Electric Ladies Podcast Joan Michelson

“We work with this entire portfolio of buildings of the federal government, as you mentioned, about 350,000 buildings, also including 600,000 cars and trucks in the fleet, all of them looking towards decarbonization…We do it through policy and planning. So, we analyze the management mandates, the energy management mandates that come out, and we help agencies understand what they need to do to meet those legislative goals. We do analysis and strategy, so we help work alongside the agencies to identify the short and long-term opportunities and how they can…save money and to meet these higher goals. We do it through execution and funding.” Anna Siefken on Electric Ladies Podcast
The federal government has 350,000 buildings across the country and internationally, which are all looking to decarbonize, just as the government suggests we all do. How do you reduce the carbon footprint of such a massive and varied collection of buildings?
Listen to Anna Siefken, Deputy Director at the Federal Energy Management Program at the U.S. Department of Energy, explain how they do and maybe discover some opportunities for your company to help them, as well as some insightful career advice, in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. 
You’ll hear about:
What exactly the Federal Energy Management Program does and how they do it. The impact of these buildings and initiatives on their local economies – including how and when they use subcontractors, including women-owned businesses and helping disadvantaged communities. How FEMP trains leaders across the government to make decisions that reduce their energy and water use, and CO2 emissions, as well as tools they provide to help. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “There are spaces for everyone in this clean energy transition…A way for a person to get more involved is, I've got to say DOE website has a lot of postings….(Or) Find someone (on LinkedIn) who's in a position that is exactly what you think you want to be doing. And then first map your own skills to what that person is saying they're doing… Or you can also do this with like open positions, you go and you look for open positions that you think you might qualify for and then back in your skills…Figure out how your skills map to either what that person is doing or what that position is asking for, because you'll find that the similarities are there.” Anna Siefken on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.
You'll also like:
Rachel McCleery, Senior Advisor, Treasury Dept. Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how exactly to leverage the IRA to reduce a building or business’s carbon footprint and save money. Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy. Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transportation revolution taking place. Judith Pryor, Vice Chair & First Vice President, Export Import Bank of the U.S., on leveraging exporting and trade for energy, climate and sustainability, as well as economic development. Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy & Tara Narayanan, of Bloomberg NEF on their new Energy Factbook 2024, including the Inflation Reduction Act opportunities. 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

“Women often have far more skills than their resumes translate into. And actually we're going into a good period now where I think employers and organizations are looking for the skillset that you have more than the job titles that you have. And that's good for women because we have a lot of skills that we will have acquired in different arenas. Bring in your all… It's tough out there. It requires resilience, but just remember that you have a tremendous amount to offer and, um, you know it, and sooner or later somebody's going to figure that out too.” Celinda Lake on Electric Ladies podcast
 The highly-accomplished women who appear on Electric Ladies Podcast give powerful and insightful career advice in every episode. Since listeners have asked us to air collages of some of that advice now and then, here is our next one.
This episode brings you advice from:
·       Celinda Lake, Founder/CEO of Lake Research Partners, renowned 30-year old opinion research firm
·       Mary Morrissey, Renowned Leadership Coach & Author of several books including, “Brave Thinking”
·       Michele Mueller, head of Automation, Connectivity and Electrification at Michigan Dept. of Transportation
·       Evelyne Saelens, UL Solutions ESG Advisory Lead
·       Katie McGinty, Chief Sustainability Officer of Johnson Controls
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here too – which also include career advice, as well as ways to stay abreast of the clean, green economy.
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 are those individual actions that we can take. But if I can work with my community or work inside of my company, or if I can work inside of my house of worship and we can build some community and some action that way, it will have a much bigger impact than anything that I can do as an individual… The communities that they're already a part of, whether they're residential, like in their neighborhoods, or it's the nonprofits that they're a part of, or the places where they have other kinds of communities like religious communities, and start conversations there. What could we do as a community? What could we do as an organization?” Laur Hesse Fisher on Electric Ladies Podcast
There are steps each of us can take individually to help avert climate change, but if we can leverage the larger entities we are a part of, then we can have a much larger impact. How?
Listen to Laur Hesse Fisher of MIT’s Environmental Solutions Initiative and TIL Climate podcast, in discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson, explain ways you can leverage the places you already go and people you currently encounter to reach people who might not get the climate message elsewhere. 
You’ll hear about:
Why reaching people outside the climate-tuned bubble is critical. How important the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment Act & CHIPS and Science Act are to addressing the climate crisis and in an equitable way. How we can leverage the relationships we already have, the local media, and local events to make a bigger difference than we can make on our own. Why voting is so crucial this year – and not for the reasons you might have heard Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “My advice would be, as you're thinking about where you want to go, talk to people about that. So you might not know where you want to go, in which case I recommend informational interviews. Those are great for learning about other people's career paths, what it took for them to get there, what did they learn along the way? I mean, people are really open to having a half an hour conversation.”
Laur Hesse Fisher on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here too.
You'll also like:
Rachel McCleery, Treasury Dept. Senior Advisor, Inflation Reduction Act Program, on how to benefit from the IRA, including where to find out what it covers Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy. Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, environmental storytelling through media, film, series and documentaries. Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transportation revolution taking place. Judith Pryor, Vice Chair & First Vice President, Export Import Bank of the U.S., on leveraging exporting and trade for energy, climate and sustainability, as well as economic development. 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 like to break (the tax credits) down by industries and audiences...On the industry side, we have energy efficiency, energy generation, manufacturing, vehicles, fuels, and carbon capture. Now, overlaying all of those are a handful of cross crosscutting bonuses and requirements that can greatly affect, in many cases, increase the amount of the underlying tax credit within those industry driven tax credits. And then we have the audiences who are applicable to these tax credits. Now, the beauty of the IRA is that it is so wide sweeping that almost everybody is eligible for some type of tax credit within the law.” Rachel McLeery on Electric Ladies Podcast
There are so many ways to benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment Act and the CHIPS & Science Act, but it can be kind of confusing to know which elements are best for you. How do you find which ones can benefit you?
Listen to Rachel McLeery, Senior Advisor at the Department of Treasury, explain where and how to access the benefits of these ground-breaking pieces of legislation in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. 
You’ll hear about:
How and where to access the benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act, Infrastructure Investment Act & CHIPS and Science Act – no matter what industry or taxpayer you are, including examples. The impact of these bills on the economy – in energy, climate, sustainability, infrastructure, electric vehicles. The ground-breaking collaboration between Treasury and the Dept. of Energy & Dept of Transportation & the Dept. of the Interior, and the White House. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “You have to have a little bit of fearlessness at this stage of your career. I think at this point, you know, like Joanie mentioned, you're in the space of your career where you know what you want. You have the ambition, you have the drive, you know how to do it, you have the confidence. But confidence and fearlessness, to me they are two very different things. And in order to take that step, you have to be able to take some risks and you have to assume space that you haven't before.”
Rachel McLeery 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:
Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy. Heather Boushey, Ph.D., National Council of Economic Advisors in the White House, and Chief Economist, Invest in America Cabinet Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transportation revolution taking place. Judith Pryor, Vice Chair & First Vice President, Export Import Bank of the U.S., on leveraging exporting and trade for energy, climate and sustainability, as well as economic development. Lisa Jacobson of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy & Tara Narayanan, of Bloomberg NEF on their new Energy Factbook 2024, including the Inflation Reduction Act opportunities. Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit Partner & Head of the firm’s Sustainability practice, on the final SEC climate rules 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

“The economic information on clean energy is amazing…We're decades deep in it now, where you're seeing the cost competitiveness of renewable technologies on an unsubsidized basis…We can do this. We can grow the economy and we can use more clean energy.”
Lisa Jacobson on Electric Ladies Podcast
The facts in the new Sustainable Energy 2024 Factbook, by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Bloomberg New Energy Finance, show that the transition to a clean energy economy is well underway, and resilient, despite “headwinds” like covid, high interest rates, supply chain issues and political pressures. How?
Listen to Lisa Jacobson, President of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy and Tara Narayanan, Lead Analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, explain where we are in this transition in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. 
You’ll hear about:
Where we’re at in the energy transition and what the trends are The impact of the new trifecta of federal legislation – the Inflation Reduction Act, the Infrastructure Investment Act and the CHIPS and Science Act. The energy mix we need, including renewables, to power our complex economy Dispelling myths about the energy transition and energy sources Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “Think about your career as a business…Try to always have a mindset of kind of what I want first…What organizations do I want to work with? Where, what kind of responsibilities do I want to have? And maybe I do it through a traditional employer employee relationship, or maybe I just branch out on my own and just do it right? And I feel like women should feel empowered to do that and to be that kind of proactive thinking. And don't be afraid.”
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:
Inna Braverman, Founder/CEO of Eco Wave Power, on how wave power works and her powerful personal story that reflects today’s geopolitical dynamics. Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and the lead scientists in the PBS/NOVA documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.” Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy. Halla Hrund Logadottir, Director-General, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, on how the country has become 85% renewable energy. Sarah Golden, VP of Energy, Greenbiz, on geothermal, how it works and why it’s growing exponentially 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 went for wave energy just because I saw a field that has huge demand, that has huge potential for positive impact on the world, and that nobody's succeeding in. So, that kind of was for me, I don't know, maybe a feeling of destiny here. I got a second chance in life and maybe I can make something for the first time in the world, so maybe my second chance will be kind of, you know, worthwhile.” 
Inna Braverman on Electric Ladies Podcast
Harnessing wave power has been a challenge for smart engineers and innovators for years, and now a Ukrainian-born, Israeli woman has found a way that is surprisingly simple. It’s early yet, but her technology seems promising and is and earning accolades.
Listen to Inna Braverman, Founder/CEO of Eco Wave Power, explain her innovative wave energy technology in this fascinating discussion with Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. She also shares her poignant personal story that resonates with today’s geopolitical tensions, as well as with our energy transition.
You’ll hear about:
How wave energy works, and what makes her system unique. How she got a “second chance” at life – and how her life has come full circle. The five challenges that have stumped other wave energy innovators and how Eco Wave overcomes them. Plus, insightful career advice, such as… “I think that she has to kind of have two factors. One is passion and two is persistence. Because if you're truly passionate about something, if you really feel that you have this amazing opportunity to change the world, then you would also persist. Because you won't give up your dream that easily. And, you know, being in wave energy, I always say that passion is the greatest renewable energy source, even stronger than the power of the waves.”
Inna Braverman on Electric Ladies Podcast
Read Joan’s Forbes articles here too.
You'll also like:
Halla Hrund Logadottir, Director-General, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, on how the country has become 85% renewable energy. (now leading the race for President of Iceland) Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Center for Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, and the lead scientists in the PBS/NOVA documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.” Vanessa Chan, Ph.D., Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy and Director of the Office of Technology Transitions, on the Inflation Reduction Act and the transition to clean energy. Janet Gail Besser, of Smart Power Alliance, on their 5-point plan to get the U.S. energy system to net zero. Michele Wucker, thought leaders and author of “You Are What You Risk: The New Art & Science to Navigating an Uncertain World.” 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