Rebby Bliss ’13
My Experience
My work at Karbone this summer focused on project finance analysis across renewable energy opportunities and project origination and client development in the wind and energy efficiency sectors. Through this project finance and origination work, I was able to support Karbone’s mission of increasing the adoption and implementation of renewable energy projects by providing clients with intelligence, capital and access to markets.
Throughout the summer, I originated over 350 MW of renewable energy projects and helped grow the company’s project pipeline for wind and energy efficiency projects. I utilized company best practices for client identification and management and supported the development and maintenance of key internal databases. I also completed projects for the renewable energy investment management arm of the company, Captona Partners, creating marketing and pitch material to support capital fundraising.
The specific project finance responsibilities consisted of evaluating renewable energy project opportunities and financing options for developers and investors, assessing project risks and returns and implications of market trends. I also worked with the research team to analyze investment scenarios and environmental risks of coal plant conversion options, including conversion to natural gas, biomass and the addition of carbon-driven enhanced oil recovery.
I consistently used the quantitative and qualitative skills gained during my MBA for all my assigned projects. I relied on quantitative skills from core MBA classes to improve my project finance analysis, evaluating cost benefit, risks and sensitivities. Research work also required a highly quantitative skillset and the ability to conduct an in-depth analysis of environmental market trends, regulatory impacts and pending changes. For an evaluation of coal plant conversion options, I had to investigate and use financial modeling skills to analyze potential investment scenarios.
The qualitative, client management and strategic networking skills I gained during my MBA and my previous work experience allowed me to excel in my project origination and business development role. I was able to apply structured ingenuity to the tasks of identifying viable renewable energy projects across North America and establishing and building client relationships from the ground up.
The challenges that I faced during the summer internship also provided great opportunities for learning. The challenge of identifying and assessing projects under uncertain future regulatory landscapes is one that was shared with client project developers and led me to be very systematic and comprehensive when analyzing sensitivities surrounding potential projects. The task of identifying promising projects with often-incomplete information forced me to establish strong relationships with developers and set mutual goals to move the project opportunities forward.
Other opportunities for growth and learning came from the start-up, high impact nature of the work and company. I worked across roles and teams throughout the summer and was given the opportunity to work across many aspects of the organization. The work I produced throughout the summer directly impacted the flow of business and I had the opportunity to rise to the challenge of actually bringing in meaningful business and building and maintaining client relationships.
I was able to take advantage of great learning opportunities during my summer internship in large part because I was well prepared by my first year at CBS and my previous work experience. I was able to contribute a level of work that directly impacted decisions at the company and was also fortunate to work directly with the CEO and participate in high-level internal strategy meetings.
Lessons of best practices in client management and business development were put directly to use, and over the course of the summer my level of responsibility and the range of projects I owned had continually been increased as my role within the company became more defined. I was able to quickly come up the learning curve and take on more than was initially outlined at the start of the internship and through this experience, I truly appreciated how an entrepreneurial and dynamic company culture can influence and motivate a team. Not only did I deepen my knowledge of the renewable energy industry, I also was able to establish my own role in the mission of supporting clients and identifying projects for greater adoption and implementation of renewable energy.
