During my summer at OpenGrid Technologies, a start‑up deploying battery‑integrated EV charging stations in underserved communities, I worked on initiatives to accelerate deployment and support equity in clean transportation. I coordinated permitting across multiple jurisdictions, tracked vendor communication, managed installation timelines, and refined internal systems and standard operating procedures. I built a dynamic pipeline tracker that allowed the team to monitor the status of projects, created investor‑reporting templates for funders like the gener8tor Sustainability Accelerator, and conducted demographic and environmental research to prioritize future sites. These contributions directly supported OpenGrid’s mission to reduce the time and cost of charger deployment and bring affordable EV charging to low‑income neighbourhoods.

My Columbia MBA training equipped me for the challenges of this role. Courses in operations strategy and data‑driven decision‑making helped me streamline workflows for permitting, vendor management, and installation tracking. Social enterprise and climate finance electives provided frameworks for evaluating the social return on infrastructure investments and ensuring site selection reflected both environmental and equity considerations. Business communication classes guided the creation of dashboards and reports that align stakeholders.

Navigating complex permitting processes across cities and utilities was challenging. Each jurisdiction has unique requirements, making standardisation difficult. To address this, I developed a flexible tracking system that could be customized by region. Balancing the need for rapid deployment with community engagement was another challenge; battery‑buffered chargers reduce reliance on grid upgrades, but earning community trust still takes time. Finally, operating in a lean start‑up meant juggling operations, research, and strategic planning, requiring adaptability and prioritisation.

This internship reshaped my perspective on climate infrastructure. I witnessed structural barriers to clean mobility and the importance of local partnerships, trust, and policy alignment. I strengthened my skills in operations and investor communication and realised how much I enjoy building from the ground up in mission‑driven environments. I am committed to pursuing roles that combine climate, equity, and innovation.