446: Undeniable proof that mentors matter, with Miles Braxton of Goldman Sachs RPG
Miles Braxton went to UVA specifically to study in the lab of Mool Gupta, the Father of Photonics. He should have been a prime candidate for the booming solar industry: a black engineer, young and ambitious, ready to put his boots on and earn his stripes. Then, he couldn\u2019t find a job. Anywhere. He now leads Risk Management for the Goldman Sachs Renewable Power Group, and is Co-founder and Director of Strategic Partnerships at the BlackOak Collective. Not a bad turn turn in his luck, but as you\u2019ll hear today, it had more to do with persistence, patience and a clear vision for what he wanted to accomplish along the way. He also had some really great mentors along the way.
(You can Read More about Miles\u2019 story over on the blog post)
This episode covers his remarkable journey with the following defining themes marking his rise to success:
\u2014 Initiative (fearless follow-up and creating opportunities for himself instead of waiting for them to come to him)
\u2014 Redirection (envisioning and pursuing his ideal career path yet also embracing the evolution of what that became)
\u2014 Altruism (not solely preoccupied with his own success but enlightened enough to pour back into his community as well)
We also covered the co-founding of his current passion project, The Black Oak Collective, and their work in providing job opportunities, networks, and other resources for people of color that want to get involved with sustainability. We discussed all of this, and more so, prepare yourself for another hugely inspiring Suncast episode!
Tune in and tune up your skills!
If you want to connect with today's guest, you\u2019ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.
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