WCS Talks Unplugged

Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
  • 5.0 (5)
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WCS Talks Unplugged is the podcast where climate leadership gets real. Produced by Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, this show features honest, human conversations with the women shaping the future of clean energy, climate innovation, sustainability, and impact-driven business. Each episode goes beyond headlines and hype to explore real stories and real solutions, from career journeys and hard-earned lessons to the technologies, policies, and community-led approaches actually driving change. We spotlight the voices of women leaders, builders, and thinkers who are tackling today’s most pressing climate challenges with courage, creativity, and purpose. WCS Talks Unplugged offers thoughtful conversations, actionable takeaways, and moments of hope in a rapidly changing world. Tune in for: Candid conversations with women climate leadersPractical insights you can apply to your work and careerStories of innovation, resilience, and community impactA values-driven lens on the clean economy and equitable transition WCS Talks Unplugged — Real Stories. Real Solutions. For the Mind and the Planet.

Episodes

  1. The Ambition Gap Is Actually a System Gap | Veronica Barner and Sadia Raveendran

    3D AGO

    The Ambition Gap Is Actually a System Gap | Veronica Barner and Sadia Raveendran

    In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Sadia Raveendran sits down with Veronica Barner, product executive at GE Vernova, to explore an important question facing many professionals today: Are women really less ambitious? Or, are our systems failing to recognize ambition when it doesn’t fit traditional expectations? Sparked by recent conversations around the Women in the Workplace report and the idea of an “ambition gap,” Sadia and Veronica unpack how ambition actually shows up across a career in clean energy leadership. Drawing from their shared experience in GE’s Renewable Energy Leadership Program, the conversation explores how ambition evolves from early purpose-driven motivations to leadership, mentorship, and building the next generation of climate innovators. Veronica reflects on growing up in Bolivia, where more than half the population lacked reliable electricity during her childhood, an experience that shaped her lifelong mission to expand access to clean and sustainable energy. Together, Sadia and Veronica discuss mentorship, leadership transitions, motherhood, and the systemic barriers that still shape career progression for many women in technical and leadership roles. At its core, this episode challenges the narrative of an ambition gap and instead reframes the conversation around recognition, opportunity, and the systems that shape career pathways. About the GuestVeronica Barner is a product executive at GE Vernova, where she works on advancing technologies that support the global energy transition. She began her career through GE’s Renewable Energy Leadership Program and has since held a range of leadership roles across the clean energy sector. Her work focuses on building innovative energy solutions while mentoring the next generation of leaders in the industry. About the HostSadia Raveendran is the Founding Head of GTM at Hammerhead and a Board Member of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, where she also serves as Co-Chair of the Career Development Committee. About WCS Talks UnpluggedWCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global community advancing women’s leadership in climate and clean energy. Each episode features honest conversations with leaders, founders, and innovators working on the front lines of the energy transition — sharing both the challenges and the solutions shaping our sustainable future. Produced By Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. With a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact, her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Get InvolvedIf you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast ✔ Share the episode with someone working in climate, energy, or sustainability Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability: www.womencleantechsustainability.org

    30 min
  2. The Career Moves That Actually Get You Promoted | Robin Milshtein with Farah Saeed

    MAR 25

    The Career Moves That Actually Get You Promoted | Robin Milshtein with Farah Saeed

    How do you build leadership skills when your job description doesn’t give you the opportunity? In this episode of WCS Talks Unplugged, host Farah Saeed speaks with clean tech leader Robin Milshtein about a powerful concept for career growth: developing leadership skills outside the scope of your day job — what Robin calls your professional “side hustle.” Robin shares her journey from engineering roles developing high-performance materials for hydrogen fuel cells to leadership positions in business development, strategic marketing, and corporate venture capital. Along the way, she discovered that excelling in your daily responsibilities alone may not be enough to advance your career. Instead, she built the skills she needed by volunteering, creating new opportunities within her organization, and intentionally positioning herself for the roles she wanted. Through real-world examples and practical advice, this conversation offers a roadmap for professionals who want to expand their leadership potential, grow their influence, and shape their own career trajectory. About the Guest Robin Milshtein is a senior business development leader in the clean technology sector with over 15 years of experience spanning engineering, strategic marketing, and corporate venture capital. She has worked at the intersection of innovation, startup ecosystems, and corporate strategy, helping identify and scale emerging clean technology solutions. Robin previously served as a board member of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and currently volunteers as a mentor in the WCS mentorship program. About the Host Farah Saeed is the Board Secretary of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability and Industry Director at Frost & Sullivan, where she works on strategy and innovation across the energy and sustainability sectors. About WCS Talks Unplugged WCS Talks Unplugged is the official podcast of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, a global community advancing women’s leadership across climate, energy, and sustainability sectors. Each episode features candid conversations with leaders and innovators shaping the future of the clean economy. Produced By Marieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability Marieke is the producer of WCS Talks Unplugged, with a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Get Involved If you enjoyed this episode: ✔ Subscribe to WCS Talks Unplugged ✔ Share this episode with your network ✔ Leave a review to help others discover the podcast Learn more about Women in Cleantech and Sustainability: womencleantechsustainability.org

    30 min

  3. MAR 18

    Looking Back on 15 Years of Women in Cleantech and Sustainability

    The Origin Story of Women in Cleantech & SustainabilityWhat started as a simple idea — and a moment of deciding to stop waiting for someone else to take action — has grown into a network that has connected and supported more than 20,000 women worldwide. In this conversation, Sara and Lisa Ann explore the origin story of WCS, the lessons learned from building a mission-driven community over 15 years, and why hope, authenticity, and persistence are essential for anyone working in climate and sustainability. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the values that shaped WCS and the power of community in an industry where the work can often feel daunting. Mentioned In this episode:  Lisa Ann Pinterton’s 2 part interview with Neal Dikeman on her Podcast, Earthlings 2.0. Those episodes were titles “#31: Carbon Price, Power, and Politics with Neal Dikeman- Part 1” and “#33: Carbon Price, Power, and Politics with Neal Dikeman- Part 2” and can be enjoyed here https://earthlingspodcast.com/episodes/s3e14-carbon-price-power/, and https://earthlingspodcast.com/episodes/s3e16-carbon-price-power/. About the GuestLisa Ann Pinkerton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaannpinkerton/) Founder of Women in Cleantech & Sustainability and CEO of Technica Communications (https://technica.inc/), Lisa Ann Pinkerton has spent more than a decade helping amplify voices and innovation across the clean energy and climate sectors. She is also the host of the Earthlings 2.0 podcast and a longtime advocate for community-driven climate leadership. About the HostSara Fuentes (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-eve-fuentes-6a620422/) Sara Fuentes is Chair of Women in Cleantech & Sustainability, CEO and Founder of SmartWaste (https://www.smartwasteusa.com/), and a longtime community builder within the organization. Her leadership continues to expand WCS’s global reach and impact. About WCS Talks UnpluggedWCS Talks Unplugged shares real conversations with the people building solutions for a more sustainable world. Each episode features stories, lessons, and insights from leaders across climate, clean energy, sustainability, and innovation. 🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday. Produced ByMarieke McArthur for Women in Cleantech and Sustainability Marieke is the producer of WCS Talks Unplugged, with a background in local community radio and a passion for storytelling rooted in community impact. Her work also spans water advocacy, food resilience, and women’s climate leadership through projects including the Water Alliance of La Paz County, AeroZona, and Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. Get Involved with WCSWomen in Cleantech & Sustainability is a global community supporting women advancing climate solutions and the clean economy. Learn more, become a member, or get involved: www.womencleantechsustainability.org

    42 min

  4. SEASON 1, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Why did we create this podcast?

    In this mini-episode, we delve into the transformative power of WCS Talks and the decision to launch this podcast. Join Anandi Yadav, Farah Saeed, Sara Fuentes, and Trish Pinella as they share insights on the impact of WCS Talks, the importance of adapting to new formats, and the collective strength of women in clean tech. Discover personal stories, the significance of individual actions, and the role of community in driving meaningful change.

    3 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

WCS Talks Unplugged is the podcast where climate leadership gets real. Produced by Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, this show features honest, human conversations with the women shaping the future of clean energy, climate innovation, sustainability, and impact-driven business. Each episode goes beyond headlines and hype to explore real stories and real solutions, from career journeys and hard-earned lessons to the technologies, policies, and community-led approaches actually driving change. We spotlight the voices of women leaders, builders, and thinkers who are tackling today’s most pressing climate challenges with courage, creativity, and purpose. WCS Talks Unplugged offers thoughtful conversations, actionable takeaways, and moments of hope in a rapidly changing world. Tune in for: Candid conversations with women climate leadersPractical insights you can apply to your work and careerStories of innovation, resilience, and community impactA values-driven lens on the clean economy and equitable transition WCS Talks Unplugged — Real Stories. Real Solutions. For the Mind and the Planet.

Information

  • Creator
    Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Women in Cleantech and Sustainability
  • Show Website
    WCS Talks Unplugged

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