Empowering Future Women Leaders Through Sustainable Startups

Confronting gender disparities in energy requires connecting students with successful women founders and bridging the gap between academic learning and professional development.
On November 21, Columbia Women in Energy (WIE), an initiative of SIPA’s Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP), convened a workshop, “Careers in Sustainable Startups” to hear from women who have successfully begun a business in the sustainability space. Hosted at the Midtown offices of Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, a leading law firm with a specialty in energy, the event showcased the program’s commitment to fostering leadership among emerging professionals while addressing the critical intersection of sustainability and entrepreneurship.
Elina Teplinsky, a partner at the host law firm, shared valuable insights on best practices for startup founders, adding a practical legal perspective to the discussion, while Alexandra Maguire Goldstein explained the challenges as a two-time founder in the energy space. Naomi Zimmerman, a venture capital analyst at green energy investment firm CREADEV, described what it takes to secure funding as an up-and-coming entrepreneur, while Sunaina Pai Ocalan presented her professional journey from engineering to a Fortune 500 company as senior director of corporate strategy and climate change at Hess Corporation.
The event was part of WIE’s Take Mic, Take Action initiative, which teaches students practical strategies to facilitate dialogue on all things energy, including public speaking and facilitation.
“The Take Mic, Take Action workshop was a very rewarding experience,” said Neeti Sabnani, MPA ’25, who moderated the panel. “We learned the best practices of public speaking and moderation, and I appreciated how the smallest of details from eye contact to event preparation were addressed.”
By combining practical skills training through initiatives like Take Mic, Take Action with real-world networking opportunities, Women in Energy helps prepare the next generation of energy sector leaders. Beyond the immediate benefits of public-speaking training, the event served as a networking platform for aspiring professionals.
“This was also a great opportunity for me to network with and learn from distinguished women within the energy sector and build a deeper connection with them,” Sabnani said.