My Non-Linear Path to EV

We face a gargantuan challenge that will require the brightest and most dedicated minds from within and outside the industry.

By Neha Palmer, CEO

The nascent EV charging industry is a playground for innovation, and it will require extraordinary diversity of thought, background and expertise to meet the exploding demand for electric vehicles in order to make good on our country’s climate goals.

We are at the forefront of a once-in-a-lifetime change as the world is transitioning from gas powered vehicles to electric vehicles. President Joe Biden’s goal of having 50% of all US vehicle sales be electric by 2030 underscores the urgent need for the country to build widespread electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure – not just for passenger EVs but for the medium to heavy duty electric trucks that will soon overtake the transportation and logistics sector.

Although the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passed, multiple reports indicate the costs of infrastructure and grid maintenance will be much higher. This gap in infrastructure spending is the problem I’m focused on as the CEO of TeraWatt Infrastructure. We face a gargantuan challenge that will require some of the brightest and most dedicated minds from within and outside the industry.

It’s my hope that my career path demonstrates this opportunity and inspires other women to join me in supporting the transition to electrified transport. Here’s my advice based on lessons learned for anyone considering making a career shift to the green infrastructure space.

Trust your experience and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith

Increasingly, people are wanting to do mission driven work so it’s no surprise that many are making the transition to cleantech and adjacent industries. For those considering making this leap, remember that all skills are transferable. Don’t let lack of experience or domain knowledge of a specific industry discourage you from pursuing positions at your current seniority level. Trust that your applicable experiences and skills will apply. There is strong demand for talent and skills that are universal. And in the burgeoning green infrastructure space, we welcome new perspectives.

Although it wasn’t planned, I see now how my career path, which has been forged at the intersection of innovation and environmental impact, led me to the unexpected yet natural progression to the EV charging space. In my previous roles as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs, then director of corporate development at PG&E, and finally as Google’s Head of Energy Strategy, I have been able to work on developing new technology, deal structures, policy, and purchasing frameworks to get more clean energy onto the grid, at scale.

All of these experiences have converged in my current role and has enabled me to execute on the many different dimensions required to successfully build a team and scale an organization focused on infrastructure. For women that aspire to senior leadership roles, keep in mind that having a diverse resume will get you ahead.

Cultivate mental toughness

Infrastructure, energy, technology – the truth is, these are still very male-dominated industries. I’ve been grateful for the mental toughness I’ve acquired throughout my career and believe it’s given me the confidence and leadership skills that I draw upon daily.

Getting my civil engineering degree wasn’t necessarily easy, and as a woman, I was in the minority. But engineering taught me how to understand the nuts and bolts of complex systems, while my time in finance as the only woman on our team on the floor, taught me how to successfully operate when you feel like the underdog. Later on, working in the tech industry, this mental resilience and confidence helped ensure my ideas were heard when I found myself to be the only woman in a room with 10 male executives.

When one door closes, another one opens

I didn’t plan to leave finance. The financial crisis of 2008 made that decision for me. Sometimes you get dealt a card that forces you to reassess your career, which can be a big blessing in the long run. When my time on Wall Street ended, I realized that I preferred to be on the operational side of business and I felt most motivated when I am executing and bringing strategies to life. Reflecting on my early career working with renewable energy at PG&E, I knew this was the path I wanted to continue pursuing.

The point is to take setbacks in stride, and look at them as opportunities to reevaluate what will truly make you happy and summon that mental toughness to forge a new path forward.

Comfort is the enemy of growth

My career trajectory wasn’t always thoughtful, but I learned that you have to make a move before you get too comfortable. I greatly enjoyed my time at Google and the impact on corporate renewable energy goals that my team and I were able to achieve there, but there became a point where things felt more routine, and I was more focused on scaling than truly innovating.

My advice to others who are looking to go down similar paths in the tech industry is to make sure you are challenged in your work. If you’re ambitious, you should be ready to move on to the next thing before you’re ready, especially if you aspire to senior positions. Taking a leap of faith is often how you will land into some of the most exciting and fulfilling positions. There will be good days and bad days, but you have to stay focused on the fact that you’re growing and learning.

Everyone needs a mentor

I give this advice often: You have to look for mentors. They won’t land in your lap. Even if you are assigned one, they may not give you what you need. Seek what you need. Making sure you feel supported is the best way to excel in any position you are in.

This is especially important for women and women of color. It’s a two-way street too. Actively mentoring while benefiting as a mentee yourself will help raise the tide for all women in male-dominated industries, ultimately increasing representation and inspiring more women to enter the field and work toward leadership positions.

Join me in the next big moment in the energy transition: widespread electrified transport

The nascent EV charging industry is a playground for innovation, and it will require extraordinary diversity of thought, background and expertise to meet the exploding demand for electric vehicles in order to make good on our country’s climate goals. There is so much career potential for individuals with many different backgrounds, and I encourage women interested in green infrastructure to join me in enabling a future of low-carbon transportation.

About the author: Neha Palmer recently left her role as Google’s head of energy strategy — where she was instrumental in leading the company to achieve 100% renewable energy for operations since 2017 — to co-found TeraWatt Infrastructure and take the helm as CEO.