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Andrew is a 2019 MENV graduate who specialized in Renewable and Sustainable Energy. He currently works as the Business Development Coordinator at Schneider Electric on their Advisory team. In this alumni spotlight article, Andrew tells us about his professional background and then dives into his current role and responsibilities. He also provides current energy students with advice on topics to look into for additional learning in their field, as well as overall advice for current MENV students.

What is your academic and professional background?

I began my career as an anthropological research assistant, supporting and co-authoring studies on the natural wine growing movement. I moved on to work at Airbnb, leveraging my French language skills to mediate conflicts between French hosts and their English-speaking guests. After moving back to Boulder (my hometown), I started a new path in business as a Project Manager and Agile Scrum Master for three years at a geo-magnetic tech company, where I built acumen that prepared me for MENV and my career at Schneider Electric.

Where do you work and how would you describe your role?

I’m lucky to be part of an innovative, global team where I benefit from a daily dose of new renewable energy knowledge. As a Business Development Coordinator on Schneider Electric’s Cleantech Advisory team, my role is instrumental in facilitating conversations to craft client offers, RFP responses, pricing for renewable energy strategy services, carbon offset and EAC procurement, as well as power purchase agreement (PPA) advisory services. Schneider Electric’s broad array of sustainability and energy services require careful navigation, which is where I support proactive match-making between client targets and the delivery of the services that not only satisfy their needs, but push the needle on climate action. My favorite offer is Schneider Electric’s supply chain renewable energy procurement advisory services, which aim to address clients’ Scope 3 CO2e emissions through varying degrees of client supplier engagement.

How did you find your current position? Could you speak about your job search process and how it went?

I found my current position on LinkedIn and with support from my network. It was the right fit, which lent itself to a quick hiring process.

Were there any hard or soft skills you felt you lacked or wished you were stronger in when you started your career after graduate school?

Generally speaking, MENV prepared me for renewable energy basics, but where I wish I had more knowledge was on topics related to renewable energy mechanisms (PPAs, onsite, EACs, etc.) and how market and policy features affect their implementation locally.

What is something people may not know about you?

I lived in France for a year from 2012-2013, became fluent in French, and worked in a cheese shop (fromagerie) in the town of Nancy’s central plaza.

What advice would you give to current and/or future MENV students?

Be mindful of student debt, avoid it at all costs, and work during the program as much as possible (while balancing schoolwork, of course).