What top women CEOs wish they knew earlier in climate tech and clean energy

​ATTENDEES:

​Women CEOs, founders, and future entrepreneurs in climate tech, clean energy, and sustainability

​SPEAKERS:

​Four women CEOs who have built and sold a private-equity-backed company, evolved from a PhD scientist to a VC-backed CEO, led an organization representing 250,000 professionals, and raised $100M to grow their venture.

• ​Susan Hunt Stevens, serial CEO (WeSpire, Tessi)

• ​Megan O'Connor, CEO of Nth Cycle

• ​Abby Hopper, former CEO of SEIA

• ​Lauren Salz, CEO of Sealed

​WHAT:

​Potential topics include:

• ​Innovation in complex, capital-intensive markets

• ​Raising capital without losing leverage

• ​Building teams that can actually execute

• ​Managing boards and investor dynamics 

​WHY:

​Because most founders don’t fail from lack of ideas. They fail from missteps in capital, people, and governance. This session compresses years of hard-earned experience into one hour.

​OUTCOMES:

​Based on audience questions, attendees could leave with:

• ​Capital clarity - What actually moves investors vs what founders over-index on

• ​Execution focus - How top CEOs simplify strategy in complex climate businesses

• ​Team design heuristics - What to hire for early vs what to delay

• ​Board management tactics - How to use your board without losing control

• ​Pattern recognition - Common mistakes across dozens of climate startups

• ​Peer calibration - A clearer sense of what “good” looks like at your stage

• ​Next steps - Specific actions to apply immediately in your company

​HOST:

​Entrepreneurs for Impact (EFI) is a curated peer group community for climate CEOs, capped at 45 CEOs and 45 investor mentors across companies that have raised $15M–$500M.