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We care a lot about “impact” at Arcadia. Broadly, through our work, we’re striving to have a real impact on climate change. More specifically, we’re hoping to have an impact on people’s lives by making it easy for consumers to choose clean energy. As Senior Vice President, People & Impact, my mandate is to make a meaningful impact on our organization. When our employees thrive, Arcadia can have a tremendously positive ripple effect on the lives of our members and our planet.

I joined Arcadia for the compelling mission and opportunity to work with a diverse senior leadership team. Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work in several functions across media, tech, finance, and nonprofit organizations. While those may seem like vastly different fields from clean energy, the opportunities and challenges of developing talent, allocating resources, and building successful organizations is quite similar.

We know that a diverse and inclusive workforce will create better products for the whole population; climate change affects us all.

Arcadia appealed to my entrepreneurial side. Just over a year ago, the company had around 40 employees. Today, it has 100 and is hiring thoughtfully for dozens more roles. This era of growth creates opportunities to add light, modern processes that should allow the company to remain operationally nimble but also nurture a culture that attracts and retains a diverse mix of mission-driven employees.

In my first eight months, I’ve led some transformational team projects. For example, we rolled out a comprehensive and inclusive benefits program to support our employees across life stages. We know that a diverse and inclusive workforce will create better products for the whole population; climate change affects us all. We’ve also moved to a beautiful new office that we worked with Gensler to design. Our D.C. office features spaces for individual and collaborative work, spaces for social engagement and quiet retreat, three terraces, a gym and bike room, a meditation room, a new parents room, and professional composting. The natural light and opportunity to work inside and out helps us live our values, support each other’s wellbeing, and ties us closer to the company’s mission.

Employee Spotlight

This summer, I strengthened my team by adding leaders in Talent Acquisition and Development as well as Workplace. You’ll hear from some of them and others here over the coming months. Currently, I’m working to simplify some operational elements that will help us immensely as the company grows.

In the early days of a start-up company, everything you do is new and small-scale. Most every action is a “one-off”. You hire a new team member here. You give an employee performance review there. As a company grows, these tasks can become time-consuming and inefficient on a one-off basis. For example, thus far we’ve conducted a salary review in advance of each employee’s work anniversary, which sounds fine in theory but in practice now means I’m reviewing compensation ~100 times a year. Anniversary-based comp reviews don’t scale, but they’re also not uncommon at this stage of company development. So we’re moving to a focal compensation review process in the new year, which will also align with our value to ensure that compensation is based on specific job responsibilities and not biased by factors unrelated to level and performance.

As I reflect on our company, I’m proud of what we’ve built collectively. Diversity is in our DNA, from our senior executives to our newest team members.

As I reflect on our company, I’m proud of what we’ve built collectively. Diversity is in our DNA, from our senior executives to our newest team members. I work with people from a plurality of identities, backgrounds, and experiences. Our differences and similarities make us a stronger company. After all, we are making products to benefit everyone, and it would feel disingenuous to build a company that doesn’t include broad representation from everyone.

While most of my work these days focuses on how we scale, over the next several months, I’ll also oversee our Brand & Communications team, and part of my attention will be right here, on the Arcadia Blog. Just as I want everyone within our company to feel comfortable, considered, and inspired, I want the same for our members. We hope our blog, email, and social content will help make that happen. Think of this blog as a resource, where you can feel seen by and connected to others who share your concern for our planet.

Climate change is real. At times we might feel impotent to stop such large environmental forces. But we’re not. So join us here, or on facebook, twitter, instagram, and linkedin to read insights on how to reduce your environmental impact (like diminishing plastic use in your wardrobe), to get inspired by our community members (like Zeb), or to learn about career opportunities at Arcadia. Did I mention, we’re hiring? Come make an impact with us and change the future of energy.

Alexis Juneja

Alexis Juneja is the Senior Vice President, People & Impact at Arcadia. Follow her on twitter at @lexjuneja.

Washington, DC