The SOapbox Series

In this special episode of the SOapbox podcast, our Spencer Ogden hosts Scarlett Menzies, Senior Business Manager, Ella Cann, Team Manager, and John Bougias, Senior Principal Consultant, come together from across EMEA, North America, and APAC to wrap up a series of global conversations on Talent and the Energy Transition.

Across three regions and three expert guests, one message is clear - the energy transition depends on people. From scaling renewables projects and tackling skills shortages, to building values-led teams that can deliver at pace, this discussion brings together the key takeaways shaping today’s energy workforce.

On the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our hosts Alicia Orr, Team Manager and Nicole Johnson, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, sit down with Bryan Didier, Partner and Managing Director of Renewable Energy at Monarch Private Capital. 

The conversation explores how the passing of OB3 is shaping the financial landscape for renewable energy, from investor appetite and tax credits to long-term planning. Brian also shares insights on hiring trends within finance, the skills currently in demand, and how professionals can build resilient careers in a rapidly evolving sector. 

02: 29- What does Monarch do 

0...

In this week’s episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Ella Cann sits down with Lindsay Reichert from Cypress Creek to explore a key challenge in today’s energy workforce: attracting, engaging, and retaining mid-career talent. 

With experience spanning both recruitment and HR, Lindsay offers a unique perspective on what makes the candidate experience truly stand out- and why mid-level professionals need more than just competitive pay to commit to an organisation. From mentorship and cultural fit to relocation support and long-term engagement, this conversation dives into what companies must do to secure the professionals driving the e...

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host Scarlett Menzies, Business Manager at Spencer Ogden, is joined by Andy Baker, Director of Energy and Natural Resources at Turner & Townsend. 

Together, they explore what it takes to lead through rapid change in one of the most complex and fast-paced sectors of the energy industry. From the evolution of mega-projects to the importance of company values, Andy offers a candid look at the people, projects, and mindset driving Turner & Townsend’s European energy and natural resources business forward. 

From talent shortages and regulatory shifts to digi...

In this episode of SOapbox: Career Conversations, Spencer Ogden’s Global ESG Manager, Regan Callender, speaks with Marie-Hélène Westholm-Knebel, Head of Sustainability at ABB’s Energy Industries division. 

As part of our Career Conversations series, we spotlight industry leaders who are shaping the future of energy; diving into their career journeys, the obstacles they’ve overcome, and how they’re accelerating meaningful progress on a global scale. 

Marie-Hélène shares her path from political science to environmental management, her role in launching ABB’s global sustainability agenda, and the lessons learned from over two decades...

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast, our host John Bougias, Principal Consultant at Spencer Ogden, is joined by three industry leaders shaping Australia’s clean energy future: 

Together, they explore the people dynamics behind Australia’s renewable energy transformation. From skills shortages and workforce strategies to hiring challenges and international labour trends, this conversation dives into what it takes to power the energy transition and who...

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling, and guest host Ella Cann, Team Manager at Spencer Ogden is joined by Copia’s Chief Development Officer, Ryan Galeria and Amber Rogers, Senior Manager for People & Culture.  

With many companies announcing a return to office for four or five days a week and a move away from the hybrid split, what does this look like from a company culture perspective? That is what we explore in this episode: re-creating that office culture, introducing the culture to new hires, advice for dispersed workforces and what com...

In the latest episode of the SOapbox podcast our host Mindy Prefling , is joined by industry experts Doseke Akporiaye, Executive Director, Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE) and Zoe Berkery, COO, CleanCapital. 

They examine the renewable energy industry through a DEI lens, looking at the progress made, challenges and further opportunities. The conversation explores if organizations are pulling back on initiatives, why it makes business sense to invest in DEI, how AI might be utilized and the success of CleanCapital and WRISE’s very own initiatives. 

Discussed: 

00:57 – The current trends and challen...

Mindy Prefling is joined by Jade Scheele from Vestas, Karlis Povisils from Apex Clean Energy and Melissa Peterson from Ørsted, who share their professional experiences, personal growth stories, and strategic insights into servant leadership and recruitment within the fast-paced world of renewable energy.

They discuss... 

▶ Strategies for effective recruitment 
▶ The importance of servant leadership 
▶ How to build and sustain high-performance teams 
▶ Tips on navigating career growth and development 

Why listen? 

▶ Gain insights into the intricacies of team dynamics in a rapidly evolving industry 
▶ Learn from the experiences of industry leaders...

Mindy is joined by Karlis Povisils, SVP of Development at Apex Clean Energy to discuss how to effectively lead a team to success. Karlis has been responsible for building his team from the ground up which now stands at 60 people so it’s safe to say he has a lot of valuable experience to share on this topic! He discusses his journey with building that team including the challenges he faced and what he learnt along the way.

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are di...

In our next episode of SOapbox, we explore unconscious bias and how we can work to get rid of our own unconscious bias especially when it comes to hiring.  

Katya Weaklim, HR Director, North America Envision Digital discusses her own personal battles with being a victim of unconscious bias and how we can start to break old traditions when it comes to hiring.  

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the en...

Episode 2 of Season 3 see’s Mindy sit down with Chelsea Stone, Vice President, Service Commercial in North America at Vestas.  

This insightful episode covers the importance of representation in the renewables industry and the challenges that come with moving into a leadership role. Chelsea discusses her personal challenges and what she had to unlearn in order to develop in her career. Find out what it was by listening.  

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more indus...

Season 3 kicks off with a discussion around the importance of diversity when developing your team.  

In this episode, Mindy is joined by Nova Clean Energy’s, Head of Development, Jenn Goodwillie who discusses how the renewables market is still in the process of developing a diverse talent pool and how companies within renewables can start to make small changes to help this pool grow and develop.  

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading cont...

This insightful conversation covers leadership, being vulnerable in a modern corporate environment, learning you can’t have control over everything, and growing your confidence. 

Georgia has been with Spencer Ogden since she started in the Academy in Singapore in 2014. Since then, she’s worked her way up to Associate Director (New York) at Spencer Ogden, where she manages a team of more than 40 people. Listen along for an inspiring story of career growth.

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on...

How do you merge two great organizations without sacrificing team morale?

Find out now on season 2 episode 6 of the SOapbox Series, featuring Steve Doyon, CEO of Onward Energy.

Onward Energy was formed after the successful merger of Novatus Energy and Southwest Generation. Steven tells us all about how to lead a growing team during a time of major change.

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more industry leading content in the energy sector. <...

In this episode, host Mindy Prefling speaks to Michael Smith and Rachel McLaughlin, CEO and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing respectively at ForeFront Power.  

It’s a powerful discussion that covers culture, diversity, training, and employee retention. Michael and Rachel speak highly of their time at ForeFront Power and discuss some of the reasons that make working there a unique and positive experience. 

Find out more by listening to the full episode here!

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are...

In this episode, host Mindy Prefling talks to Anna Kimbrell, Partner at Husch Blackwell, about what it’s like working in Big Law with a focus on renewable energy. 

They discuss how Anna went from Summer Associate to Partner in record time, the state of diversity and inclusion in the legal industry as well as renewables, and how to attract top diverse candidates in a highly competitive sector. 

You can listen to and download the SOapbox from most popular podcast apps, subscribe so the latest episodes are directly available. Follow us on LinkedIn for more indu...

When you think of plastic waste, the first things that probably come to mind are plastic straws, disposable bags or water bottles - but you might not necessarily think of flip-flops.

In this instalment of the SOapbox Series, we spoke with the CEO of Ocean Sole, Erin Smith. Ocean Sole is a Kenyan social enterprise whose mission is to turn flip-flop pollution into inspiring art, promoting marine conservation and creating employment in high impact areas.

In this episode, we talk about Ocean Sole’s mission in detail, how they’re empowering communities in Kenya, and Erin...

We’re back with the second episode of our second season of the SOapbox Series. For this remarkable instalment, host Mindy Prefling meets with Kacie Peters.

For over a decade, Kacie Peters has been an innovator, communicator, and mentor for the distributed solar and storage industry. She has pioneered new markets and sales strategies for organizations including SunEdison, Alta Energy, and held board positions on COSSA and ISEA. 

Kacie has been recognized for her work by the Denver Business Journal and the Environmental Entrepreneurs. Her thought leadership has been featured in Solar Power World, Energy New...

We’re back with the first episode of our second season of the SOapbox Series!

In this thought-provoking episode, we’ll be talking to Kiran Kumaraswamy, VP of Growth at Fluence. This guest eats, breathes, and sleeps all things energy storage and has a lot to say about the current and future state of renewable energy. 

He talks about how crucial DEI is to ensure that organizations in this industry are making the right decisions for everyone going forward. Kiran is a huge driving force behind diversity initiatives and strongly believes in inclusivity. 

Keep a...

With double the amount of guests, comes double the amount of DEI knowledge. Both passionate experts on the subject, Melissa Morgante, Head of People and Development at Orsted, and Felisa Nobles, Diversity and Inclusion Lead at Orsted, join Mindy to chat about how to actively diversify the renewable energy industry. 

As a subject close to their hearts, focusing their efforts on DE&I at Orsted has further highlighted the need for change within other STEM organizations, which they bring to light today. Melissa and Felisa go on to discuss the benefits of a diverse, equitable and inclusive w...

Has diversity come far enough in renewables? In this episode Emilie Wangerman, Head of Business Development and M&A at Lightsource bp, discusses her view on the state of D&I in the industry.

Sitting down with our host Mindy Prefling, Emilie walks us through her colorful career - explaining that she has lived and worked abroad for a large chunk of her professional life. After specializing in technology following her undergraduate degree, Emilie found herself the world of renewables - and hasn’t looked back since.

Striving to improve D&I within the renewable ene...

What does meaningful transformation in the workplace look like? 

In honor of International Women’s Day on the 8th of March, SOapbox Series host Mindy Prefling sat down with Lars Gloessner, Associate Director, Energy & Infrastructure Recruitment at Spencer Ogden, to answer exactly this question. 

It’s a short yet impactful episode, with Mindy and Lars discussing what it means to be an ally, how this manifests itself in the workplace, and how men can be better supporters of women both within and outside of the professional space. 

This timely discussion highlights the importance of prio...

Our guest speaker on the SOapbox Series today is Jade Scheele, Head of Development at Steelhead Americas. Operating as a “quiet participant” in the renewable energy space since 2015, Steelhead Americas is the development arm for well-known global partner Vestas. However, in the last few years, Jade tells us that Steelhead has started to take a much more active role in making its mark on the sector. 

Throughout Jade and Mindy’s conversation, insightful nuggets of information are shared with our listeners. They range from Jade’s best advice for developers with no idea where to start, the importanc...

What needs to be done to make a meaningful change in the US Energy industry?

That’s one of the core issues tackled in episode 4 of the SOapbox Series.

Your host, Mindy Prefling, is joined by Tanya Martinez, Director of Development at AES Clean Energy, to discuss the importance of taking actionable steps towards sustainable energy use in the US and beyond.

Hear more about Tanya’s career history, her experience as a woman in engineering, the importance of respectful representation, and the current state of DE&I in renewables as a whole.
...

Welcome to episode 3 of SOapbox with your host Mindy Prefling and guest Taylor Dodson, Manager of Utility Scale Interconnection at SOLV Energy. In this podcast, you can expect to hear all about Taylor’s long-standing career, the challenges he sees facing the renewable energy sector, and more. 

Taylor offers insightful statistics on how the renewable sector is growing by around 30 to 50% each year. He also talks about the labor shortage and how SOLV Energy is using D&I, word of mouth, and Spencer Ogden to grow their labor pool 

Connect with Mindy or contact Taylor on L...

In episode 2 of the SOapbox, your host Mindy Prefling, Senior Manager of Client Services at Spencer Ogden, speaks to Kristen Graf, Executive Director at Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). 

Kristen shares her insights on the state of diversity in the renewables space, drawing on more than 15 years of experience in various roles in the sector. We hear more about her career growth, her experience with policy and implementation, and what made her realize that change needs to happen in the industry. 

Ultimately, the need for diversity and inclusion is more than a ch...

The first episode of SOapbox is here! Our first guest is Aron Branam, VP of Development and Construction at Arevon. It’s a fascinating discussion not to be missed.

In the space of 18 months, Aron went from an Associate Director to a VP position. In this episode, he talks about the challenges he faced, how he grew his team with diversity in mind, and how he approaches leadership.

Our host is Mindy Prefling, Senior Manager of Client Services at Spencer Ogden. If you’d like to contact her, connect with her on LinkedIn here.

...