Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, Megan Kjar sits down with Nicholas Rohleder, co-founder of Climate Commodities, to explore how his team is transforming hazardous waste into critical inputs for the steel, semiconductor, and ceramics industries. Nicholas breaks down his company’s unique "barbell" model—balancing greenfield project development with brownfield acquisitions—and...

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, Megan Kjar sits down with Will Glazener, co-founder of Terralytiq, to explore the critical—and often overlooked—pathway to supply-chain decarbonization. Will shares how his experience leading McKinsey’s decarbonization practice inspired him to build a software platform that empowers the world’s largest manufacturers to reduce upstream emissi...

In this episode, Megan sits down with Carolina Ortega, VP of Sustainability and Communications at Milestone Environmental Services, to explore how a decade-old Texas-based firm is reshaping oilfield waste management into a carbon-negative powerhouse. Learn how Milestone’s slurry reinjection process sequesters more CO₂ than it emits, why cost-neutral sustainable practices still face cultural barrie...

In this episode of Green Disrupters: Scaling the Future, Megan Kjar sits down with Kas Farsad, Chief Strategy Officer at Fortera, to explore a groundbreaking approach to one of the world’s largest sources of greenhouse gases: cement production. Fortera’s patented process reduces CO₂ emissions by 70% compared to traditional methods—and even incorporates CO₂ into the final product. Kas walks us thro...

In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar sits down with Sean Palfenier, CEO and co-owner of Riverside Energy, a solar company rooted in community values and decades of industry experience. From his start in oil and gas to leading one of Western Canada's leading solar teams, Sean shares how Riverside has scaled by prioritizing trust, transparency, and partnerships with Indigenous communities...

When your origin story involves fleeing pollution for a chance at health, it’s no wonder your business becomes a mission. In this episode, Kai Fahrion, co-CEO of Zeno Renewables, shares how he went from the electrical trades to co-founding one of Canada’s most community-driven solar companies. We talk about how the solar conversation has shifted from idealism to smart investment, what Zeno is doin...

What if charging your electric car was as simple as plugging it in — no apps, no cards, no hassle? In this episode, Lin Sun-Fa, founder of Emobi, explains how his team is solving one of the EV industry’s most frustrating problems. We dive into: Why current charging systems are broken How Emobi’s JustPlug technology works across legacy chargers and vehicles What’s next for smart cities and energy c...

What if taking climate action actually saved your business money? In this episode, Ed Perryman, co-founder of Replacer, reveals how their new platform helps hospitality businesses ditch disposables, cut costs, and find trusted suppliers for circular solutions — all without adding more to their plate. We talk about the real challenges small teams face scaling climate startups, how to demystify sust...

What if the key to carbon removal lies not in massive factories—but on the seafloor? In this episode, we’re joined by Anjana Aravind, COO and co-founder of Blusink, a pioneering startup capturing carbon through accelerated marine calcification. Anjana shares her powerful journey from climate science and Antarctic expeditions to startup life and sustainable innovation. We explore how Blusink's pink...

In this episode of Green Disruptors, host Megan Kjar sits down with Helge Biernath, CEO of Sunstall, to explore the evolving world of solar innovation. From his early beginnings in Germany’s solar thermal industry to pioneering vertical solar applications in the U.S., Helge shares insights on how multifunctional solar solutions are addressing challenges in agriculture, transportation, and urban de...

What if the garbage in your bin could power your home? In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, host Megan Kjar sits down with Marc Bacon, COO of Omni, a company pioneering waste-to-energy technology that’s shaking up the industry. Marc shares how Omni's patented system transforms everything from kitchen scraps to automotive residue into clean energy, while avoiding the common pitf...

What if a building could upgrade to ultra-efficient, circadian-friendly lighting with zero upfront cost—and actually save money from day one? In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, host Megan Kjar speaks with George Blackstone, CEO of Watts Matter, about how his company is revolutionizing energy use in schools, government buildings, and industrial spaces around the world. From in...

In this episode of Green Disruptors, host Megan Kjar sits down with Andrew Gilmour, serial entrepreneur and CEO of Laconic, to tackle one of the biggest puzzles in sustainability: how to turn carbon credits into a liquid, investable asset. Andrew traces the evolution of carbon markets from voluntary offsets to potential global securities, and explains why today’s market often feels more like a cha...

In this episode of Green Disruptors, host Megan Kjar sits down with Norm Ruttan, founder of iWasteNot Systems, to explore two decades of green‑tech innovation in surplus‑chain management. Learn how Norm went from volunteering in Ontario’s national parks to building one of the first peer‑to‑peer material exchanges, how he scaled that model across Washington State and beyond, and why he’s now focusi...

What if waste energy could become your company’s secret weapon for both cost savings and sustainability? In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar sits down with Suresh Jambunathan, founder of Energy and Water Development (ENWADEV), to explore the power of integrated energy systems that make sustainability make business sense. Suresh shares real-world examples of how his firm helps facilitie...

In this thought-provoking episode, Megan sits down with Sergej Marojevic, founder and CEO of Q-Charge, to explore the complex and rapidly evolving world of EV infrastructure. From his early days as a mechanical engineer emigrating from Yugoslavia to pioneering fire-safe, AI-powered EV charging stations in the U.S., Sergej shares a remarkable journey of curiosity, resilience, and innovation. They d...

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, I sit down with Chris Griffin, CEO of Hover, to explore how microgrids are revolutionizing the way we think about energy resilience and independence. Chris shares his journey from Wall Street to the clean energy sector and breaks down why Hover’s microgrid technology, built without reliance on government subsidies, is a game-changer. We disc...

In this episode of Green Disruptors: Scaling the Future, I sit down with Doug Golden, a 22-year veteran in the energy industry with experience spanning Reliant Energy, NRG, EVgo, and more. Doug dives into the unprecedented load growth utilities are facing due to EV adoption, manufacturing on-shoring, and the data demands of generative AI. We explore how integrating distributed energy resources (DE...

In this episode of Green Disrupters, host Megan Kjar sits down with Troy MacDonald, a seasoned energy project advisor and developer, to discuss the biggest challenges in getting green energy projects off the ground. Troy shares insights from his extensive experience in renewable energy finance, shedding light on why many projects fail and what developers can do to ensure their projects are investm...

In this episode of Green Disruptors Scaling the Future, host Megan Kerr delves into the intricacies of clean energy solutions with Abhinav Kashal, CEO of Zero Carbon One. Abhinav shares his extensive experience from the banking sector to startups and discusses the evolution of the startup ecosystem in India. The conversation explores the challenges and innovations in carbon accounting and the impo...

When a smart business owner sees a gap in the market, innovation follows. That’s exactly what happened with Cliff Hoinowsky, founder of Sunsign, who recognized the need for more visible and sustainable parking signs—and turned that insight into a game-changing green product. In this episode, we dive into: 🌞 How Sunsign is using solar technology to improve visibility and efficiency ♻️ The business...

In this episode of Green Disruptors, Megan Kjar speaks with Abdullah Choudhry, CIO and founder of Arbor, about the challenges businesses face in tracking their carbon footprint and how Arbor is innovating solutions to make sustainability more accessible and actionable. Abdullah shares his background, the unique selling proposition of Arbor, and the importance of building relationships within suppl...

Join us on Green Disruptors as host Megan Kjar explores the innovative journey of Usman Javaid, founder and CEO of Ricult, providing agriculture and financial inclusion in rural economies. Born in Pakistan, Usman's career shifted from selling fertilizers to pioneering digital financial platforms, like EasyPesa, which revolutionized how rural communities access banking without smartphones. His stor...