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Picture this:
You decide to pursue a career in Clean Energy.
You choose attend 2 top-rated University programs in preparation
You apply for a top job in the field.
You get said job with full benefits and a fantastic salary.
You are loved and embraced by everyone on your team.
You effortlessly succeed in every endeavor.
Title & salary increases ensue.
You might look at someone’s Linkedin and easily mistake their “career path” as one of carefully planned and success upon success.
You shouldn’t.
Like musicians, most careers (in any industry) take a long time to mature and come with a lot of humility, hard knocks, and if you’re lucky, helping hands.
Miles Braxton went to UVA specifically to study in the lab of Mool Gupta, the Father of Photonics. He should have been a prime candidate for the booming solar industry: a black engineer, young and ambitious, ready to put his boots on and earn his stripes. Then, he couldn’t find a job. Anywhere. He now leads Risk Management for the Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group, and is Co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the BlackOak Collective. Not a bad turn in his luck, but as you’ll hear today, it had more to do with persistence, patience and a clear vision for what he wanted to accomplish along the way. He also had some really great mentors along the way.
Miles’ journey to his present position isn’t one of streamlined victory. He’s gone from farmland where he assisted in converting 220 Tons of chicken manure into electricity, to his present work at Goldman Sachs (the largest commercial solar asset owner in the United States.) And those of us who’ve been following his career (ok, maybe just me?) have admired every step. Today, we highlight the ways Miles’ story is inspirational for thousands out there hoping they’ll too get a “big break” to work in the clean energy sector.
His story highlights one of the most important lessons to learn, especially if you’re embarking on a Solar career path: you must fully embrace the learning process. Or, as Miles puts it best, “The Value is in the Process and not the Result,” a key insight, particularly in our industry, where there isn’t a one-size-fits-all path to success. Renewable Energy isn’t quite the age-old, fully established workforce (think: law or medicine) where there is a clearly defined process to learning, gaining experience, and achieving. Instead, this innovative industry with new developments, expansions, and change requires one to be highly adaptable and resilient in the face of uncertainty or a steep experiential learning curve.
The episode covers his remarkable story with the following defining themes marking his rise to success:
— Initiative (fearless follow-up and creating opportunities for himself instead of waiting for them to come to him)
— Redirection (envisioning and pursuing his ideal career path yet also embracing the evolution of what that became)
— Altruism (not solely preoccupied with his own success but enlightened enough to pour back into his community as well)
We also covered the co-founding of his current passion project, The Black Oak Collective, and their work in providing job opportunities, networks, and other resources for people of color that want to get involved with sustainability. We discussed all of this, and more so, prepare yourself for another hugely inspiring Suncast episode!
Tune in and tune up your skills!
About Miles Braxton (3:24)
Getting Started at Sol Systems (10:10)
Early lessons learned in development (19:30)
Failure as feedback (23:08)
BlackOak Collective (29:40)
Working at Goldman Sachs (38:00)
How power market insurance works (46:55)
What would Miles’ Ted Talk be? (52:05)
The global effects of volcanic eruptions (54:30)
Success story that comes to mind - Gilbert Campbell (56:40)
Thoughts on DEI (59:35)
Resource for finding better black candidates (1:05:45)
Two book recommendations (1:09:03)
Miles’ morning & evening routines (1:13:17)
Connecting with Miles (1:15:10)
Miles’ bold prediction (1:16:20)
BOOKS MENTIONED AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
ARTICLES:
NOTEWORTHY QUOTE:
“The industry is very aware that the pipeline of black candidates into these roles needs to be bolstered or needs to be developed. In order for us to reach the place we want to reach. We can’t just pull clean energy experts out of the air, we have to train them, we have to go tell them that this industry actually exists.”
“Attack this day. Treat it as a standalone opportunity to maximize the talents He’s given you. You’re an unstoppable force, unflappable in the face of obstacles, go fulfill your mission, go fulfill your purpose.”
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ABOUT THE HOST OF SUNCAST:
Nico Johnson is the creator and host of SunCast, consistently rated a top solar podcast in the clean energy sector. The content of the show is geared towards listeners looking for insights on where the markets are headed, how to position themselves or their companies, and what today's market leaders do to stay ahead of the pack.
Nico is an Investor, Executive Coach, and 15-year veteran of the solar industry, having led development in the US and Latin America for global companies like Trina Solar and Conergy.
You can connect with Nico Johnson on Twitter, LinkedIn or email.
If you’ve been second-guessing your work decisions or maybe trying to reconsider how you "fit" in the renewable energy industry -> grab 20 minutes on Nico's calendar and discuss whether having him as Your personal coach might be the right next step.