Sustainability Workshop Convenes Experts and Students to Address the Energy Transition
During an invitation-only workshop held by the Business of Sustainability Initiative at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, industry experts, academics, students, and alumni convened to discuss the various angles of the energy transition. From managing directors to consultants to policymakers, panelists gave their insights toward the common goal of identifying innovative solutions for a global shift to renewable energy resources.
“The Energy Transition Workshop was an invaluable experience,” said Can Zhang, associate professor in the operations management area at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. “It was a fantastic opportunity to bring together academics and practitioners, and I learned a great deal about the unique challenges and research opportunities in energy transitions.”
To kick off the workshop, CEO and founder of Nexus Renewable Power, Sargon Daniel (B’04), moderated a session on financing the energy transition featuring Lenin Balza, sector senior specialist of Inter-American Development Bank; Ingrid Chou (MBA’17), vice president of Symbiome Capital Partners; Robert Edwards, managing director of Hamilton Clark Sustainable Capital and vice chairman of the Board of Directors at Maryland Clean Energy Center; and Julia Graf, strategy and energy consultant at International Finance Corporation. The session focused on the challenges the energy transition presents to investors, as sustainable projects require significant capital and green technologies have failed to deliver expected returns.
“As a professional who has been working in renewable energy finance for 14 years, this panel discussion was on the cutting edge of the puzzles we’re solving to advance the financing of energy transition transactions,” said Daniel. “I’ve had the privilege of working with the faculty and students from the Business of Sustainability Initiative. Their work has been instrumental in furthering my business; I believe the workshop and summit provided great value to all attendees.”
The second session of the day focused on driving the demand for renewable energy, where Julia Pyper, vice president of public affairs at GoodLeap, sat down with thought leaders Rebecca Fitz, partner at Boston Consulting Group; Vanessa Miler-Fels, vice president of Schneider Electric; Elizabeth Pfeiffer, senior manager at Deloitte and co-lead of the Climate, Energy, and Water International Development Account; and Anshuman Sahoo, vice president and head of climate strategy at Capital One. They explored the different motivations that large corporations and advanced data centers have for investing in renewable energy projects, as well as the risks associated with it.
Attendees then engaged in a conversation regarding energy transition policy with Karen Baker, chief of the Office of Renewable Energy Programs at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM); Jennifer Chen, senior manager of the World Resources Institute; Jason Stanek, executive director for Governmental Services at PJM Interconnection; and Gizelle Wray, vice president and general counsel of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Moderated by Şafak Yücel, associate director of the Business of Sustainability Initiative and associate professor of operations management, speakers highlighted the shortcomings of the current regulatory framework, emphasizing a need for effective government incentives that can promote funding for renewable energy projects across various levels.
“Engaging with experts and students reinforced my optimism for the future of renewable energy,” said Baker. “I valued the opportunity to share BOEM’s perspective on providing certainty in permitting, advancing offshore wind leasing strategies, and fostering strong partnerships to drive the energy transition. The event was both inspiring and enriching, leaving me energized by the exchange of ideas.”
In the last session of the day, Vishal Agrawal, Henry J. Blommer Family Endowed Chair in Sustainable Business and academic director of the Business of Sustainability Initiative, was joined by Shannon Baker-Branstetter (L’09), senior director for domestic climate and energy policy at the Center for American Progress; Sol deLeon (MBA’02, SCS’22), principal associate at Synapse Energy Economics; and Nicole Steele, director of climate partnerships banking at Amalgamated Bank, to discuss the broader societal impact of the energy transition. They addressed the critical areas of focus for the future, including ways to combat energy poverty through equitable distribution of resources and ensuring diverse representation in policy-making processes.
“As a student, the workshop was a prime opportunity to understand how leaders are framing sustainability as part of the issues that the energy transition revolves around like financing, consumer demand, and policy,” said Gabriela Pajuelo Chávez (MS-ESM‘25). “I especially enjoyed hearing from IBD and the World Bank, organizations that are helping improve energy access in emerging economies.”