700! Behind the Success of Strata Clean Energy, Markus Wilhelm
It only took me 8 years and 699 episodes to finally land today\u2019s guest! But the wait was WELL worth it. You\u2019re in for a treat. And it was recorded in-person at Strata\u2019s HQ, so you might enjoy some of the extra footage included in the YT video version of this episode.
Markus Wilhelm founded Strata Clean Energy in 2009, but readily admits that he didn\u2019t have the right initial vision for the company. In fact, it wasn\u2019t till the THIRD pivot that he says they really found their groove. By any measure, Strata has now become an undeniable success-story in the world of Solar Energy Development and Construction. Over the course of 15 years, Strata has grown from a small residential installer to a globally-recognized utility-scale developer, owner, and operator of clean energy assets.
Yet, few have been able to get access to the man behind the curtain and unpack what makes him tick and how Wilhelm's background as a former media executive uniquely prepared him to grow the company to this level. One of the most interesting things for me, having done now 700 of these, is that when Markus and his wife began this venture, it was supposed to be something to pass the time\u2026in his RETIREMENT! 15 years later, he\u2019s still going strong, and Strata is more relevant and impressive than ever.
Filmed at Strata's Durham NC HQ, this episode finds Wilhelm reflecting on the company's evolution\u2014from pioneering the North Carolina solar market to building multi-billion dollar solar and battery storage projects.
Expect to learn:
- Strata\u2019s three strategy changes that led them to become the company they are today.
- How building a vertically integrated business model can enhance your project quality.
- How Markus\u2019s background as a media executive prepared him to grow an energy company
- How Strata plans to stay flexible amid inconsistent government policies and administration changes
This is a rare opportunity to hear how an industry titan built a solar company from the ground up.
Oh, and listen closely, because we\u2019re giving away a free gift to our listeners for helping us reach 700 episodes!
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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