432 episodes

Engaging and enlightening interviews with women leaders on energy, climate, sustainability and corporate responsibility -- ESG, environment,social and governance issues. Business, policy and technology, money, the arts and careers. Topics include driving innovation, leadership, communications and career advice. Inspiration, trends and insights. Hosted and produced by Joan Michelson, acclaimed journalist, business leader, coach and speaker, based in Washington, DC.

Electric Ladies Podcast Joan Michelson

    • Business

Engaging and enlightening interviews with women leaders on energy, climate, sustainability and corporate responsibility -- ESG, environment,social and governance issues. Business, policy and technology, money, the arts and careers. Topics include driving innovation, leadership, communications and career advice. Inspiration, trends and insights. Hosted and produced by Joan Michelson, acclaimed journalist, business leader, coach and speaker, based in Washington, DC.

    Wave Energy & Second Chances – Inna Braverman, Eco Wave Power

    Wave Energy & Second Chances – Inna Braverman, Eco Wave Power

    "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

    • 46 min
    Financial Support For Exporting, Trade – Judith Pryor, Export Import Bank of U.S.

    Financial Support For Exporting, Trade – Judith Pryor, Export Import Bank of U.S.

    Financial Support For Exporting, Trade – Judith Pryor, Export Import Bank of U.S.
    “We help anyone in the United States who wants to sell their good or service overseas through short, medium, and long-term financing tools for international buyers. It's usually medium term and long term. We provide foreign buyers with the ability to purchase U.S. goods and services. So we're debt financiers to buyers of American goods and services. On the flip side of that, and more often with small businesses than not, we provide export credit insurance, which is short term, 30, 60, 90 days to ensure payment of goods received.” Judith Pryor on Electric Ladies Podcast
    One of the most important lessons from the pandemic economy is that we can collaborate across borders and industries, even with competitors, when it’s for mutual benefit. Addressing climate change takes that kind of collaboration too. These deals are risky and complicated, but there’s a small government agency that most businesses and entrepreneurs don’t know is there to help structure and secure the deal, reducing the risk.
    It’s called the Export Import Bank of the U.S. (EXIM Bank). Listen to this fascinating interview with Vice Chair and First Vice President of the EXIM Bank, Judith Pryor, on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson (live at the EXIM Bank office).
    You’ll hear:
    How the EXIM Bank works, deals it can help with and how it can secure financing across borders. How EXIM Bank helps bring electricity to rural areas, and helps U.S. manufacturers secure their supply chains. How EXIM Bank earns billions of dollars in revenue on its deals that goes toward paying down the national debt. Particular support EXIM Bank provides for women- and minority-owned businesses doing trade deals. How economic security and international trade support national security. Plus, insightful career advice “I have a couple of quotes that I have written on my blackboard that I use often when I'm speaking publicly. And one of them is, ‘whatever you are, be a good one.’ That was Abraham Lincoln said that. So it's, if this is what you've chosen to do, be good at it. Do give your best, give your all.…You're going to have bad days, but try to make them good days ….I have a fortune cookie phrase that ca literally came out of a cookie that I have taped my monitor upstairs that says, listen to yourself more often. I think as a woman, yes, we tend to question ourselves more.”
    Judith Pryor on Electric Ladies podcast
     
    You’ll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio)
    Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit Partner & Head of the firm’s Sustainability practice, on the final SEC climate rules Polly Trottenberg, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transportation revolution taking place. Celinda Lake, Founder/CEO of Lake Research Partners, on women voters, climate and the 2024 election. Suzy Deering, (then) Chief Marketing Officer, Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Isabelle Grosmaitre, Founder/CEO of Goodness & Co. climate resilience and ESG consulting firm. 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

    • 1 hr 8 min
    SEC Climate Rules Unlock Business Value – Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit, Sustainability

    SEC Climate Rules Unlock Business Value – Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit, Sustainability

    “Regulation can really be a catalyst for transformation, for business transformation, because this is so much more than a disclosure and compliance exercise. “When you think about the mechanisms, the infrastructure, the data that will emerge from instituting more discipline and rigor around these disclosure objectives, (it) is absolutely critical to surface more timely where risk disruption can emerge. They give insight into choices that can be made.” Kristen Sullivan on Electric Ladies Podcast
     
    The SEC released its final climate risk disclosure rules after a two year process of collecting thousands of public comments, hearing from investors and conducting analysis. These rules have the potential to be transformative because they require companies to disclose verified data about the climate impact on their bottom line, and on how their company affects climate change risk as well. What does it mean?
    Listen to Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte Audit Partner, who leads the firm’s sustainability practice, and Electric Ladies Podcast host Joan Michelson as they decipher these new rules – and the opportunities they reveal.
    You’ll hear:
    What the SEC is asking companies to disclose verified data on, and why. How companies could benefit from identifying this data and seeing its impact on their business. Where this climate disclosure data might reveal opportunities that could be transformative for them. How to prepare, when to start (now), and how to structure your preparation. Plus, insightful career advice “Whether you're a marketing leader, whether you're a talent leader, a human resources leader, supply chain, finance, investor relations, legal, pick your favorite area of the business, really introducing a climate lens to what you do in your day job and really becoming a champion across your part of the organization. It opens up windows. We participate in meetings with clients all the time where parts of the organization come together that have never really had an opportunity or a remit to collaborate in certain areas. And so I think there's just a tremendous opportunity to bring sort of a tested set of skills, education, activities …to really become a change maker within your organization, a champion within your organization to drive this integration.”
    Kristen Sullivan on Electric Ladies podcast
     
    Read Joan’s Forbes article about the SEC climate risk disclosure rules and finding hidden business value here.
     
    You’ll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio)
    Kristen Sullivan, Deloitte, previous appearance on ELP about ESG tracking and its value Kristina Wyatt, Chief Sustainability Officer and Deputy General Counsel, Persefoni, and former head of the SEC Task Force developing the proposed climate risk disclosure rules. Joan on “Doing Sustainability” podcast about sustainability and ESG, including the SEC rules Jean Case, Case Foundation, on the proposed SEC climate rules and investing Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of Transportation, on the transformation of the transportation sector and Infrastructure Investment Act and Inflation Reduction Act 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

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    • 50 min
    Transforming America’s Transportation System – Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary, US DOT

    Transforming America’s Transportation System – Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary, US DOT

     
    “We have on our website what's called the DOT Navigator. Sounds wonky, but go take a look. It is a wealth of information about all our grant programs, and you can answer a series of questions and it can help point you in the right direction. We also have a team of folks here who are dedicated to technical assistance and capacity building. So,  if you go to our website, you can find a lot of resources and, I would recommend potentially for firms, one nice thing we have is we have a division administration, federal Highways division administration office in all 50 states in the state capitals a great place, I think, to start for local guidance.” Secretary Polly Trottenberg on Electric Ladies Podcast
     
    We are in the midst of a transportation revolution – a transformation of our transportation systems, in the U.S. and across the globe. It’s part technology, part addressing climate change because transportation is top source of CO2, and part changing mobility needs. The Inflation Reduction Act & Infrastructure Investment Act provided nearly $1 trillion toward this transportation upgrade. Where are the opportunities?
    Listen to this exclusive interview with Polly Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation on Electric Ladies Podcast with host Joan Michelson (live at the DOT offices).
    You’ll hear:
    How the transportation sector is being transformed – in large part by the smartphone. Where and how the US DOT is spending those hundreds of billions of dollars in new federal funding – and where you can access the opportunities. How to make sure your community gets its voice heard and transportation needs met. Where EV chargers are going in the huge buildout of them across the country. Plus, insightful career advice “Women don't always know what they're good at. I think that they're not actually always encouraged to sort of realize their own value and, you know, all the talents they have…. That is, I think a socialization thing that I still see. So, I give this advice from personal experience, you know more than you think, you have incredible value. Seek out those opportunities, take some risks.”
    Secretary Polly Trottenberg on Electric Ladies podcast
    You’ll also want to listen to: (some might be recorded under our previous name, Green Connections Radio)
    Michele Mueller, Manager, Automated, Connected and Electrification, Michigan Dept. of Transportation Julie White, Deputy Secretary of the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation Suzy Deering, (then) Chief Marketing Officer, Ford – on bringing change to a legacy industry as an outsider. Genevieve Cullen, President, Electric Drive Transportation Assn. – on financial benefits for buying EVs in the new legislation, and EVs coming to market soon. Telva McGruder, Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, General Motors (now head of Global Manufacturing Engineering) – on the changing auto workforce and industry. Kristen Siemen, Chief Sustainability Officer, General Motors  
    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

    • 45 min
    Women Voters, Climate & This Critical 2024 Election

    Women Voters, Climate & This Critical 2024 Election

    “Women are very worried about these (extreme weather) events, and they're the ones that really worry about the impact on communities.…They want to leave a better country for their children...They will say that climate change is something that really is on my agenda more because my children talk to me about it and they listen to their children and grandchildren. That said, the urgency around climate change ebbs and flows a little bit. Many of the single issue climate change voters are also single issue war and Gaza voters. So that's pushed this issue out a little bit. But in the long run, women are very worried about the climate.”  
    Celinda Lake on Electric Ladies Podcast
    We are in the midst of the most consequential election in modern history, when democracy is literally on the ballot, as is protecting the planet. President Biden passed the largest climate mitigation legislation in history, with $3 trillion in investment and financial incentives in clean energy, communities, etc.  The Republican nominee, “former guy” is in the pocket of fossil fuels and promises to reverse all that funding.
    What do women voters want? Listen to master opinion researcher Celinda Lake, Founder/CEO of Lake Research Partners for the unvarnished truth, with Electric Ladies podcast host Joan Michelson.  
    You’ll hear:
    How women voters today feel about climate change and how it influences their voting. How opinion research really works in today’s polarized electorate with layers of technology and unconscious messaging to penetrate. How to talk about climate change to women voters so they listen and respond with urgency. How her being raised in Montana has made her a better opinion researcher. Plus, insightful career advice …. “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
    You’ll also want to listen to:
    Joan Michelson hosts a Forum at The Newseum on the Constitutional Amendment that certified women’s right to vote, the 19th Amendment. Marcia Chatelain, Ph.D., Professor of American History at Georgetown University on the power of black women voters. Brooke Kroeger, author of “The Suffragents,” about the men who supported women’s right to vote. Vanessa Chan, Ph.D, Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy on transforming our energy systems (and the Inflation Reduction Act funding) Heather Boushey, Member of the National Council of Economic Advisors in the White House and Chief Economist of the Invest in America Cabinet “The Power of Women Voters,” Joan Michelson’s Forbes article on the anniversary of the certification of women’s right to vote. 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

    • 33 min
    Reducing IT’s Carbon Footprint – Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer, HPE

    Reducing IT’s Carbon Footprint – Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer, HPE

    “During the pandemic, a lot of companies underwent digital transformations…At the same time that that was happening, sustainability was really catching wind, particularly in places like Europe.… (I)f you are a non-manufacturing company, your largest source of operational emissions is probably your IT. So…CIOs now have these mandates trickling down from their CEO or whomever that they need to reduce their energy consumption and their emissions. And they're saying, how do I do that while also meeting these business imperatives?”  Monica Batchelder on Electric Ladies Podcast
    Information technologies have a huge carbon footprint, about 1.5% of total global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, which equals about all of what the UK emits. It’s about all the electricity those units use, including in their manufacturing process. But, they also reduce the impact of other systems and are critical to our lifestyles, economy and business goals. How we reduce the impact of IT?
    Listen to Monica Batchelder, Chief Sustainability Officer of HPE (Hewlett Packard Enterprises) in this fascinating conversation with Electric Ladies podcast host Joan Michelson to find out.  
    You’ll hear:
    How the pandemic accelerated IT carbon management programs. What “radical collaboration” is and how HPE is using it to help startups access technologies The challenges CIOs are facing today to both reduce IT’s carbon footprint while it’s also the backbone of the system for reducing the impact of the rest of the organization. Addressing the conflict minerals challenge, global standards and frameworks, and much more Plus, insightful career advice …. “Leadership isn't a title. It's not about having decision making power. It's not about being around the table in the boardroom. If you have the right idea, it is a pragmatic idea, you have built trust in that your peers know that if you bring them an idea, it is going to be thought through and it is going to be sound, and it might be transformative, (then) you will get the buy-in, you need to make change happen… It's about building trust with stakeholders from the start to get your ideas across. And that's how you can create the change you want.” Monica Batchelder on Electric Ladies podcast
    You’ll also want to listen to:
    Michele Mueller, Michele Mueller, Manager of Connected, Automated and Electrification at the Michigan Department of Transportation Vanessa Chan, Ph.D, Chief Commercialization Officer of the Department of Energy on transforming our energy systems (and the Inflation Reduction Act funding) Joan Michelson on “Doing Sustainability” with Gary Baker, on the balancing act between carbon impact and business and social goals Katie McGInty, Chief Sustainability Officer of Johnson Controls, on how to reduce the carbon impact of buildings Heather Boushey, Member of the National Council of Economic Advisors in the White House and Chief Economist of the Invest in America Cabinet 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

    • 43 min

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