Bob Powell Of Brightmark On 5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective C-Level Leader Of A Climate Tech Company

An interview with Kieran Powell

“You need an overwhelming sense of urgency to make change happen and develop solutions now by immediately and repeatedly taking better care of the planet, living a more considered life, thinking differently, challenging the status quo, and educating and inspiring others around us to do the same.”

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, and effective leadership in climate tech companies is paramount for driving meaningful impact. We would like to hear about the insights, experiences, and expertise of esteemed leaders who have demonstrated excellence in navigating this complex landscape. In this series, we’re talking with seasoned professionals, industry pioneers, and visionaries who are C-Level leaders of climate tech companies. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Bob Powell, Founder & CEO of Brightmark.

As Founder and CEO of Brightmark, Bob Powell leads the company’s mission to Reimagine Waste® by developing solutions that make a positive environmental impact on the world and communities where it operates. The company works across sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and transportation, to decarbonize operations, displace reliance on virgin fossil fuels, and solve circularity challenges at scale.

As a lifelong environmentalist, Powell is committed to maximizing Brightmark’s impact, partnering with community organizations and environmental agencies to address plastics pollution, and working with his team to collaboratively address gaps through its innovative closed-loop approach to recycling and renewables.

Powell obtained an MBA in Finance and Accounting and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He resides in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Thank you so much for your time! I know that you are a very busy person. Our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’ and how you got started?

“Thanks for having me. I’d have to say that some of my earliest life memories are of my grandmother, Rie. She instilled in me a lot of passion and love for the environment, putting me on my current path. My decision to found Brightmark stemmed from a journey of increased environmental awareness across several decades and roles within multiple industries.

After receiving my education from Georgia Tech, I began consulting and accounting work for energy clients. As I gained experience and saw the benefits of environmental technologies, I realized the immense possibilities to prevent negative environmental outcomes.

My experiences traveling the world further solidified that commitment. Working in Hong Kong and visiting Jakarta exposed me to the environmental challenges facing developing countries and convinced me of the need for action on a global scale. Additionally, spending time at Pacific Gas & Electric (PGE) during the rise of the renewables industry in California showed me the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the power of public and private efforts in driving meaningful change.

These experiences are just a few of many that led me to found Brightmark, where I’ve been fortunate enough to be part of cultivating a culture of like-minded individuals dedicated to taking on the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges by deploying circular innovations that are truly helping us create a world without waste.”

None of us can achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story?

“My late grandmother Rie was a critical influence in my life, and creating a world without waste may not have been the path I set out on without her guidance.

She was the first person to open my eyes to the importance of environmental stewardship and explain a valuable lesson about the impact of human actions on the environment. For example, I remember working in her garden when I was young and learning about how rain can wash pesticides into the bodies of water and harm marine life.

My grandmother instilled in me a genuine love and appreciation for the environment — something I’ve carried with me throughout my life.”

Thank you for all that. Let’s now turn to the main focus of our discussion. Can you please share with us what makes you an expert on climate tech?

“It’s humbling to be called an “expert.” I see this as a journey where I have had great mentors and teachers to support me. In my 30 year career, I have focused within the energy and renewables industry in a variety of different roles and settings–all of which have contributed to what I believe is a well-rounded and nuanced understanding of the climate technology landscape.

In addition to my previously mentioned experience, I have spent time leading multiple renewable energy companies. I was a Partner at PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Andersen. I served as the President & CEO of Solar Power Partners and the North American President of SunEdison. This renewable energy company developed, built, owned, and operated solar power and wind energy plants worldwide.

In 2016, I founded Brightmark while concurrently taking on the role of Chairman of the Board for ZincFive, a company developing Nickel-Zinc battery solutions for critical applications. That same year, I also co-founded Correlate, an energy management platform that helps businesses reduce energy costs and GHG emissions.”

Can you share a transformative idea you have for integrating sustainability with technology? How would you measure its success in terms of environmental impact and business growth?

““Integrating sustainability with technology isn’t just a part of my job; it reflects my core belief that we can and must find harmony between human progress and the natural world. Our transformative idea centers on democratizing anaerobic digesters across America’s farms to establish a sustainable agricultural framework and new sources of renewable energy. This is a significant breakthrough because it directly addresses the urgent need to manage agricultural waste more effectively and combat climate change.

At Brightmark, we’ve developed and implemented a circular technology that captures methane from animal manure and converts it into renewable natural gas or RNG. This significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions and produces renewable energy and other valuable byproducts like fertilizer and water, which can be reintegrated into agricultural processes.

Measuring the success of this initiative involves two critical dimensions: Environmental impact and business growth. Environmentally, we assess our impact through the reduction of CO2 equivalent emissions. For instance, our projects have collectively reduced over 900,000 tons of CO2eq., a tangible metric demonstrating our contribution to combating climate change. On the business side, growth is measured by our expansion rate — increasing the number of farmers we partner with and the amount of RNG produced. Our aim is to scale these economically viable solutions nationally, amplifying its positive environmental impact.

This approach aligns with Brightmark’s broader mission to create a world without waste by achieving a future where waste is fully eliminated. Then, we will move onto the next environmental challenge. We want our tech to not just be about profit; we also want it to be a tool for a sustainable future for all.”

Leading a climate tech company demands a blend of innovation and pragmatism. Can you describe a scenario where you had to balance cutting-edge technological solutions with practical implementation challenges? How did you navigate this balance to achieve a sustainable outcome?

“One such project that’s close to my heart involved recycling plastic buoys and downlines in the Florida Keys with NOAA’s Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS). These materials are an integral part of how the FKNMS executes its research and ocean conversation. However, once the materials have undergone their useful life cycle, they don’t want to simply landfill the materials. That’s where Brightmark offers a solution.

Balancing tech & practical solutions boiled down to collaboration and innovation. We had to think outside the box to recycle something that’s not usually recyclable. So, we worked closely with the Sanctuary’s team to understand the lifecycle of these buoys and developed a way to recycle them with our proprietary plastics renewal technology.

We created a system that not only recycles these buoys but turns them into new plastic products. It was a win-win situation. Thanks to this strategic partnership, FKNMKS can continue to reduce marine pollution, and Brightmark can divert their plastic waste from landfills and the environment. It’s about making a positive impact, one buoy at a time.

It is a significant achievement for our team that tested our innovation & teamwork. We believe in handling environmental challenges head-on. Brightmark is a climate tech company that doesn’t just function on visionary ideas, it has the ability to turn those concepts into real-world solutions that are both sustainable and practical.”

Ethical considerations are important in climate technology. How do you ensure that your company’s innovations not only advance sustainability goals but also adhere to high ethical standards? Can you give us an example?

“Our core values — from Diversity & Inclusion to Safety and Protection — are at the helm of everything we do at Brightmark. We have implemented various safety protocols and procedures at our renewable natural gas and plastics sites. We also have dedicated staff who specialize in safety and regulatory compliance — further emphasizing our commitment to safety and protection not solely as a core value but as a fundamental business practice.

When we partner with farmers to implement this technology on their farms, we allow them to see a return on their land and promote economic development in their rural communities for years to come. These partnerships also enable farms to reduce land application of raw manure and improve odor, water quality, and nutrient management practices.

Beyond the farm, anaerobic digestion has significant societal benefits. By converting dairy manure into RNG, we are able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 370 percent compared to traditional diesel fuel. This reduction is crucial for meeting U.S. greenhouse gas reduction targets and aligning with our nation’s obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Our Plastics Renewal technology is ISCC PLUS and life cycle analysis certified — meaning Brightmark’s technology adheres to specific practices to earn these credentials. We also engage locally with our communities to ensure we’re taking into account all stakeholders.

Brightmark is proud to play a role in advancing these sustainable and ethical practices.”

Based on your experience and success, what are the ‘5 Things You Need To Be A Highly Effective C-Level Leader Of A Climate Tech Company’?

1 . “You need an overwhelming sense of urgency to make change happen and develop solutions now by immediately and repeatedly taking better care of the planet, living a more considered life, thinking differently, challenging the status quo, and educating and inspiring others around us to do the same.”

2 . “You need to embrace challenges with a positive attitude and understand that some of your most challenging moments will be your best learning experiences. I believe that the progress we have made on our Plastics Renewal® technology and renewable natural gas projects outweigh any challenges or opposition we have faced.”

3 . “You need to instill in your company an unwavering commitment to consistency. No significant feat is achieved without consistency. Some of the most extraordinary things in the world took years of refinement, dedication, and consistency. Staying consistent makes it more feasible for you to accomplish your journey.”

4 . You need to embrace challenges and be willing to learn from mistakes. Bold thinking and actions require change, and if we want to solve problems like climate change and the global waste issue, we must embrace new ways of thinking. Facing challenges in the face of pushing for change is simply another step toward a solution.

5 . You need to carefully assess and execute meaningful partnerships. Collaborating with others is a powerful and strategic way to reach your company’s goals while making a significant impact. When we form the right partnerships, we can reap incredible benefits for everyone involved and create truly unique solutions.”

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Certainly. I would have to say that one of the best lessons I continue to learn to this day comes from the saying, “It takes a village.” While this phrase is well known by many, it resonates with me personally since I’ve been able to see firsthand throughout my life and career that progress will not happen unless it is propelled forward by people who possess both passion and tenacity. For example, when Brightmark is identifying partners that we would like to collaborate with, we always take qualities such as passion and tenacity into account since we believe that our own company possesses these characteristics, and we want to ensure that everyone benefits from the collective goals we achieve by partnering together. By keeping the lesson/phrase “it takes a village” in mind, I strongly believe we are able to form enduring collaborations with our partners. We simply can’t solve these problems on our own, and we’re in this fight together.”

How can our readers further follow your work?

“Readers can follow Brightmark on X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. You can also read all of our latest news and my thought leadership on the Brightmark newsroom.”

Thank you so much for sharing these important insights. We wish you continued success and good health!

About The Interviewer: Kieran Powell is the EVP of Channel V Media a New York City Public Relations agency with a global network of agency partners in over 30 countries. Kieran has advised more than 150 companies in the Technology, B2B, Retail and Financial sectors. Prior to taking over business operations at Channel V Media, Kieran held roles at Merrill Lynch, PwC and Ernst & Young. Get in touch with Kieran to discuss how marketing and public relations can be leveraged to achieve concrete business goals.