Show notes
Steph Speirs is co-founder and CEO at Solstice. She is a social entrepreneur and community builder with operational experience in the U.S., Middle East, and South Asia. All to say she is incredible, all these achievements at such a young age is inspiring not to mention spearheading a huge operation to help communities with Solar. Steph grew up watching her single mom struggle as a first generation American Citizen, with 2 siblings. Her father was an entrepreneur and ended up losing everything after years of hard work. With her mother working multiple jobs and seeing her father fail, Steph immersed herself in school and had no intentions of following in her fathers footsteps as a business owner. Steph graduated with a B.A. from Yale, a Master in public affairs with distinction from Princeton, and an MBA from MIT. Steph’s dream job was working for the National security Council, eventually becoming a “Secretary of State”. She wanted to be a medium for better diplomacy in the world. She had the opportunity out of college to work for the Obama Administration. She started taking on additional tasks supporting Middle East Policy for the Administration. She was promoted to the Director of Yemen at age 25. Steph’s talks about her time working for the Administration. Her insight is very different then anything we have heard on the podcast, her perspective is refreshing and shows a different view of the White House, Policies and Leadership. While working in Yemen and the Middle East, countries rich in Oil, Steph started noticing a huge disconnect. The policies OPEC put in place have a negative effect not just on the US but locally as well. Due to terrorism and political instability people struggled to access gasoline and fuel to provide for the family. Steph talks about the corruption and the turning point for her, when she decided there had to be a better way.. The Middle East not only has an abundance or oil but sunlight too. Steph began her solar journey in the middle east & India, investing in renewable sources. Many families had no Access to the “grid” and needed a clean energy resource. She started noticing the positive impact solar had on people’s lives and wanted to do the same thing back at home in the US. With a battle ahead of her, Steph decided to take it head on and Co-Founded Solstice. A community solar concept to share energy sources and provide credits back to the household. She talks about her experiences and how she is working towards providing solar to every American. About Solstice:Solstice is dedicated to bringing affordable solar power to the 80% ofAmericans who cannot install a rooftop system. Community solar offers asolution, enabling residents to support local clean energy at no upfrontcost and save money on their electric bill every year. Solstice enrollshouseholds and community organizations in shared solar farms, createsfinancing innovations that expand access to underserved Americans (theEnergyScore), and provides frictionless subscriber management software forcommunity solar projects. Solstice has partnered with Techstars Ventures,Obvious Ventures, the Dept. of Energy, and Echoing Green, and has beenfeatured by TEDWomen, the Sierra Club, the White House, Forbes, FastCompany, Marie Claire, Elle, and Greentech Media.Learn more: Solstice WebsiteLearn More: Blueprint for Clean Energy: Steph Speirs, Co-founder and CEO of SolsticeWednesday, January 13th, 2021,12:00 PM EST — 1:00 PM ESTLinkCome hang out with us:Download on Apple Podcast——>> ClickDownload on Spotify———>>ClickConnect with Maisy and Jamie:Connect with Massiel Diez: Instagram | LinkedInConnect with Jamie Elrod: Instagram | LinkedInFollow FTB on Instagram | LinkedInJoin FTB NationIf your interested in working with us, please contact : [email protected]