Week of 7/22 - Keynote or Bust!
More than 1,000 senior executives and decision makers watched me provide the closing keynote at a national environmental and energy conference yesterday. . .
But only a few years ago, I gave my first presentation to about 20 people at a local waste management conference.
So how did I find my way to the big stage? And how can you do the same?
(Oh, and despite being so scared of public speaking that I could never eat beforehand…)
As discussed in prior issues of this newsletter, I stay on top of trends in my niche (sustainability-related environmental law) and I submit abstracts to big and small conferences alike.
I find that abstracts are best received when they are targeted and practical.
For instance, I submitted an abstract to a waste management conference about the impact of environmental justice on the waste management industry, and I made clear that the presentation would include key considerations for waste and recycling facilities.
I summited another abstract to an organics recycling conference about the impact of food waste recycling policy across different states.
These targeted abstracts are also important to deriving clients from your speaking engagements. Clients want to hear how your topic relates to them individually. They want to know that you are intimately familiar with their business.
Presentations are your chance to show them, and focusing on a specific niche also allows you to repurpose a presentation for different audiences. (Always good to conserve effort while increasing return.)
So over the years I have spoken at larger and larger conferences, continuing my focus on niche presentations aligned with my specific missions and practice area.
(You can make lists of relevant conferences and submit abstracts to all of them.)
And I slowly got over my fears, or realized that practice could make me a great speaker and that made me bolder.
I was still shocked when my abstract was selected as a keynote presentation.
Who am I? Why did they pick me? I’m still not sure. But consistent effort seems to pay off.
Now onto this weeks opportunities.
DO GOOD
Pro bono projects are excellent opportunities for you to learn new skills and meet new people, all while doing more for the planet.
Know a pro bono project that needs assistance? Submit it here.
DO WELL
Job opportunities with planet-aligned employers allow you to get paid to do more for the planet. From certified B corporations to NGOs to companies with real impact, there are lots of ways to work for the planet.
Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.
Policy Analyst. Rewiring America. Remote. Washington, District of Columbia. The salary range for this position is $65,000 - 90,000. https://apply.workable.com/rewiring-america/j/1FE4D2F4A8/. 2+ years of professional experience in a fast-paced setting (direct climate or energy policy experience preferred but not necessary) or advanced degree. Rewiring America is a growing nonprofit, working to launch a movement that electrifies everything, starting with our 121 million households.
Policy Advisor, Drawdown Lift. Project Drawdown. Remote. The salary range for this position is $90,000 - $120,000. https://www.drawdown.org/careers/policy-advisor-drawdown-lift. 4-6 years of professional experience in international development, climate science (mitigation, adaptation/resilience), public policy, global health, or a related field. Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”— the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline.
Counsel. World Bank Group. Washington, DC. https://worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersite/JobDetails.aspx?id=18392&site=1. 5 years of relevant experience required. Expertise in environmental and natural resources law and climate change policy. The Environmental and International Law Practice Group (LEGEN) provides support to internal and external Bank clients to promote environmentally and socially sustainable development, in accordance with Bank policies and relevant international laws.
Manager, Policy & Government Engagement. Electric Hydrogen. San Carlos, California. https://eh2.com/jobs/?gh_jid=4046763005. 5+ years of climate policy experience. Electric Hydrogen’s mission is to create an abundant and decarbonized material future.
Manager, Policy & Government Engagement. Electric Hydrogen .Natick, Massachusetts. https://eh2.com/jobs/?gh_jid=4046762005. 5+ years of climate policy experience. Electric Hydrogen’s mission is to create an abundant and decarbonized material future.
Manager, Policy & Government Engagement. Electric Hydrogen. Remote. https://eh2.com/jobs/?gh_jid=4037151005. 5+ years of climate policy experience. Electric Hydrogen’s mission is to create an abundant and decarbonized material future.
US Director of Policy & Markets. Octopus Energy. https://jobs.lever.co/octoenergy/3941e922-3a8a-429f-bf1b-57ebd20d688e. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, ideally in a similar role at another climate/energy tech company. Octopus is a leading energy technology company providing a better experience for our customers through transparency, automation and simplicity. Better for the planet, through real long-term investment in renewable generation and a low CO2 future.
Counsel. Finite Carbon. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. https://finitecarbon.bamboohr.com/jobs/view.php?id=39. Five or more years of experience drafting and negotiating commercial contracts; experience with conservation real estate transactions or timberland transactions, including acquisitions and dispositions, is a plus. Finite Carbon incentivizes the protection, restoration, and sustainable management of forests by connecting landowners to the global carbon market.
Federal Senior Policy Manager. Rewiring America. Remote. Washington, District of Columbia. https://apply.workable.com/rewiring-america/j/E02B0D7444/. The salary range for this position is $110,00-140,000. 7+ years of work experience, including direct Federal and/or State Policy work in energy and climate change. Rewiring America is a growing nonprofit, working to launch a movement that electrifies everything, starting with our 121 million households.
Director of Government Affairs. Sila Nanotechnologies. Washington DC. https://www.silanano.com/careers/job-application/4395257. 7+ years of experience in public policy administration, development, and/or advocacy with a focus on technology commercialization and the renewable energy sector. Sila Nanotechnologies is an electronics company that offers new battery materials chemistry.
California Senior Policy Manager. Remote. https://apply.workable.com/rewiring-america/j/E9960C54DA/. The salary range for this position is $110,000-140,000. 7+ years of work experience, including direct policy work in California working on energy and climate change. Rewiring America is a growing nonprofit, working to launch a movement that electrifies everything, starting with our 121 million households.
New York Senior Policy Manager. Remote. https://apply.workable.com/rewiring-america/j/DF52725318/. The salary range for this position is $110,000-140,000. 7+ years of work experience, including direct policy work in New York working on energy and climate change. Rewiring America is a growing nonprofit, working to launch a movement that electrifies everything, starting with our 121 million households.
Deputy Counsel. Aspiration. Remote. https://jobs.lever.co/aspiration-2/ec2bc57f-6e94-4c34-9017-b07454efc6d0. 7+ years of law firm or in-house counsel experience, required. Aspiration is a new kind of bank for the climate era, offering banking services and credit and debit cards that are guaranteed to fight climate change.
Director of Government Affairs. Sila Nanotechnologies. Alameda California. https://www.silanano.com/careers/job-application/4395257. 7+ years of experience in public policy administration, development, and/or advocacy with a focus on technology commercialization and the renewable energy sector. Sila Nanotechnologies is an electronics company that offers new battery materials chemistry.
Legal Director, Commercial Contracts. Sila Nanotechnologies. Alameda California. https://www.silanano.com/careers/job-application/4206854. 10+ years of relevant contract drafting and negotiation experience at a law firm and/or technology company (mix of both is preferred). 3+ years of experience leading an in-house contracting team (at an automotive company or a company in the automotive supply chain is a plus). Sila Nanotechnologies is an electronics company that offers new battery materials chemistry.
DO IT TOGETHER
We all will go further together, whether that means collaborating on passion projects, pro bono opportunities, or referring a potential client to our network of planetary lawyers.
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That’s all for this week. See you next time!