This summer at SolarKal, I led a strategic project focused on driving the company's growth from $2M to $5M in revenue. My responsibilities included working on corporate strategy and development, with a particular emphasis on competitor analysis, competitive positioning, and growth strategy. I conducted extensive research on the importance of technology investments, especially in comparison to competitors like Lumen and Station A, and gathered critical insights from sales, marketing, and partnerships to support my recommendations. I provided actionable strategies to enhance top-of-the-funnel activities and optimize business development practices, which are essential for scaling the business. This project was closely aligned with SolarKal's mission to become the leading solar brokerage firm by leveraging innovative technology and strategic growth initiatives to deliver superior outcomes for clients and partners. My work contributed directly to positioning SolarKal for sustained growth and competitive advantage in the industry, considering solar is now the cheapest source of new energy and there's a huge greenfield opportunity.

During my internship at SolarKal, I applied several key skillsets from my MBA to drive impactful results. My coursework in Strategy Formulation and Economics of Strategic Behavior equipped me to thoroughly evaluate SolarKal’s market positioning and identify growth opportunities, while understanding SolarKal's basis of competition. I leveraged my knowledge of financial modeling and strategic planning from Corporate Finance and Valuations to assess potential technology investments and their ROI, which was crucial in building a strong case for scaling the company from $2M to $5M. Additionally, my coursework in Marketing helped me analyze top-of-the-funnel activities and recommend strategies to enhance lead generation and client acquisition. I also utilized my leadership and project management skills from working with my learning team to collaborate with cross-functional teams, gather insights, and present my findings to senior management, ensuring that my recommendations were aligned with the company’s mission and strategic goals. This holistic application of MBA skills allowed me to contribute meaningfully to SolarKal’s growth strategy.

One of the main challenges I faced was having complete autonomy in a new industry that I had just begun to learn. Navigating the solar brokerage sector required me to quickly gain a deep understanding of the market dynamics, industry trends, and key players. Evaluating competitors in a space that is not yet fully established was particularly challenging as well because most of the competitors are private, making it difficult to find public information. The lack of clear benchmarks, combined with the scarcity of publicly available data, meant that I had to rely on creative problem-solving and leverage insights from adjacent industries to build a comprehensive analysis. Despite these challenges, I was able to adapt quickly, applying my analytical skills and strategic thinking to provide valuable recommendations that aligned with SolarKal’s growth objectives.

My experience at SolarKal has been incredibly rewarding and has significantly shaped my professional goals. One of the key takeaways is the importance of thinking entrepreneurially, a mindset that was encouraged and nurtured by the CEO, Yaniv, who took a genuine interest in supporting my entrepreneurial endeavors. This experience reinforced my desire to eventually start my own company and provided me with invaluable insights into what it takes to scale a business in a competitive and rapidly evolving industry. I learned the importance of strategic thinking, adaptability, and the need to constantly innovate to stay ahead in the market. The autonomy I was given allowed me to develop confidence in my ability to make high-impact decisions, even in a new and complex industry. This experience has not only deepened my knowledge but also solidified my commitment to pursuing an entrepreneurial path in the future.