Iceland runs on 85% renewable energy. How did they get there? “My favorite part of Iceland’s renewable energy story is that it started small. It started with Innovation, entrepreneurship. In terms of how has this developed, originally organically and then supported by the government and by policies and funding, which is essential for any development.” Halla Hrund Logadottir on Electric Ladies Podcast

I was privileged to tour some of the unique technologies and business models that fuel Iceland’s remarkable 85% renewable energy Economy recently. It seems that Iceland could be a pilot project for the rest of us on how to do it. How did they do it?

Listen to this fascinating interview with Halla Hrund Logadottir, the Director-General of Iceland’s National Energy Authority (INEA) with host Joan Michelson on Electric Ladies Podcast conducted in Reykjavik to hear strategies we can all implement today.

You’ll hear:

• How Iceland leverages its topology and natural resources to run the country on renewable energy – and how they plan to get to 100% renewable energy soon.
• The unique database of best practices, solutions and partnerships Iceland developed and continues to build upon.
• Lessons we can all learn from their evolution for our own countries.
• Why women play an important role in driving the innovations in Iceland’s renewable energy economy.
• Plus, great career advice….

“Don’t let fear get in your way. And if you don’t feel like you have the courage, borrow it from a friend or from an expert, go out there and, borrow it. So you can actually make sure that fear is not standing between you and the opportunity that the world has for you to make a difference.” Halla Hrund Logadottir on Electric Ladies Podcast

You’ll also like:

• Michele Wucker, thought leaders and author of “You Are What You Risk: The New Art & Science to Navigating an Uncertain World.”
• Kathryn Pavlovsky, Deloitte Energy, Resources & Industrials, on the energy transformation and ESG
• Sandrine Dixson, Co-president of the Club of Rome (global leaders) and Ambassador to the Climate
• Jennifer Gerbi, Ph.D., Deputy Director and Acting Director, ARPA-E, the innovation arm of the Department of Energy 

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Joan Michelson Electric Ladies Podcast - Innovation, Energy, Climate, Careers

Joan Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning strategic social impact and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader, who drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte, small businesses, and government agencies. She is an instructor on ESG issues to professionals, leaders and board members across industries. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Joan is also an accomplished journalist who has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), about innovation and leadership in energy-, climate- and sustainability-related issues across industries, featuring women experts.

She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been in the Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), New Thinking magazine, regional business journals; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.

Joan has spent her career working in energy-sustainability-climate-ESG issues and in marketing communications, including as head of communications and co-leader of the sales and marketing team of Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), driving “best year ever” growth and significantly accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Prior to GEM, she led marketing communications efforts to high-net-worth and high-visibility clients in management consulting-financial services companies Deloitte and American Express. She's a native of NYC and has a BA from UCLA, an MBA from Baruch College at City University of NY, and post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, The New School and The Aspen Institute, among others. She has a Sustainability and ESG certification from Competent Boards.