Chief Change Officer Podcast Summary

Episode: From Diplomacy to Decarbonization: Irina Filippova’s Bold Journey into the Future of Energy
Host: Vince Chan
Guest: Irina Filippova, COO and Co-founder of an Energy Transition Company Backed by BlackRock
Release Date: December 3, 2024

1. Introduction

The episode features an in-depth conversation between host Vince Chan and Irina Filippova, a dynamic leader whose career journey spans diplomacy, international relations, and the energy sector. As the COO and co-founder of a pioneering energy transition company backed by BlackRock, Irina shares her insights on leadership, change management, and the future of sustainable energy.

2. Irina’s Background and Career Path

Irina begins by recounting her origins and educational background, highlighting the influence of her family and her early interests.

Irina Filippova [04:46]: "I grew up in Moscow... I was interested in languages. When the time came to choose a career, I truly wanted a career that would expose me to different cultures and the way the world works."

She pursued a career in diplomacy, breaking gender norms in Russia's traditionally male-dominated field. Her tenure at the United Nations focused on peace and conflict resolution, providing her with a profound understanding of global politics.

Irina Filippova [04:46]: "I worked for a UN think tank in peace and conflict resolution... I was looking for something more challenging and potentially even more substantive."

Irina transitioned to business by enrolling in Yale's MBA program, where she sought to blend her passion for societal impact with business acumen. Her internship and subsequent full-time role at BP in London marked her entry into the energy sector.

Irina Filippova [04:46]: "That's where my journey into energy, if you will, began with that summer internship."

3. Common Themes in Irina’s Career Transitions

Vince prompts Irina to reflect on the recurring themes throughout her career changes.

Irina Filippova [09:55]: "I was always a self-starter... every role on every project that I worked on was essentially starting from scratch."

Her innate curiosity and entrepreneurial mindset drove her to initiate projects within established companies and later within startups. Irina emphasizes the importance of creating value not just for oneself but for the broader ecosystem.

Irina Filippova [09:55]: "You have to continuously find ways in which you can create value not just for yourself, but for others in the ecosystem."

4. Courage and Leadership

Vince delves into the role of courage in leadership, particularly for women in leadership positions.

Irina Filippova [14:15]: "In my mind, the word leader equals the word courage. There is no leadership without courage."

Irina defines courage as a fundamental aspect of leadership, intertwined with integrity. She discusses the challenges of transitioning from a corporate role to an entrepreneurial venture during the 2008 financial crisis, emphasizing that her decisions were driven more by curiosity and a desire to meet new challenges than by fear.

Irina Filippova [14:15]: "Leadership is courage and courage is leadership. One is impossible without the other."

5. Irina as a Change Leader and Consultant

Irina shares her experiences as a change leadership consultant, focusing on transforming leadership mindsets to achieve decarbonization goals.

Irina Filippova [20:26]: "I wanted to see the change in leadership of large companies... something in the way these leaders think and act has to change."

Her journey led her to study psychology at the Carl Jung Institute, realizing that effective change starts internally. She emphasizes the importance of aligning personal values with organizational missions to drive meaningful transformation.

Irina Filippova [20:26]: "It all comes back to each person's individual values and ability to live according to those values."

6. Vision for Energy Transition

Irina outlines her company's mission to revolutionize the transportation industry through sustainable energy solutions.

Irina Filippova [23:59]: "We are the providers of that electric fuel for this new transportation that you're embracing... you don't have to worry about where the electrons are coming from."

She explains the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources with transportation, aiming to provide end-to-end solutions that alleviate fleet operators from managing energy logistics.

Irina Filippova [23:59]: "Our goal is to expose them to as many of us... so that they can see that the level of professionalism... is very high."

7. Overcoming Client Concerns and Risk Management

Addressing potential client concerns about reliance and counterparty risks, Irina explains how her company mitigates these risks through clear guidelines, contractual protections, and building trust.

Irina Filippova [31:23]: "We mitigate that risk by providing a very clear set of guidelines... and protecting the client, the customer from any downside exposure."

She underscores the importance of aligning values with partners and customers to ensure long-term, trust-based relationships.

Irina Filippova [31:23]: "We have to align on your values... because if your values don't align, it's not going to work."

8. Sources of Motivation and Resilience

When asked about what fuels her persistence, Irina highlights the excitement of being at the forefront of a massive industry transition and the joy of tackling diverse challenges daily.

Irina Filippova [35:23]: "The most exciting part of this job is that no two days are the same."

She acknowledges the inherent challenges in driving change but remains motivated by the global impact of her work and the collaborative nature of her industry.

Irina Filippova [35:23]: "We're trying to accomplish something for humanity... create a new way the transportation works... to create something more sustainable."

9. Advice to MBA Graduates and Young Professionals

Addressing aspiring professionals, Irina offers pragmatic and passionate advice centered on curiosity, self-initiative, and continuous learning.

Irina Filippova [39:40]: "Choose the area that fascinates them... feed your passion, feed your interest, grab it with both hands and you will find your way."

She cautions against entitlement, emphasizing that success stems from hard work, continuous education, and aligning personal values with professional endeavors.

Irina Filippova [39:40]: "Work is about educating yourself every single day about what happens around you... Find it. Create your own opportunities."

10. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Vince expressing admiration for Irina's authenticity and leadership philosophy. He invites Irina to return for future discussions, highlighting the mutual respect and shared values between the host and guest.

Vince Chen [42:55]: "Leadership equals courage... our world needs more leaders who are like you, who value as well as practice integrity."

Irina graciously accepts the invitation, reinforcing the impactful exchange of ideas and experiences shared during the episode.

Notable Quotes:

• Irina Filippova [14:15]: "Leadership equals courage and courage equals leadership. One is impossible without the other."

• Irina Filippova [20:26]: "It all comes back to each person's individual values and ability to live according to those values."

• Irina Filippova [35:23]: "We're trying to accomplish something for humanity... create a new way the transportation works... to create something more sustainable."

• Irina Filippova [39:40]: "Work is about educating yourself every single day about what happens around you... Find it. Create your own opportunities."

Key Takeaways:

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Irina's career is characterized by self-initiation and entrepreneurial ventures within and outside large corporations.

• Courage and Integrity: She equates true leadership with courage and integrity, emphasizing consistency between words and actions.

• Energy Transition Vision: Irina's current venture focuses on providing comprehensive energy solutions to facilitate the electrification of transportation, addressing infrastructure and reliability challenges.

• Change Management: Her role as a change leadership consultant involves transforming leadership mindsets to achieve sustainable goals through internal value alignment.

• Advice for Professionals: Emphasizes passion-driven career choices, continuous learning, humility, and the creation of personal opportunities over entitlement.

Final Thoughts: Irina Filippova embodies the essence of a Chief Change Officer, leveraging her diverse background and unwavering commitment to drive significant transformations in the energy and transportation sectors. Her insights offer valuable guidance for aspiring leaders aiming to make a meaningful impact on a global scale.