What Type Of Person Thrives In The Fintech Climate Industry, According To A Director Of Strategic Partnerships At Fintech Climate Startup
Rebecca, a Director of Strategic Partnerships at a Fintech Climate Start-up, finds success in the climate, automotive, and finance industries is driven by "innovators," but also those who can "understand history, appreciate history, and challenge it," blending traditional expertise with disruptive ideas to drive change within established sectors. The most impressive individuals are those who can bridge established structures with innovative approaches, particularly within rapidly evolving fields like automotive and climate tech.
Innovation, Problem-solving, Collaboration, Adaptability, Strategic Thinking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Rebecca Saletta
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Fintech Climate Start-up
UCLA
N/a
Communications
Climate, Environment, Sustainability & Waste Management, Finance (Banking, Fintech, Investing)
Business Strategy
None Applicable
Video Highlights
1. People who thrive in the climate industry are innovators, but also include those in government, large corporations, and even individuals whose jobs aren't directly related to climate but who are strong advocates.
2. The automotive industry thrives on engineers, builders, and innovators, especially those focused on battery technology, recycling, and lightweighting vehicles.
3. The finance industry involves professionals from investment banking, pensions, and family offices; those who succeed are able to understand and appreciate existing structures while simultaneously challenging them with innovative ideas and solutions for change.
Transcript
How would you describe people who typically thrive in this industry?
I work in a couple of different industries, so I'll touch on the types of people I've encountered in each. I'll use climate as a unifying theme.
In climate, the people are mostly innovators. However, we also need involvement from governments and large corporations. There are dedicated climate teams within corporations, which is exciting. Beyond that, there are people whose jobs have nothing to do with climate who are some of the biggest advocates. I'm really impressed and admire these individuals.
The automotive industry is another area. It's a very different audience with many engineers, builders, and innovators. The startup culture in automotive is quite cool. It includes people working on battery technology, battery recycling, and lightweighting for vehicles to improve efficiency.
There are also discussions around hydrogen for large trucks and other ambitious ideas, involving many dreamers. I find the automotive industry super fun. It has a long history but is undergoing significant change. Being on the front lines of that innovation is really enjoyable.
Automotive has changed a lot in the last five years. Much of this traditional industry was built in the US over a hundred years ago. Being a part of this change allows you to work with many really cool brains.
Then there's the finance side. Many people in finance come from investment banking, pension funds, or family offices. That was not my background. The finance world has its own structure and expectations, with a certain tradition that drives it forward.
Again, being involved in climate allows you to be part of overturning established norms. For both automotive and finance, there's a tradition that drives them, and then there's an innovative aspect at the top that's growing rapidly.
The people who jump into these innovative areas can understand and appreciate history while also challenging it. They share new ideas that can help that history evolve. These are the types of people these industries attract.