Tuck Energy Currents

In Season 3 Episode 2 of the podcast, Pádraig interviews Owen Jones, a Senior Associate at Cypress Creek Renewables, a company specializing in solar and storage projects. Owen, a Cornell University Civil Engineering graduate, transitioned from a decade in Oil & Gas at ExxonMobil to studying at Tuck's class of 2019 as a Rever’s Center fellow. His post-graduation path included three years at Goldman Sachs in their Energy & Natural Resources practice before joining Cypress Creek in 2022. The episode covers Owen's career trajectory, Cypress Creek's goals in the energy market, challenges in policy and regulation, the effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on the company, the potential impact of battery storage on markets, and advice for those aspiring to work in the energy sector.

Michael Proudfoot chats with Nisha Thirumurthy, the Founder and CEO at VybeEnergy. Before founding VybeEnergy, Nisha held roles at Deloitte Consulting and the Clinton Foundation. She then transitioned to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, where she led energy assurance strategies for the Air Force and the Army and played a pivotal role in India's National Solar Mission. Nisha is a 2004 graduate of Tuck and holds a Master’s degree in Economics and Energy from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Season 3 of Tuck Energy Currents, presented by the Revers Center for Energy, Sustainability and Innovation at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, dives deeper into the transformative world of energy. As renewable technologies and sustainable solutions become more dominant forces, we aim to shed light on their ever-evolving landscape. This season, Tuck Energy Currents brings forward conversations with pioneering leaders in the energy field, delves into the latest industry and financial developments, and offers invaluable insights for budding professionals eager to make their mark in this rapidly changing sector.

In season 2 episode 5, Susie speaks with Mitchell Jacobs, a T’23 and a Revers Center for Energy student fellow. Prior to Tuck, he worked as a reactor engineer for Pacific Gas and Electric Company at Diablo Canyon Power Plant in Avila Beach, CA. After graduation, Mitchell will work with J.P. Morgan in New York, NY within the Power and Renewables investment banking group. At Tuck, Mitchell is the student board Academic Chair, as well as chair of Tuck Rugby, Southern Appreciation Society, and the John Barleycorn Society. He is originally from Franklin, Tennessee, and holds a B.S.E. in Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences from the University of Michigan.  In this episode, they discuss Mitchell’s career path leading him to the Tuck School of Business and post-graduation to Energy banking, Mitchell's time at PG&E and what the utility do differently when compared to other utility providers, and trends that make Mitchell optimistic about the future of energy.

Lee Taylor, Co-Founder and CEO of REsurety, shares his journey from economic consulting to clean energy analytics. He discusses the challenges of risk management in renewable energy, focusing on financial fluctuations and the importance of adapting to new policies. Lee emphasizes the evolving role of battery storage and highlights essential skills for young professionals entering the sector. Listeners also discover valuable resources for keeping up with industry trends, along with insights into the entrepreneurial challenges faced when starting a business.

In the season 2 episode 3, Umut speaks with Cem Pusatciaglu, Senior Manager at PwC, a global management consulting firm that offers a wide range of probational services to organizations. Cem helps power and utilities companies make strategic decisions on their investments and operations. He graduated from the Boothe School of Business at the University of Chicago.

In the season 2 episode 2, Umut speaks with Aygul Sanzyapova, Investment Banking associate at Marathon Capital, an independent investment bank delivering financial advice to the global energy and infrastructure markets. Aygul graduated from the Tuck School of Business in 2019 where she was a Revers Center for Energy Fellow. Prior to business school, Aygul spent two years working in Russia, leading marketing and strategy for a chain of medical centers and at a fashion startup in New York City, helping launch operations and raise initial funds. 

In the season 2 opener, Umut speaks with Dr. Eduardo Gamez, a Vice President at Westinghouse Nuclear. Prior to Westinghouse Nuclear, Eduardo spent a decade at AECOM focused on infrastructure risk management. Eduardo holds a PhD in Civil Engineering, and master’s in Construction Management from Northeastern University as well as a bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from Universidad Central de Venezuela. In this episode, they discuss advice for being successful in risk management, the value risk consulting brought to his career path, the importance of predictability in construction projects, and more.

We're in season 2 of Tuck Energy Currents from the Revers Center for Energy, Sustainability and Innovation at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. We continue to explore the dynamic energy sectors that are undergoing a seismic shift as renewable energy sources and energy efficiency technologies grow to play an increasingly important role. Our goal with the Tuck Energy Currents is to highlight the experiences of energy industry leaders, explore current industry and finance trends, and uncover leadership lessons and career pathways in this exciting sector for young professionals.

Eric speaks with Christian Fong T'05, Chairman, President, and CEO of Spruce Power, the largest private owner and operator of residential distributed energy resources in North America. Prior to joining Spruce Power, Mr. Fong co-founded Renewable Energy Trust Capital, Inc., one of the first YieldCo’s, and served in various executive roles including COO, CIO, and Director. Mr. Fong received his MBA from the Tuck School in 2005 and graduated from Creighton University in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in statistics.