Mariko McDonagh Meier joined Convergent in 2021, bringing over a decade of experience in the clean energy industry to her role as Chief Revenue Officer. With a diverse background spanning senior roles in marketing, regulatory affairs, and operations, Mariko began as a Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company, specializing in Cleantech clients. Her strong commitment to the clean energy sector comes from her desire to help create a more sustainable future.
Keep reading to discover more about Mariko, her insights into energy storage, her perspectives on the evolving landscape of the energy industry, and more.
[The following Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity]
Could you elaborate on the career journey that led you to Convergent?
I have been in the clean energy industry for almost my entire career. I started at McKinsey & Company and in my third year, I started working with clean energy clients, engaging in energy storage projects and biofuel/biowaste initiatives. This experience motivated me to pursue a career in the energy industry. As a result, I decided to join Southern California Edison (SCE), a utility company. At SCE, I took on significant responsibilities, including developing the company's carbon trading plan. Additionally, I actively participated in long-term planning for reliability, renewable energy integration, and energy storage. In 2009, at SCE, I co-wrote a white paper on energy storage with Johannes Rittershausen, now the CEO of Convergent Energy and Power, cementing a longstanding professional relationship.
Following my tenure at McKinsey, I went to Harvard to get my MBA, motivated to stay in the clean energy space. After finishing my MBA, I joined EnerNOC, a company that helps reduce electricity usage for big businesses during high-demand times. EnerNOC's acquisition by Enel X (a global utility) saw me leading the marketing function in North America. After staying through the acquisition and spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, I reconnected with Johannes at Convergent. It wasn’t long after that that I joined Convergent as Chief Revenue Officer.
Convergent is attractive because they understand that energy storage is crucial for shifting to a renewable-powered grid. As the sun sets and winds fluctuate, the necessity for reliable energy persists beyond predictable hours. However, we still need to improve significant storage infrastructure on our grid. During my time at EnerNOC, I dealt with managing electricity rates at different times. I also learned about the significance of storing energy to maintain a balance between supply and demand. Traditionally, adjusting the supply side met demand fluctuations, but with renewables, this approach is inadequate. We must synchronize supply and demand through effective demand management and energy storage. It's not a choice between managing demand or storage—it's both. Success hinges on dispatchable supply, accurate demand prediction, and demand-side control, harmonizing to enable a seamless energy transition.
What are your key responsibilities at Convergent, and which aspects of your role are you most enthusiastic about?
As Chief Revenue Officer at Convergent, my role encompasses more than traditional sales leadership. I orchestrate our go-to-market strategy, ensuring we resonate with our customers and clearly communicate our value proposition.
Collaborating with our regulatory and market development teams, we identify regions and market structures optimized for energy storage and solar-plus-storage (battery storage paired with solar PV) solutions. This involves translating market opportunities into tangible products tailored to diverse customer needs, including industrial and utility clients. Our marketing efforts target specific regions and sectors, ensuring our message and brand authentically aligns with customer priorities. Our sales approach is consultative, recognizing the complexity and time investment involved for our customers. We prioritize delivering end-to-end solutions that deliver mutual benefit and long-term success.
My favorite part of the job is seeing the entire process from start to finish. Witnessing regulatory or market changes unfold and recognizing new opportunities emerge is incredibly satisfying. When we identify a market where solar-plus-storage makes economic sense, developing the product, presenting it to customers, and seeing it evolve into a tangible battery storage and/or solar system that benefits both the grid and our customer is rewarding. Bringing value to fruition in this way makes the job genuinely fulfilling and enjoyable.
What are your thoughts on the growth of the energy storage and clean energy industries? As a longtime New Englander, we’d love your thoughts on the New England energy sector in particular.
The energy storage industry will experience significant growth throughout the entire country. New England, in particular, will emerge as a leader in this industry for several important reasons. Firstly, the region boasts significant and growing renewables penetration, making energy storage pivotal for managing intermittent energy sources effectively. Moreover, New England's high electricity prices are expected to persist and increase over time. Storing electricity during cheap hours and using it during expensive times can save money in a costly market. Together, these factors position New England as a prime location for energy storage, reaffirming that energy storage truly is the linchpin of the clean energy transition.
We'll return to your position within the clean energy industry shortly, but first, we’d love to know how you prefer to spend your time outside the office, especially considering your Massachusetts location in the heart of New England?
I reside in South Boston, where much of our family time revolves around enjoying both the city of Boston and the more rural aspects of New England. My two daughters, aged four and six, attend elementary school in the city's heart, immersing us in the vibrant life of Boston. Exploring the city on bikes has become a favorite pastime, and Boston's accessibility and sense of community distinguish it from other cities I've experienced.
Beyond the city limits, we often venture into greater New England, particularly New Hampshire, where skiing has recently become a joyful family activity. Witnessing my children reach the point where skiing is genuinely enjoyable marks a rewarding parenting milestone. One of the joys of living in New England is the diversity of outdoor experiences across seasons – from swimming in lakes-turned-ice rinks to hiking mountains transformed into ski slopes. It's a dynamic environment that offers endless opportunities for adventure and memorable family moments.
Can you share a personal philosophy or guiding principle that has played a crucial role in both your career and life journey?
Every year, I choose a word to reflect and act on, not as a New Year's resolution but as a focal point for the year ahead. This year, my focus is on the word "delight." It's about recognizing and cherishing the small moments that bring me joy—like when my kids say something funny, or I have a hilarious conversation at work. Embracing these moments allows me to bask in the joy and truly feel it.
I recently read a book that underscored the importance of this practice. It showed how humans wire themselves to remember the negative more intensely than the positive as a survival instinct. Without consciously recalling the positive experiences, we're more prone to dwelling on the negative.
Therefore, my theme for the year is to actively remember moments of delight. This is a way to stop focusing on the potential negatives and start embracing the positive things around us.
In your experience, what's one aspect about energy storage and/or renewable energy that you wish more people understood?
Most people have a basic understanding of renewable energy and energy storage. However, I wish people would think more about the need for meaningful energy storage deployment on our electric grid. For example, our electricity grid requires constant balance to maintain stable voltage levels. Everyday activities like turning on a hair dryer prompt real-time adjustments on the grid to uphold this balance. Unlike a tank of gasoline, which can be refilled according to a schedule, the electric grid operates dynamically, demanding continuous monitoring and adjustment.
Regrettably, the significance of meaningful energy storage solutions with real-time balance to sustain our daily power needs is frequently overlooked. It's essential for people to recognize the critical role that energy storage plays—and will continue to play—in ensuring an uninterrupted electricity supply. Without an adequate understanding of and support for energy storage technologies, the reliability of our grid could be compromised.
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