Ep. 93 | From Foster Care Roots to the Clean Energy C-Suite: Kelly Veney Darnell’s Journey

“There was such an emphasis in our house about—you can be anything you want to be. Education was really, really important... My parents actually sold their house to send me to college.” 

Raised by parents whose resilience defied circumstance—a father with a third-grade education who ensured Kelly’s mother could earn her degrees and become a teacher—Kelly Veney Darnell’s clean energy C-suite path is one of grit, purpose, & leadership. Catherine McLean sat down with the COO of the American Clean Power Association (ACP) & President of the Clean Power Institute to talk about how her early experiences inform the way she leads — and how she’s helping drive the future of clean energy.

They covered:
⚡ Her path from politics & Big Law to clean energy

⚡ Launching EmpowHER to elevate mid-career women

⚡ Lessons from mentors, sponsors — & going it alone

⚡ How she’s building teams rooted in flexibility, accountability, & trust

⚡ Her take on DEI in today’s climate — & how to keep momentum alive

Kelly has designed ACP’s #EmpowHER25 event to pass along a few more lessons in leadership. Join ACP & Catherine McLean in Charlotte August 6-8: https://bit.ly/4jbMMw1.

If you’re a clean energy employer & need help scaling your workforce efficiently with top tier staff, contact Catherine McLean, CEO & Founder of Dylan Green, directly on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3odzxQr. If you’re looking for your next role in clean energy, take a look at our industry-leading clients’ latest job openings: bit.ly/dg_jobs.