Behind the Screen: Introducing our Commercial Associate

What sparked your interest in the renewable energy sector?

There were a couple sparks that got me interested in the renewable energy sector. The first was when I was a kid - my dad's company shared office space with a non-profit working to develop a wind farm on Lake Erie. That, in combination with a general familial interest in sustainability, made me aware of renewable energy.

Then in college, I learned that energy use makes up two-thirds of global emissions. This stuck out to me not only because of what a huge leverage point carbon-free energy is, but because people and companies were already working towards increasing CFE deployment. That spurred me to get my first internship at the Clean Energy Buyers Association, and I was hooked from there.

Take us through your role in the customer journey

I like to say I dance at many parties in this role, from data analysis to written content! I get to hone a lot of different skills, which I really enjoy.

I'm often involved in that initial intro with customers, but my primary focus is developing and running commercial pilots to help our clients really see the value of the platform for their specific use case(s). A big part of that is just managing the day-to-day of the pilots - making sure we're getting the data we need, that they understand what we're looking for, and understanding their portfolio and the particular use case they want to explore.

I also work on broadening the stakeholders we engage with - identifying other people on their team or in adjacent teams who could benefit from the platform. Then it's about designing the pilots in a way that showcases our capabilities most effectively for their needs.

Hopefully all that leads to a successful pilot, an excited customer, and ultimately a contract.

What's been your biggest learning curve since joining a fast-growing startup?

The biggest learning curve for me has definitely been around communication.

The remote context definitely adds some complexity, but I try to err on the side of over-communicating. Sending lots of texts and questions, even if it feels like a lot, is so important when you can't just lean over and chat with someone. And sharing any new information or updates right away is crucial given how quickly things move.

Share a win that really made you proud of the work we're doing

We’ve grown a lot since I first joined as intern, and I’m incredibly proud to be part of a super star team. There are two things that I’m personally proud of. First, the work I did to revamp our CRM system. It was a great learning experience for me to really dive into how companies think about deal tracking and management.

More broadly, I'm just proud of how much I've been able to learn from everyone on the team. Everyone has such deep expertise in different areas, both professionally and personally, and I feel like I've picked up so many new skills and insights just by soaking it all in.

What's your favourite part about the company culture here?

I really appreciate how much of tight-knit vibe we have, even though I don't directly interact with everyone.

I also love all the little ways we connect beyond just work - like the random Slack channels where we share our other interests and hobbies. It helps us get to know each other on a more personal level, which I think is so important, especially in a remote context.

What advice would you give to someone who was considering applying to Granular Energy?

If someone was thinking about applying to Granular Energy, I'd first of all just say that you're going to be joining a great team. We have a really positive, energised culture of curious, learning-focused people.

The remote work aspect is definitely something to consider though. Not everyone thrives in a fully remote environment, so I'd encourage them to reflect on whether that style of working aligns with their needs and preferences. But I do think we've cultivated a really strong remote culture here, with great communication practices.

Overall, I'd just say to be confident in what you know, but also stay open to continuing to learn and grow. That's such a core part of our company DNA.