has culminated in her latest role looking after the clean transportation area at Black & Veatch. In this varied role, Maryline is playing her part in accelerating the adoption of future mobility innovations by working with cross-functional partners to ensure the infrastructure is in place to support the EV revolution. 

During this insightful discussion, Maryline shares her thoughts on the challenging road ahead to make our transportation networks cleaner and greener - from supply chain hurdles to difficulties converting fleets to electric, whilst highlighting the incredible steps which have been already made and the pioneers who never waver in their commitment to finding solutions.  

Hosted by Ben Sparks, Vice President of Brightsmith, this conversation in cleantech takes a deep dive into the career of a clean transportation industry veteran to offer you pearls of wisdom to adopt into your own career. 

 

Timestamped guide:

01:04 - Introduction to Maryline 

05:36 - What attracted you to initially pursue a career in journalism?

06:58 - Could you tell us more about your current role in clean transportation?

09:38 - The US EV market compared to the European EV market 

11:17 - What are the big events which are going to change the race to Net Zero?

13:53 - What are the events in your career which have allowed you to live your purpose?

17:54 - What are some of the big challenges you have faced within the industry?

20:50 - What drives you when you face complex challenges?

23:57 - What moments have been stretch moments in your career?

25:34 - What is on the horizon for the EV sector in the next five years?

29:02 - What would be your token of wisdom for anyone looking to enter the sector?

 

Connect with your host Ben Sparks on LinkedIn. 

Find your guest, Maryline Daviaud Lewett on LinkedIn. 

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

This is a Loaded Hype production.

 

Driving the Electrification of Fleets with Sara Sloman and Sam Clarke | Conversations in Cleantech | Season three, Episode two

In this episode of Conversations in Cleantech, co-hosts Jenny Gladman and Ben Sparks are joined by not one, but two brilliant guests - Sara Sloman, Director of Future Fleet at Paythru and Sam Clarke, Chief Vehicle Officer at Gridserve. 

 

Passionate believers in the EV revolution, Sara and Sam have dedicated their careers to breaking down the barriers to ensure the successful electrification of transport systems. Through their webinar series, The EV Cafe, they are spreading innovative solutions entering the market, hoping to inspire more people to go electric. 

 

In this insightful conversation, Sam and Sara discuss a broad range of topics - from expanding networks to accommodate electric fleets to how to speed up the migration to EV ownership and how to encourage more young people to enter the industry. 

 

Hosted by Brightsmith's Jenny and Ben, this episode is a deep dive into how the EV revolution will take shape and the steps we still need to take to increase the percentage of electric vehicles on UK roads from 2% to 100%.

 

Timestamped guide: 

00:58 - Introduction to Sara and Sam 

02:14 - About Sara and her EV journey 

03:07 - About Sam and his EV journey 

04:33 - Why is putting the consumer first so important with EV charging?

07:13 - What can we expect from the future of EV charging payments?

08:37 - How have you seen the industry accelerate over the past couple of years?

12:09 - What is sun-to-wheel?

14:48 - How do we ensure that the electricity used is from a clean source?

17:15 - Sara's thoughts on the 'cultural migration' towards EVs

20:45 - What are the opportunities for young people interested in a career in EVs?

23:36 - What are some of the key takeaways you have learnt from your time in the sector?

29:14 - What are some of the barriers we have to overcome to scale EV charging?

34:15 - What token of wisdom would you offer to people entering the industry?

 

Connect with your hosts, Ben and Jenny on LinkedIn. 

Find your guests, Sara and Sam on LinkedIn. 

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

This podcast is a Loaded Hype production.

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.