The SOapbox Series: Recent Episodes
Spencer Ogden
Spencer Ogden is excited to launch our new podcast: SOapbox Series. Twice every month, we’ll be opening up discussions with thought leaders in the industry about the human element of the renewable energy landscape. We’ll be covering the dynamic and innovative environment of renewable energy, asking how we can create a progressive workforce that champions diversity, and delving into what a truly sustainable future looks like. Join us for in-depth discussions, interesting debate, and thoughtful dialogue.
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.
Ella shares insight from her conversation with Senior HRBP Lindsay Reichert at Cypress Creek, exploring the persistent challenge of attracting and retaining professionals with three to five years’ experience in renewables. John reflects on his panel with Merinda Harvey from OX2, Manjeet Hooda of Envision Energy and Adam Gifford from Potentia Energy speaking on Australia and Asia, where constructability, mobility, and employee value propositions are redefining how engineering teams are built. And Scarlett recaps her discussion with Andy Baker from Turner & Townsend, highlighting how culture, values, and people-first leadership are critical to delivering the energy transition at scale.
Together, they unpack the shared themes shaping the global market - the growing use of contractors to bridge talent gaps, the renewed focus on inclusion and engagement, and the need for flexible, forward-thinking workforce strategies.
Key timestamps:
3.02: Talent challenges by region – the key themes
7.03: How talent shortages and skills gaps are being addressed by our client’s organisations
10.02: Candidate engagement – from interview stage and beyond
11.31: Is EVP important to Contract staff?
13:57: Skillsets in high demand regionally
16:54: Are companies tending to hire more contract or more permanent staff?
20:43: How psychological safety at work is pertinent to all employees
21:50: The career benefits to global mobility and global exposure and for clients, the talent pool access
28:14: What our hosts learned from their episodes with energy industry professionals that changed their perspective on talent
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.
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
03:56- What does OB3 entail
06:44- What would the Bill change in the energy market
08:41- Changes after the Inflation Reduction Act
10:48- How OB3 is impacting solar and storage credits
12:45- Investor appetite after the passing of OB3
13:34- Explaining long-term investment horizons to the board
15:43- Hiring trends in the finance industry
19:32- Skills in demand in the industry
22:51- Brian's advice for having a long-term career path within renewable energy finance
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 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 energy transition forward.
05:37 - How the candidate experience differs for juniors and seniors.
07:05 - Mid-career candidate priorities
12:44 - Supporting candidates who require visa sponsorship.
14:32 - Relocating with Cyprus Creek to any of their US offices
15:22 - Keeping the interview experience fresh for mid-career hires.
19:25 - Gaining an authentic sense of company culture.
19:46 - The importance of employer branding.
25:11 - Retention strategies for mid-career hires.
26:19 - The 4P’s of engagement and employee populations.
30:46 - Team equity and how it impacts retention
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 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 digital transformation and culture-building, this conversation dives into the real-world challenges of delivering the energy transition at scale - and the leaders making it happen.
04:41 – Navigating the pace and scale of the energy transition: why moving fast and smart matters.
07:15 – What we can learn from mega-projects that delivered real impact.
08:35 – Unpacking the biggest talent challenges facing the energy sector today.
13:27 – A proud milestone: Andy reflects on integrating CBRE’s project management group into the business.
16:53 – What’s driving the talent shortage and how Turner & Townsend is leading the charge to solve it.
19:50 – Opening doors: creating opportunities in data centres and other fast-growing sectors.
22:36 – Career-defining moments: the experiences that shaped Andy’s industry perspective.
27:46 – The energy future is bright: what excites Andy most about the road ahead.
30:51 – For those just starting out: one piece of advice for the next generation of energy leaders.
33:04 – A book that changed his thinking and still inspires today.
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 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 field. From building strategy around emissions, water, chemicals, and human rights, to embedding purpose into business performance - this is a candid look at what it really takes to lead sustainability within one of the world’s largest energy technology companies.
Discussed:
01:39- Marie-Hélène’s path into sustainability and the energy sector
02:35- ABB's Sustainability strategy and 3 pillars: low carbon society, resource preservation, and social progress
06:38- Early influences that shaped Marie-Hélène’s passion for sustainability
13:52- Her proudest achievements and how she’s reinvented herself along the way
17:44- How the sustainability space has matured over the past two decades
20:17- Addressing bottlenecks and unlocking opportunities at ABB
23:40- Balancing commercial goals with long-term environmental objectives
27:47- Tackling emissions, water use, chemical impacts and human rights across ABB’s value chain
30:33- ABB’s 78% reduction in Scope 1 & 2 emissions since 2019 - and their road to net zero by 2050
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 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:
- Merinda Harvey, ANZ Human Resources Business Partner at OX2
- Adam Gifford, Head of Engineering at Potentia Energy
- Manjeet Hooda, Director of EPC at Envision Energy
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 will do it.
Discussed:
03:35 – What skills are in demand across Australia’s renewable energy sector?
07:45 – Remote sites and FIFO rosters: What’s working, and how can we make these roles more appealing?
10:02 – Merinda shares the HR lens: Crafting a compelling employee value proposition
12:10 – Manjeet weighs in on why camp amenities – from food to Wi-Fi – really matter
15:51 – Retention strategies that actually work in renewables
18:00 – Building a culture of collaboration – even when teams are remote
20:17 – Matrix orgs, hybrid projects, and giving teams autonomy: Manjeet’s take on driving high performance
22:45 – Tapping into global talent: Where international skills can add immediate value
23:24 – Adam explores the balance: Transferable engineering skills vs. navigating local regulations
24:33 – Manjeet on the scale of Australia’s engineering shortage – and the need for smarter migration policy
25:53 – Merinda on relocating global talent: What works and what doesn’t
28:17 – Are we investing enough in homegrown talent development?
29:06 – Scholarships, paid internships, and early pipeline building: Adam’s real-world example
29:46 – Manjeet highlights the growing gap in skilled and unskilled blue-collar roles
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 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 companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture.
Discussed:
01:18- The workforce and workplace post-COVID
02:50- How companies can make the return to office transition smoother while keeping employees motivated
06:40- What does ‘fun’ look like in the office?
07:30- The meaning of company culture in today’s environment and how to introduce it to new hires
09:20- Advice for candidates to assess cultural fit during an interview
12:55- How to communicate culture to candidates so that candidates feel excited and aligned with the company’s mission
21:17- Advice to someone joining a business with a dispersed workforce
22:50- How companies can ensure new joiners adapt to the company culture
30:40- What companies can do to cultivate a deep and lasting culture
34:54- Culture eats strategy for breakfast
36:10- Activities and traditions that Ryan has seen work well to create a positive office environment
46:06- Creating a culture that’s more than just happy hours and social events
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 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 challenges in achieving DEI in the industry
09:14 – Are organizations pulling back on initiatives?
13.45 – Is there a lack of policy in the industry
17.07 – Ways DEI initiatives have been implemented in the last 5 years and the impact
23.15 – How AI is being utilized to promote DEI
26.40 – The benefits of diversity in the workplace
30.34 – Key milestones our guests would like to see in the industry moving forward
35.14 – The DEI transition is like the energy transition
40.38 – CleanCapital's allyship and internship programmes
44.59 – WRISE’s industry initiatives
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 Sustainability content.
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 join?
▶ Gain insights into the intricacies of team dynamics in a rapidly evolving industry
▶ Learn from the experiences of industry leaders, the challenges of team building and how these lessons can be applied to your own career path
▶ Understand what it takes to build and lead high-performing teams
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.
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.
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 how she had to unlearn something in order to develop in her career. Find out what it was by listening and watching.
Season 3 kicks off with the very important topic 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.
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.
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.
Season 2 episode 5 of the SOapbox Series is now out!
In this episode, host Mindy Prefling speaks to Michael Smith and Rachel McLaughlin, CEO and Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing 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!
Season 2 episode 4 of the SOapbox Series is here!
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.
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 installment 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.
We love what the team is doing at Ocean Sole - so much so that we partner with them ourselves!
In this episode, we talk about Ocean Sole’s mission in more detail, how they’re empowering communities in Kenya, and Erin’s ideas for ending the flip-flop waste problem. Listen now for some great insights.
We’re back with the second episode of our second season of the SOapbox Series. For this remarkable installment, 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 News Network, and in whitepapers for SEIA and Clean Energy for Biden.
We get personal with Kacie as she discusses her courageous battle with colon cancer, the challenges of being a woman and mother in a male-dominated industry, and her passion for sustainability for her son and tomorrow’s world. It’s a meaningful conversation, inspiring others to create truly inclusive and forward-thinking spaces. Listen now.
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 an eye out for the latest episode of the SOapbox Series!
With double the amount of guest speakers, comes double the amount of DE&I knowledge. Both passionate and 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 workforce and how companies who embrace diversity can propel miles ahead of their competitors.
This SOapbox Series installment is a perfect synopsis of the value of DE&I in the workplace - don’t miss it.
Has diversity come far enough in renewables? Emilie Wangerman, Head of Business Development and M&A at Lightsource bp, discusses her opinion on the state of D&I in the industry for this episode of the SOapbox Series.
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 drifted into the world of renewables - and hasn’t looked back since.
Striving to improve D&I within the renewable energy sector, Emilie is passionate about teaching organizations how to do so effectively.
Join in on the conversation to learn more about diversity in the renewables sector, the importance of utilizing your network and connections when looking for your next career move, and Emilie’s top tips on employee retention. Don’t miss it - listen now!
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 prioritizing women’s rights throughout the year and inspires listeners to put talk into action.
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, little nuggets of information are shared with our listeners. They range from Jade’s best advice for developers with no idea where to start, the importance of welcoming feedback, and how the key to overcoming the pandemic struggles is to embrace the virtual environment. Jade and Mindy also touch on the topic of diversity and inclusion and Steelhead’s approach to encouraging inclusion in its organization.
Trust us, you won’t want to miss this one.
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.
It’s a jam-packed episode with insightful snippets that are sure to inspire.
Mindy Prefling: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyprefling/
Tanya Martinez: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-martinez-364aa424/
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 LinkedIn.
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 about more than a checklist exercise. In this episode, Kristen offers actionable advice for industry leaders to consider and provides a realistic outlook for the future of a more diversified renewables industry.
Get in touch with Kristen here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristengraf/.
Contact Mindy here - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyprefling/.
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: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mindyprefling/
If you want to find out more about Aron’s journey, connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aronbranam/