Tuesday, May 20
Creating Space When Space is at a Premium: A Keynote Experience for High-Achieving Professionals in Competitive Environments
Speaker: Dethra Giles
In today’s workplace, talented professionals are navigating a landscape where opportunity can feel increasingly limited, recognition isn’t always guaranteed, and the value of diverse perspectives is often debated. When space is at a premium, the key is not just finding a seat at the table—but knowing how to own your presence, position your value, and strategically advance no matter the environment.
This session is designed to equip high-performing individuals with the mindset, communication skills, and strategy to rise above workplace uncertainty, silence doubts, and drive impact. It blends the power of Own The Room with Your Voice, the DARE Model for Navigating High-Stakes Conversations, and a strategic framework for growth and influence in any professional setting.
Key Takeaways:
- Own the Room: Strengthen Your Presence & Influence
- Develop the confidence and executive presence to command respect and credibility in any space.
- Learn how to communicate with precision and impact, ensuring your contributions don’t go unnoticed.
- Build an internal and external brand that positions you as a leader, regardless of shifting corporate priorities.
- DARE to Lead in Uncertain Times
- Master the art of navigating complex workplace conversations with strategy and confidence.
- Learn how to Describe vs. Interpret, Acknowledge without conceding, Review the narratives shaping workplace culture, and Engage for real influence.
- Shift from reacting to leading conversations that shape perception, policy, and opportunity.
- Strategic Navigation: Thriving When Pathways Shift
- The Three-Lane Strategy for career mobility: identifying visibility opportunities, relationship capital, and strategic positioning.
- How to cultivate sponsorship, high-value projects, and coalitions that fuel long-term success.
- Balancing personal resilience with professional advocacy—making an impact without making yourself a target.
In evolving workplaces, leaders aren’t just those with titles—they’re the ones who know how to navigate, communicate, and elevate their influence. This session delivers the tools to own your space, shape your narrative, and turn uncertainty into opportunity—on your terms.
Leading with Purpose: Jason Grumet on Sponsorship, Allyship, and Advancing Leadership
Moderator: Kelly Darnell, COO, American Clean Power Association | Speaker: Jason Grumet, CEO, American Clean Power Association
Leadership isn’t just about personal success—it’s about lifting others as you climb. In this exclusive fireside chat, Jason Grumet, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, sits down with Kelly Darnell to discuss the power of sponsorship and allyship in shaping the next generation of diverse leaders in clean energy.
Too often, professionals from underrepresented backgrounds are expected to “figure it out” on their own. This conversation will challenge that notion by exploring the responsibility leaders have in actively opening doors for others. Jason will share insights on what true sponsorship looks like, why allyship is more than just a buzzword, and how leadership decisions can create a lasting impact on inclusion.
This is not just a conversation about corporate responsibility—it’s a roadmap for creating workplaces where diverse talent isn’t just included but empowered to lead.
Tangible Takeaways for Attendees:
- The Difference Between Sponsorship and Mentorship – Learn why having a sponsor who actively advocates for you is a game-changer for career growth.
- How to Identify and Cultivate Sponsors – Get practical strategies for finding the right advocates who will champion your success.
- Allyship in Action – Understand what it means to be an effective ally and how leaders can use their influence to create real opportunities.
- Navigating Leadership as a Person of Color – Gain insights into the unique challenges and opportunities for diverse professionals in clean energy.
- Creating Lasting Change – Explore how individuals at all levels can contribute to a more inclusive and equitable industry.
This session is for anyone looking to level up their career, expand their network, and learn from a leader who understands the power of sponsorship. Whether you’re seeking an advocate or striving to be one, this conversation will equip you with the tools to make a difference.
Cultivating Resilience and Adaptability
Facilitator: Dr. Tan Morales
Success in the clean energy industry—and in any career—isn’t just about skills and experience. It’s about resilience. It’s about adaptability. It’s about knowing how to navigate challenges, setbacks, and change without losing momentum.
In this dynamic workshop, Dr. Tan Morales will guide participants through the critical mindset shifts and practical strategies needed to thrive in uncertain and evolving environments. Whether you’re facing leadership transitions, industry shifts, or personal career hurdles, this session will equip you with tools to not only bounce back but move forward with confidence and purpose.
Through interactive exercises, real-world examples, and candid discussions, attendees will learn how to cultivate mental agility, embrace change, and turn obstacles into opportunities.
Tangible Takeaways for Attendees:
- Strategies for Building Resilience – Learn how to manage stress, recover from setbacks, and develop a growth mindset that turns challenges into learning experiences.
- The Art of Adaptability – Discover how to stay flexible and proactive in the face of uncertainty, ensuring long-term career success.
- Emotional Agility for Leadership – Gain insight into how to stay composed and make sound decisions even in high-pressure situations.
- Overcoming Imposter Syndrome – Identify self-limiting beliefs and develop confidence in your expertise and value.
- Actionable Steps to Stay Motivated – Walk away with a personalized action plan to sustain resilience and adaptability in your daily professional life.
Effective Strategies for Managing Up
Facilitator: Dr. Peter James
Navigating the corporate ladder isn’t just about working hard—it’s about working smart. One of the most crucial, yet often overlooked, skills for career growth is managing up—the ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders, communicate effectively, and align your work with organizational goals.
In this interactive workshop, Dr. Peter James will break down the key strategies to manage up with confidence, ensuring that your contributions are recognized, your ideas are heard, and your career stays on an upward trajectory. Whether you’re looking to gain more visibility, influence decision-making, or create a collaborative dynamic with your leadership, this session will provide the tools to help you take control of your professional journey.
Through engaging discussions, real-world scenarios, and practical exercises, attendees will learn how to foster productive relationships with their managers and senior leaders—without overstepping or feeling like they’re just “managing personalities.”
Tangible Takeaways for Attendees:
- How to Understand and Align with Leadership Priorities – Learn to anticipate what your leaders need and align your contributions with the bigger picture.
- Effective Communication Strategies – Discover how to tailor your messaging for maximum impact, whether you’re pitching ideas, providing updates, or asking for support.
- How to Advocate for Yourself – Develop skills to highlight your achievements without self-promotion feeling awkward or forced.
- Navigating Workplace Power Dynamics – Understand how to influence without authority and foster mutual respect with leadership.
- Proactive Problem-Solving – Learn how to bring solutions—not just problems—to the table and become a trusted advisor to your managers.
The Business of Clean Energy
Speaker: Labeja, Co-Founder and CFO of Triple Oak Power
The clean energy industry is booming, but success in this space requires more than just technical expertise—it demands strategic business acumen. In this dynamic and insightful session, Labeja, Co-Founder and CFO of Triple Oak Power, will unpack the economics and the mechanics of financing a clean energy project. This program is designed for those attendees less familiar with project finance. The session will address the financial and contractual structures that facilitate project financing including the role that tax equity and debt financing play in developing projects.
This session will provide actionable insights into the business side of clean energy and what it takes to lead in this rapidly growing sector.
Tangible Takeaways:
- Investment & Funding Strategies: Key insights into securing capital and partnerships to drive clean energy projects forward.
- Inflation Reduction Act: Understanding how the Inflation Reduction Act advanced clean energy project financing.
- Deal Structure: A primer on who is involved in structuring a clean energy deal from tax equity to project sponsors to offtake.
Smart Not Loud: How to Get Noticed at Work for all the Right Reasons
Keynote Speaker: Jessica Chen
Ever feel like you’re doing all the right things at work—putting in the effort, delivering results—but still being overlooked? You’re not alone. Too often, talented professionals, especially those from backgrounds where humility, harmony, and hard work are valued, struggle to stand out in environments that reward boldness and visibility.
Jessica Chen, Emmy Award-winning journalist and global communication expert, knows this challenge firsthand. In this dynamic keynote, she will break down insights from her book, Smart, Not Loud, to help professionals navigate workplace dynamics without having to change who they are. She will share her personal journey, the pivotal moments that helped her shift from feeling unheard to leading with confidence, and the proven strategies that have helped millions develop their executive presence.
Through compelling storytelling, real-world examples, and research-backed communication techniques, Jessica will teach attendees how to get noticed for the right reasons—without resorting to being the loudest voice in the room.
Tangible Takeaways for Attendees:
- The 4A Sequence – A structured approach to speaking up in meetings with confidence and impact.
- How to Advocate for Yourself – Master the art of self-promotion without feeling uncomfortable or pushy.
- Building Strategic Relationships – Learn to position yourself for high-visibility projects and leadership opportunities.
- Developing an Engaging Communication Style – Use voice modulation, pacing, and tone to be a compelling speaker that people actually listen to.
- Overcoming Workplace Visibility Challenges – Tactics for ensuring your contributions and ideas are recognized in any professional setting.
This keynote is for professionals who are ready to embrace their unique strengths, elevate their presence, and step into leadership with authenticity. Whether you consider yourself naturally outgoing or more reserved, Jessica will equip you with the tools to show up, stand out, and succeed—on your own terms.
Private CLEANPOWER in Color Reception
