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Michela, Director of Programs, Greentown Go at Greentown Labs: Advize Career Interview
A career in climate tech offers exciting opportunities!
This Director of Programs at Greentown Labs built a successful path from an environmental studies major, leveraging internships to gain experience and solidify a passion for the field’s business side.
The Director's current role involves dynamic program management, fostering collaboration between large corporations and innovative startups to advance sustainability.
A typical day is diverse, balancing strategic planning with tactical execution, including data analysis, communications, event hosting, and public speaking.
Success requires detail-orientation, strong communication, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
The Director highlights the collaborative nature of the industry, emphasizing the shared mission to create positive impact.
Entry-level opportunities abound, from engineering and marketing to program coordination, allowing for valuable, hands-on experience.
A key lesson learned involves prioritizing core responsibilities to build trust and subsequently gain more ownership over one’s work.
The Director's journey, including overcoming early career challenges such as imposter syndrome, provides valuable insights for those considering this rewarding field.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Michela Grunebaum
Director of Programs, Greentown Go
Greentown Labs
University of Vermont
N/A
Environmental & Related Sciences
Environment
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans
Watch all of this Advizer's videos below
Career Path of a Director of Greentown Go Programs at Greentown Labs
Michela's career path began with an environmental studies major, self-designed to focus on "international environmental policy," and internships at environmental nonprofits and Seventh Generation, which helped solidify a desire to work in the climate field's "business technology or policy side." This led to Michela's first job and almost six years at Greentown Labs, driven by the opportunity to "work with startups in the climate field and make the case for folks to care about climate from a business perspective."
Main Responsibilities of a Director of Programs at Greentown Labs
Michela's role as Director of Programs at Greentown Labs involves extensive program management, "coordinating between different groups... giant corporations and really small startups," to facilitate collaboration. A significant portion of the role focuses on strategic direction, including curriculum design and business development to connect corporations with startups addressing "climate and sustainability needs."
A Day In The Life Of A Greentown Go Director Of Programs At Greentown Labs
Michela, Greentown Go's Director of Programs, describes a varied workday in their startup-corporate partnership accelerator program, noting that "every day looks different," encompassing data analysis, communications ("drafting emails, drafting briefings"), event hosting, and public speaking—a blend of "strategic and tactical tasks." The program matches corporations with startups to achieve sustainability goals, with Michela acting as a "matchmaker."
Most Important Skills for a Director of Greentown Go Programs at Greentown Labs
Michela, a Director of Programs, emphasizes the importance of "being detail-oriented" and strong communication skills, both written and verbal, for success in their role, which frequently involves interacting with diverse stakeholders and public speaking. A willingness to "learn new things and wear a lot of different hats," pushing beyond comfort zones, is also crucial within the dynamic startup ecosystem.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Director Of Programs At Greentown Labs
Michela, Director of Programs at Greentown Labs, thrives on the "variation" in her role, enjoying the diversity of tasks—from "hosting a 300-person event" to data analysis—and collaborating with a wide range of organizations. The "Mission-based organization" aspect, supporting startups to "get their technologies out into the world," fuels Michela's motivation and provides a strong sense of purpose in even challenging situations.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Director of Programs Greentown Go at Greentown Labs
Michela's biggest challenge as Director of Programs at Greentown Labs is the fast-paced environment, requiring constant prioritization and task-switching to avoid "dropping the ball on anything." This rapid pace, however, is also what makes the role exciting, as "there are so many things going on" and a constant variety of projects.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Climate Tech Industry As A Director Of Programs
Michela enjoys the collaborative nature of the climate tech industry, highlighting that "everyone...is trying to make a positive impact," leading to a positive and collaborative work environment with diverse stakeholders. This shared goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions makes working in the field "really fun."
What Type Of Person Thrives In A Startup According To A Greentown Labs Program Director
Michela, a Director of Programs, highlights the importance of thriving "in ambiguity and in a fast-paced environment," possessing the ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within a team, as key traits for success in the cleantech industry. The ability to manage one's own responsibilities and projects with minimal oversight is also crucial, as tasks are often "not quite formalized."
What A Director Of Programs At Greentown Labs Wishes They Had Known Before Entering The Climate Industry
Michela, a Director of Programs, learned that the climate industry's funding and policy incentives are heavily influenced by the US federal government, leading to fluctuations every four years; however, "state governments can really kind of make up for the lack of federal support," offering a more stable long-term perspective despite the cyclical nature of federal involvement.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Program Coordinators
Michela, a Director of Programs, highlights the diverse entry-level climate field opportunities for undergraduates, including "entry level engineer at a startup" or roles in "social media," "marketing program coordination," and "program coordinators and kind of admin" at startup support organizations. These often require less experience and allow for wearing "a lot of hats," providing valuable early career experience.
Significant Career Lesson From A Director Of Programs Greentown Go At Greentown Labs
Michela, a Director of Programs, learned to prioritize excelling at core responsibilities, proving "going above and beyond in [one's] work product," to build trust and subsequently pursue more engaging projects. This approach allowed the Director to gain "more ownership over what [their] job can look like."
College Experiences That Helped a Director of Programs at Greentown Labs Succeed
Michela, a Director of Programs, emphasized the importance of strong communication skills, honed through an undergraduate environmental studies degree and a substantial thesis requiring "a lot of research and reading and writing." This experience, Michela explains, proved critical for success in their current role, demanding both internal team communication and external engagement through various channels.
How Identity Has Influenced A Director Of Programs, Greentown Go At Greentown Labs's Career
Early in the career, imposter syndrome and a need to appear "super buttoned up" hindered the professional's ability to form connections; however, seeking mentorship from other women and focusing on building relationships "as humans" fostered greater comfort and confidence in male-dominated environments. This ultimately led to a more authentic and successful career trajectory.
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