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"Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast This Earth Day, we want to share inspiring career advice for women in mid-career who want to make a difference, which I ask every guest for on Electric Ladies Podcast. No matter what's going on in the economy, you have agency. You can control what you think about, focus on and your emotions. Listen to these amazing women from five different industries who were interviewed on Electric Ladies Podcast recently. Let them inspire you and tell us what resonates with you. Post it to us @joanmichelson on social media. You'll hear from: ·       Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy, professor at Texas Tech University and one of the world's foremost climate scientists. ·       Dominique Browning, Founder/CEO of Mom's Clean Air Force, on how to pressure elected officials on climate and clean energy issues. ·       Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute, on the new nuclear energy industry and innovations bringing clean, reliable power to many ·       Maura Hodge, head of U.S. Sustainability Practice at global consulting firm KPMG, on why companies believe sustainability creates long-term value. ·       Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman, of Boston Medical Center, on how healthcare systems can protect the planet while providing top medical care to people. Subscribe to our newsletter - and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here. Read Joan's Forbes articles here. Elevate your career with expert coaching and ESG advisory with Electric Ladies Podcast. Unlock new opportunities, gain confidence, and achieve your career goals with the right guidance. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, articles, events and career advice – and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Don't forget to follow us on our socials Twitter: @joanmichelson LinkedIn: Electric Ladies Podcast with Joan Michelson Twitter: @joanmichelson Facebook: Electric Ladies Podcast

"You see corporate procurement of clean energy, predominantly renewable energy, but there's fleet investments, there are efficiency improvements in buildings and on campuses underway….but it was a little different than what we'd seen in recent years. It wasn't just solar and wind. There was an interest in 24/7 reliable clean energy in particular by the tech industries, which won't surprise you, but things like nuclear, geothermal, other integrated technologies like solar and storage…So that's kind of an interesting set of dynamics because it's really diversifying the players in the corporate for procurement space" Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast With the war Trump started in Iran causing gas prices to soar, we wanted to understand where the energy sector really is today, despite economic and geopolitical pressures. Luckily, the new 2026 Energy Factbook just came out with the answers. Listen to Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) talk about the findings in the new energy report they did with Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) again in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson.  You'll hear about: How AI is affecting energy markets and sources -- beyond just data centers. How the energy supply chain is at risk, not just the energy sources themselves. How reliable the grid is today and what's being done to strengthen it, including increasing transmission, efficiency, and resiliency in the face of $800 billion in climate events last year. Why she said AI is "inertia breaking" in a good way, forcing breakthroughs that are long overdue. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Reach out, reach out, reach out…We're an expanding sector and so much new innovation, new technology, new focus on us…it's a good time to be in the energy sector …So I think a lot of it's still relationships and putting yourself out there. I think that is key. And certainly I would say to anybody who's listening, don't hesitate to reach out to me.… (and) Be generous with your time." Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes article about this new report here and more of her articles here too. You'll also like: Nuclear Energy is Growing Fast - with Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute The Politics of Progress on Climate and Energy - with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus and Air Force veteran Energy Efficiency Saves Money - with Paula Glover, CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy Critical Minerals 101 - with Abby Wulf, Critical Minerals expert and former head of Critical Minerals in the U.S. Dept. of Energy Why Geothermal is the Next Big Thing - with Marit Brommer, Ph.D., head of the International Geothermal Association Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"If there are people who are willing to talk to you about it, the first thing you got to do is listen….I grew up in a very rural area and it's very conservative also. And when I go home, I don't talk about climate change. I do talk about what's going on with hunting season. 'Oh, there's no deer this year. Why do you think that is? Tell me about the rain'….It is again about that pivoting and you have to understand what's important to the people you're talking to… I might say, 'I just upgraded my mom's generator. It's great because with all the outages we're having out here, now she can get electricity and I know your husband's been sick, that could be something that could be really beneficial for you.' I do not mention climate change…I am putting out ideas that are going to save somebody's life, I'm responding to the situation of the people that I'm speaking with." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast How do we keep people safe and sound in the face of ferocious weather, wildfires and floods, especially when they wince at the words "climate change"? Make it real for their world. How? Listen to Allison Agsten, Director of the Center for Climate Journalism and Communications at the University of Southern California in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also curates art at the intersection of art and climate at the Wrigley Marine Science Center.   You'll hear about: How to keep people safe with adaptation strategies without talking about climate change. How art and climate intersect and how it helps people stay safe. How to combat disinformation and misinformation…and so much more Plus, career advice, such as: "When I talk to women who are at some point in their careers and they're thinking of joining our sustainability communicator cohort, they always say to me, I just don't know if my skills are translatable. Yeah, they are. I can help you think about the language…It's scary because I've done it myself. I've made a number of career pivots, but to me, even scarier is not taking that chance and having the opportunity to feel really good about the work you do every day….I sleep well at night because I know that I used the skills that I have to do the thing that I think is most important." Allison Agsten on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter here -- and Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: How to Talk About Climate in a Polarized Culture - with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy Seek First to Understand - with Jennifer Hough, Advisor, TEDx Speaker, Author How Do We Talk About Climate? - with Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, nonprofit producing environmental documentaries and media What's a Tech Humanist? - with Kate O'Neill, Speaker, Tech Humanist, Author The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"What I knew about Carbon Credits having watched them for many years is that they're not always what they seem...So, Calyx Global was founded in 2021 to help companies navigate the space, to really understand….(i)t's a promise that somebody has reduced methane in that landfill or planted some trees thousands of miles away. So that's what Calyx Global is, we're a Carbon Credit Ratings Agency. But really what we're doing is, for every one of these assets, helping buyers understand what's underneath that, what the quality of that asset is.  Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast  You've probably heard the words "carbon credits" banted about. But what are they exactly and how do they work?   Listen to Donna Lee, CEO & Cofounder of Calyx Global (and former climate policy negotiator at the UN and U.S. State Dept.) in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ●        What carbon credits are, how they're measured and verified, because they are not all equal. ●        Where policies and regulations provide stability (or uncertainty) ●        Why companies buy and trade carbon credits – the business case. ●        Plus, career advice, such as: "One is, follow your passion always. If you are passionate about making a difference, find a job where you make a difference. Don't settle for less and you will succeed more if you feel really strongly and you love what you're doing…The other thing, just being sort of a woman in late career and only maybe in some ways only finding my footing now as a co-founder is, don't underestimate your abilities….What's more important, competence or confidence? It is both in equal measure. Women always underestimate their abilities, right? Men always overestimate and women always underestimate. And so women double down on competence…You can be authentic and confident and don't undersell yourself… Lean in on the things that come naturally to you." Donna Lee on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter and Join the waitlist for our new Membership Group here and read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: ·      Carbon Accounting 101: with Alyssa Zucker, Senior Industry Principal in Carbon at Workiva – aka The Carbon Lady ·       Carbon Credits 101: with Lucy Hargreaves at Patch (now at Build Canada) ·       How to Get To Carbon Zero, with Melissa Lott, Ph.D. at Columbia University Center for Global Energy Policy featured in the "Chasing Carbon Zero" documentary. ·       A Biography of Carbon: with documentary filmmaker, writer and producer, Danielle Ortega of the Australian Film Commission on her extraordinary film "Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography ·       Using Captured Carbon To Make Energy: with Bjork Kristjansdottir, of Carbon Recycling International Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Number one reason that people get denied and they didn't read the eligibility criteria. So yeah, very, very important …If you don't have the qualifications or something for something, you partner with somebody who does and you guys go after it together.… If you don't know something, that gives you a reason to call the vendor and start that conversation and get that personal relationship with them.…Relationships, relationships, relationships. It really is the key to grants. It's really not about what you write, it's about who you're speaking to ahead of time." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Nonprofits and mission focused small businesses are facing historic funding threats at the moment due mostly to massive cuts in federal funding under the Trump administration and Republican-led Congress and related political pressures. The good news is that this crisis is also an opportunity for these nonprofits and mission-focused businesses to think differently about how they fund their operations and their goals. How? Listen to Megan Pater, CEO/Founder of Fund Nation and ECE Solutions on how to find and secure grants in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. She also happens to be a member of the Native American Osage Nation. You'll hear about: ●        How you don't have to be a nonprofit -- even if the grant criteria requires one. ●        How relationships, partnerships and creative strategic thinking are key. ●        The magic of Megan's database to help small businesses and nonprofits secure grants ●        Plus, career advice, such as: "Relationships. If you are seeking to move even laterally in your career, just making some type of change, you need to know what you're getting into, speak to somebody who's been there, reach out for help.… There's so many programs that are government-funded or city- or county-funded that you can enter into and they will raise you up…There's no reason for you not to feel supported.…But there's so many resources out there that are free and available that we already pay for with our taxes, and if you're not utilizing them, you are hurting yourself….We've already paid for them when we pay our taxes and people don't utilize them enough." Megan Pater on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Read Joan's Forbes articles here.  You'll also like: ·       Creative Leverage for Good -- Kate Williams, CEO of 1% for the Planet ·       You Can Make A Difference Where You Are -- Laur Hesse Fisher, MIT's Environmental Solutions Initiative ·       Scaling Women Climate Entrepreneurs -- Zainab Salbi, Daughters for Earth ·       Connecting With Curiosity -- with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor ·       Corporate Philanthropy At America's Largest Bottler – with Ann Canela, Head of Corporate Giving at Niagara Water and Niagara Cares, It's Philanthropic Arm ·       New Venture Capital Models For Women and CleanTech – with Cecile Blilious, Veteran Venture Capital investor and Co-Founder, Venture ESG   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Healthcare Without Harm is more of an advocacy organization that works with clinicians and other healthcare workers to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and pollution as well as climate impacts. And then Practice Greenhealth advises hospitals on how to get there and they do this awards process…(which is) about having people aware of all these different metrics that impact your operational sustainability…(and) raise awareness among the people who are running the hospital and leadership about how they're using water, food waste, where they're buying their food from, their waste hauling costs and the type of waste they're throwing away, their…carbon emissions…and guides." Dr. Anna Goldman on Electric Ladies Podcast "The climate crisis poses a critical threat to health systems and populations globally with projections of 14.5 million preventable deaths and 1.1 trillion in healthcare costs by 2050," the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine said. How can hospitals care for patients and staff  24/7 every day while also reducing its own carbon footprint and stay safe in extreme weather events? Listen to Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett and Dr. Anna Goldman of Boston Medical Center in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. You'll hear about: ●        Their creative initiatives and systems to reduce food waste, feed patients and staff better, and reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, and waste. ●        How state policies directly affect hospitals and communities and can support systems change, even regardless of federal policies. ●        What Practice Greenhealth is and how it's helping BMC and other medical centers manage their unique challenges and reduce their environmental impact and costs. ●        Plus, career advice, such as: "You can do it all, but you don't have to do it all at once.…Enjoy each chapter. There are parts where I've absolutely receded based on what matters most. Recently when my father was ill and dying, I needed to step away from some of my career pulls to say, this is what matters to me….Try as best as you can not to be fear-driven. I think we are so driven by fear that we're never going to be enough, that we aren't going to contribute enough….(Y)ou actually are enough just as you are, right? Take this day, do what you can. Impact the people around you.…Become partners in your career with unlikely people, people who don't think like you, people who aren't doing the same career as you. You'll get a lot more joy out of, I think, your career because of the cross-pollination." Dr. Katherine Gergen-Barnett on Electric Ladies Podcast   Subscribe to Joan's Electric Ladies Podcast newsletter here to receive podcasts, career advice, events and articles in your inbox weekly. Read Joan's Forbes articles here.   You'll also like: ·       How Hospitals Can Juggle 24/7 Care & Climate Impacts - with Carol Gomes, CEO/COO of Stony Brook University Hospital ·       Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems ·       Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva ·       Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir ·       Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders ·       Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster ·       Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova)   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"I've been in this industry for 40 years and we have never been at a moment like we are today. …About 10 years ago, a little bit more than that, the narrative at that time was we were closing down plants…. Now the narrative today is, Hey, you know what? Some of those plants you shut down, we've changed our mind. How hard would it be to restart that?... All of these hyperscalers (Google, Amazon, e.g.) are figuring out partnerships and marriages, if you will, with nuclear and trying to help nuclear be brought to the marketplace….I mean, the demand is off the charts, and that's really the biggest game changer." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast We need massive amounts of clean energy to power our electricity-hungry economy while also reducing global warming to keep the ravages of climate events at bay. Solar and wind are great but intermittent. Between new innovations and super-high energy demands, nuclear power is back in vogue. But what are the dangers? Listen to Maria Korsnick, President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute and a 40-year veteran of the industry in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She even operated nuclear reactors. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: How nuclear plants actually work, and why she calls them "essentially a power plant." Why she says nuclear plants are so much safer today than ever before. Why nuclear power is having a renaissance, with demand "off the charts" and 40-60-year lifecycles. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "Honestly, I would say get into nuclear power. Nuclear power is …at a threshold for incredible growth. And the value of that is it really doesn't matter what your background is. You could be an accountant, you could be an HR person, you could be an engineer, you could be a chemist. We need people with four year degrees, no degrees… We're not just building that here, we're building it around the world. Some people might want to do some more travel as part of their job. There's going to be room for that…. There's all kinds of opportunities. You've got startup companies and you have established companies that have been in business for 50 years." Maria Korsnick on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Jana Gerber, President, Microgrids, Schneider Electric Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"We, the people we can definitely keep the pressure on, not only on our lawmakers, our governors, our mayors, our senators, our Congress people. We have to keep reminding them that we care about these issues…There's a real key also to the future reimagining, asking companies to reimagine themselves as energy companies, not oil companies or gas companies, but energy companies. So all of these pressure points are incredibly important. We all have favorite stores, favorite brands that we shop on. If you love Walmart writing to the customer services and to the president of Walmart saying, 'Hey, get those solar panels on all of our Walmart stores. We want to do our part. They care. They care about consumer response. It's important to say that you care. You want them to care." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast This Women's History Month 2026, it's critical that all our elected officials at all levels know that we care about climate change, clean air, clean water and protecting the environment. That pressure is what makes them pass legislation that addresses these issues. How? Listen to Dominique Browning, Founder and head of Mom's Clean Air Force, who is also a Vice President at the Environmental Defense Fund, in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.   You'll hear about: ●        How to pressure your Mayor, Senators, Congresspeople, state legislators, governors, the head of the EPA, the president, and even your School Board members to pass legislation to address the climate crisis and protect our clean air, clean water and environment. ●        How states and cities are leveraging Inflation Reduction Act and infrastructure Act funding and incentives, still, for a range of clean energy and climate solutions, such as electric school buses and solar panels. ●        How important it is to show gratitude when elected officials do the right thing. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "Just say yes, say yes to everybody who wanted you to do a project or consult on something or talk about something, meet, brainstorm, et cetera. And slowly but surely, I started building up a network of people who were interested in the same things I was interested in…Another piece of advice I got …(was) 'you got to go with the love.'…Over time, I began to see that what she was talking about was think about what you love, what you're passionate about, and what you can do… And that's very motivating, especially when things are difficult." Dominique Browning on Electric Ladies Podcast Subscribe to Joan's weekly newsletter here to stay abreast of episodes, trends, career advice, and events where Joan is speaking. You'll also like: ·       How to Talk About Climate In A Polarized Culture -- with Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D., Climate Scientist, Chief Science Officer at The Nature Conservancy & Professor, Texas Tech University ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus ·       How to Rebuild Cities After Disaster  – with Majora Carter, Urban Development Expert ·       How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities – Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 ·       Unique Practical Climate Solutions For Cities – Joan's panel at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blogs, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"I believe in the power of people wishing to volunteer for initiatives rather than assignment of duties and responsibilities and having people feel as though it's a chore… (They) serve as champions in their areas to educate their fellow peers on what it means to be sustainable, what they can do that's in their power to contribute to the outcomes….And then as we started to become more mature…we formed structured committees, we leveraged those champions on the units to participate. We made it enjoyable in terms of participating. We actually have contests… (I)t just breeds excitement about sustainability and I think it just allows for a culture where people become engaged and part of the process." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Healthcare is a huge 18% of the economy and uniquely has to be caring well for patients and staff  24/7 every day while also vulnerable to extreme weather events itself. How do they do that, how do they cover those costs, and what can we all learn from them? Listen to Carol Gomes (pronounced like "homes"), CEO and COO of Stony Brook University Hospital in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.   You'll hear about: ●        Their initiatives and systems to reduce energy and water consumption, CO2 emissions, waste and manage the significant hazardous waste a hospital generates. How "quality" is a mantra. ●        How they have engaged their people, building a unique culture, to embrace sustainability. ●        What Practice Green Health is and what other industries can learn from their data, analyses and sharing of best practices. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "I would say use your voice sooner than later. And if you see something, say something. If you wish to express yourself and you have an opinion and you're sitting at a table, express it and don't be shy… I think also leveraging networking opportunities is really important and volunteering for a committee or stretching yourself a little more than you normally would, and exploring areas where you may feel you're not as strong and don't be fearful of that… building relationships is not text messaging. It's not leaving voice messages. It's talking face-to-face, getting to know people, what's important to them." Carol Gomes on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: ·       Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – with Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems ·       Leveraging AI for Sustainability – with Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva ·       Music, Public Health & Climate Action – with Emma O'Brien, Ph.D., Global Scrub Choir ·       Connecting With Curiosity – with Jennifer Hough, Author, TEDx Speaker, Advisor to Leaders ·       Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster ·       Why Our Lives Depend on Women on Boards – with Corinne Post, Ph.D., Lee High University (now at Villanova)   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

How Utilities Are Changing While Keeping The Lights On – Nicole Pearson & Brad Johnson of Bentley Systems   "The really great thing about electric utilities is that they maintain a singular focus almost regardless of what's going on around them. It's safety, reliability, resilience. So they'll adapt and flex…They're not going to take a risk that sacrifices safety, that sacrifices your light coming on….The difference now that I've noticed is their willingness to move forward with technology and change decades, long processes and workflows and legacy built systems……. because they see how they can still maintain and maintain more efficiently, safety, reliability, resiliency." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast   Utilities are being transformed even as they keep the lights on. They have to become more resilient to the effects of climate changes and be responsive to new energy sources and technologies and even invent new business models while also regulated – all without dropping a moment of power.  How? Listen to Nicole Pearson, Director of Marketing for Energy and Brad Johnson, Industry head of Energy Systems at Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference. You'll hear about: ●        How utilities have evolved and are evolving without risking service, safety, reliability and under the regulatory microscope. ●        How Bentley Systems' software is reducing risk and increasing resilience of utilities. ●        How utilities are leveraging A.I. while monitoring for cyberattacks and hallucinations to keep systems, workers and consumers safe. ●        Utilities have to plan decades ahead, even 30+ years ahead, yet technologies evolve so fast. How can they plan that far ahead? ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "The first one is own it. Own it. What is it? Your career. And when I say own it, I'm constantly, even today having meetings with people that I don't know, requesting mentorship, reaching out through LinkedIn, going to events. I try to stay very connected and not just people in my close industry or even work type …Every single person you meet is a connection and could have an impact on your life and vice versa….When you meet somebody, keep the conversation going. …So one day if they need something or you need something, you have a connection….My second piece of advice is… you should always have a list of things that you want to accomplish, that you want to put on your résumé. And regardless of what's going on around you in your job, focus on those things." Nicole Pearson on Electric Ladies Podcast     Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here.   You'll also like: ·       Using Software & AI to Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems ·       Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva ·       Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster ·       How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 ·       88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

Using Software, AI To Reduce CO2 & Increase Resilience – Lydia Walpole & Chris Bradshaw of Bentley Systems   "For example, if we have a concrete pile, we can change the parameters and use AI to suggest actually a more optimal design with regards to how much concrete is going to be used. So we quite often, as engineers, we are risk averse. So sometimes you can over design to make sure consequences in construction and infrastructure are real. We do need to be precise, but we can use AI to ensure that we have a reduced amount of carbon and concrete in that pile, but still meeting the outcomes that we set out to achieve." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast Infrastructure like roads and bridges, as well as buildings today need to be built with strong climate resilience, as well as reduced carbon footprint. Innovative software systems are leveraging AI to increase performance. How? Listen to Lydia Walpole, Senior Director of Global Performance and Chris Bradshaw, Chief Sustainability Officer both of Bentley Systems in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. It was recorded live at the Bentley Systems "Year in Infrastructure" 2025 conference.   You'll hear about: ●        How Bentley Systems' digital twin technology is reducing risk, waste and CO2 and improving performance. ●        How sustainability and climate resilience shift the approach to infrastructure builds from "reactive to predictive," as Chris said, as extreme weather increases. ●        How their technologies are transforming infrastructure builds across the globe. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "I often hear about imposter syndrome, and I know it's easy to say, but I've worked in a male dominated environment my whole career, and I've never felt like I shouldn't be here. And it is easy to say, don't feel that, but you deserve to be where you are. You've worked hard and recognize that. …Secondly, be curious and remain curious, and make sure you are continuing to learn and educate yourself every day….Keep abreast of new technologies." Lydia Walpole on Electric Ladies Podcast  And Chris Bradshaw added: "My biggest piece of advice would be to be bold. Don't be shy. Diverse groups make better decisions, always…. You are bringing a different point of view." Read Joan's Forbes article on whether A.I. makes our infrastructure safer or not here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here. You'll also like: ·       Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva ·       Artificial Intelligence and the Climate: Stephanie Hare, Ph.D, author of "Technology is Not Neutral" and BBC Broadcaster ·       How Design & Technology Are Redesigning Cities: Nikki Greenberg, Real Estate of the Future, live at the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 ·       88% of Companies Say Sustainability Increases Long-Term Value: Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer, KPMG ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"There is value in being able to articulate the qualitative value of sustainability…And yes, obviously revenues can be attached to that, but obviously just the opportunity to open up new markets more broadly and innovate…There's the risk and compliance component, which tend to be more easy to actually quantify. And then there's the brand reputation…So you can make the case qualitatively in any of those three areas…There's this movement from morality to materiality now that CFOs are involved…We actually take that all the way to the financial statements, to the balance sheet, to the profit and loss statement, and identify those specific line items where there could be savings or synergies or increases." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast   Companies have to focus on long-term value and returns, and a recent report by KPMG found that 88% of them say sustainability creates both. They also see it as a competitive advantage. Why? Listen to Maura Hodge, Chief Sustainability Officer of global management consulting and accounting firm KPMG in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson.   You'll hear about: ●        How companies see sustainability as a competitive advantage. ●        How sustainability and ESG initiatives drive return on investment and long-term value. ●        Why CFO's are on board with ESG, as both a risk mitigation and revenue driver. ●        What companies can do to make progress themselves. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "My experience has been looking for those opportunities of new area growth, innovation. Of course, there's risk. There's going to be risk when you move into those areas…I actually pivoted and started working with venture capital backed life sciences companies…then I got to come back to sustainability after that. …I think keeping your eyes open, keeping your ears open, developing your network, and being willing to make those changes and taking those pivots in your career will pay off….(And) the way that you get ahead is actually sometimes by taking two steps back. And so, it's more of a step up, plateau, then maybe take a step down and then start moving up again. And that's how you kind of break into the next level." Maura Hodge on Electric Ladies Podcast   Read Joan's Forbes article on Maura's panel at the Workiva conference here, and her Joan's other Forbes articles here.   You'll also like: ·       Business Leaders Bridging the Climate Gap – Joan's panel at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025 with four top business leaders. ·       Sustainable Business Is Good Business – Tensie Whelan, Founding Director, NYU  Stern School of Sustainable Business. ·        Leveraging AI for Sustainability – Mandi McReynolds, VP of External Affairs & Chief Sustainability Office at Workiva ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus ·       6 Ways Sustainability Can Help Businesses Navigate Tough Times and Drive Growth – From Workiva, KPMG and NYU   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"What is a microgrid?...There's a lot of challenges that folks are dealing with around the grid infrastructure, with weather related challenges and load growth and other elements. And so what a microgrid does is help those customers become not only consumers of energy, but also producers of energy. So we like to call that a prosumer….So a microgrid helps to create that bridge between the building and the big grid…So if the grid's no longer there (e.g., an outage), they can act independently of the grid. It also helps with deploying more renewables on their sites, as well as really energy costs." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Our hearts go out to the many people who are out of power in the current massive winter storm. We wish they had access to a microgrid to give them power when the grid is down, like during this ferocious storm. How does a microgrid work? Can you get one for your home? Listen to Jana Gerber, President of Microgrids at Schneider Electric in this helpful and engaging conversation with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson, live at the Schneider Electric U.S. Innovation Summit a couple of months ago. They also share insightful career advice. You'll hear about: What a microgrid is, how it works and how to use it. How microgrids can serve communities in disaster situations – and are doing so in real time. How facilities as different as military bases to airports to EV charging are using microgrids to keep the power on. How microgrids are powered by renewables and batteries…and so much more Plus, insightful career advice, such as… "I think having purpose in what we do really drives that passion. And so continue to find what your North star is and where your passion aligns with that and keep going at it. So I think that's the important thing….I've had multiple different roles across different elements of the (SE) business and really getting to understand the perspectives and everybody wants to provide value and what they're doing. And so helping to find ways that you can pull folks in to help them bring their value to your customers or through other means is really critical." Jana Gerber on Electric Ladies Podcast Read Joan's Forbes articles here. You'll also like: An Industrial Revolution Unlike Any Other – with Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, EVP and head of Automation at Schneider Electric, from their U.S. Innovation Summit 2025 Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), on the politics of energy and infrastructure Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYSERDA, on how New York is leading the way to the clean energy future. Paula Glover, from the Alliance To Save Energy Autum Huskins, Hitachi Zosen Inova, turning waste into energy (and wine) Marit Brommer, Ph.D., International Geothermal Association, how geothermal is a dependable energy source Claire Seaborn, former Chief of Staff to Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources on what the U.S. can learn from Canada's energy policies Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.. Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"We have to begin our conversations with what really matters to the person or people we're speaking with. And if we don't know what that is, we have to get to know them and build a relationship and then start the conversation where they're at…The second common misconception I see is that we have to load up our wheelbarrow with the biggest load of scary facts we can possibly find and just dump it on people because not enough people are worried about this.…But if we haven't connected the head to the heart, my life, the places I love, the people I love, the things I love my home, the price of my groceries, the price of my insurance, the quality of the air I'm breathing, or my child's breathing, if we haven't made the head to heart connection, people still see this issue as being distant and remote from them." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast Signs of climate change are all around us, from ferocious and more frequent hurricanes, and in unexpected places, to massive wildfires and floods, as well as cracking roads and bridges. But many still don't believe it or don't want to take steps to avoid it or become more resilient. So, how can we reach them, especially in the very polarized culture we have today? Listen to Katharine Hayhoe, Ph.D. acclaimed climate scientist, Professor at Texas Tech University and Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy in this enlightening conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. Katharine is also the author of several books, including "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World."   You'll hear about: ●        How to talk about climate issues even without even talking about climate. ●        What we can learn from the faith-based community about talking about the climate crisis. ●        What is happening to the vitally important climate science data that was defunded and taken offline by the Trump administration…and so much more ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "(W)hat am I uniquely good at? So there's certain things that I'm a lot better at than other people. So that's the filter that we should apply. But then my favorite's the last filter, which is what genuinely gives me joy, what charges my battery rather than depleting it. Now, of course, don't get me wrong, we all have to do things that deplete our battery every day. But if our work does not give us joy or if it gave us joy at some time in the past but is no longer doing so now, that's a sign to us to think differently about what we're doing….(And invest) in making our own lives sustainable is so important. It's something I feel like we often neglect and it falls by the wayside in our focus on everything else that needs to be sustainable. But really I think it starts with US." Katharine Hayhoe on Electric Ladies Podcast   Read Joan's Forbes articles here.   You'll also like: ·       Unique Urban Climate Actions – Joan's panel at Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona with three top urban leaders from around the world. ·       How Climate Modelling Affects Everything – Maria Caffrey, Ph.D., Principal Scientist, UK's National Physical Laboratory ·        Critical Minerals 101 – with Abby Wulf, Former Head of Critical Minerals at the Dept. Of Energy, & Center for Critical Minerals Strategy ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus ·       Climate Is A Security Emergency – Svitlana Krakovska, top Climate Scientist from Ukraine and Mirian Villela, head of Earth Charter International and the Center for Sustainable Development with Joan Michelson at The Earth Day Women's Summit 2025.   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson

"Critical minerals and materials…are essential for key economic and national security technologies that help to fuel great sectors in the United States and around the world…We're at a very interesting point in the United States for critical minerals and materials because the US Geological Survey… just released their draft version of their newly updated critical minerals list…(But) they're very difficult to come by. And for a lot of these materials, they are mined as byproducts and co-products. They're used in incredibly low volumes, and so it's very difficult for companies to sort of make money on producing them, which in the United States, of course, to get anybody to do anything they need to be able to make a profit…China has been able to dominate this space and establish a stranglehold over many of these types of supply chains for these different commodities."  Abby Wulf on Electric Ladies Podcast Critical minerals are foundational to all our technologies, from computers to automobiles, weaponry and national security, among others, but they are also scarce and difficult to procure, especially in the volumes needed. So, what are they and what can we do? Listen to Abby Wulf, a top critical minerals expert who recently left the Department of Energy as head of Critical Minerals in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson. Abby previously served as the founding Executive Director of the Center for Critical Minerals at the nonprofit SAFE.   You'll hear about: ●        What critical minerals are, what makes them "critical," and where they come from. ●        How critical mineral supplies, and therefore the technologies that we rely on every day, are procured and affected by geopolitical dynamics, including Ukraine and China. ●        U.S. sources of these minerals and the financial incentives that were in the Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Act that helped grow the sector….and so much more. ●        Plus, career advice, such as:   "I think that there doesn't necessarily have to be a trade-off between making money and making a difference….I've just been trying to say yes, to every opportunity that has come my way. …There are going to be different fits and starts and seasons to your career. But the one thing that's sort of driven me more than salary even I would say, are really just experiences… There are so many different things to learn…so I've let my curiosity sort of drive where my next career move has gone…. There's no comfort in the growth zone and no growth in the comfort zone." Abby Wulf on Electric Ladies Podcast     Read Joan's Forbes articles here.   You'll also like: ·       What We Can Learn From Canada's Energy Policies – with Claire Seaborn, energy attorney and former Chief of Staff to the Canadian Minister of Energy and Natural Resources ·       Reducing The IT Sector's Carbon Footprint – with Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer of HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprises) ·       Making Computers Sustainably – with Page Motes, Chief Sustainability Officer at Dell Technologies ·       The Politics of Climate & Energy – with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, Co-Chair, Bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus ·       How GM Is Going All Electric – with Chief Sustainability Officer, Kristen Siemen   Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our podcasts, blog, events and special coaching offers.   Thanks for subscribing on Apple Podcasts or iHeartRadio and leaving us a review! Follow us on Twitter @joanmichelson