Jan Rippingale's ambitions were never small. At an early age, Jan was looking first to be an astronaut, and then president. Ironically, working with John Glenn turned her ambitions away from this, and more towards using technology to create impact.

Her chosen area of impact was our escalating carbon footprint. And her solution was to develop software that reduces the cost and complexity of rolling out solar. Specifically, software that if deployed at scale has the proven potential to eliminate half a billion tons of carbon emissions per annum.

Some great lessons along the way. Some of my favourites:

• Her very practical way to assess the skills to focus her personal development on.
• The power of knowing your impact numbers in detail if you're to drive change.
• How giving away time and skill to large initiatives maximises impact and creates valuable contacts at a much higher level than you may otherwise access.
• That becoming the centre of gravity for the work she engaged in meant that success followed.
• Have fun, make money, create impact. In that order.

An amazing origin story also of how it was a vision with her daughter that triggered and empowered her to change course and tackle one of the world's biggest problems.

Fantastic episode. Enjoy.

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I host a weekly online workshop with CEOs of SMEs (10 to 100 employees approx) about scaling up, allowing them to step back and do more strategic work, and doing it in line with their values. Max 6 per session so we can have a real conversation.

If you'd like to join me, find a date that works for you here. They aren't charged for - you and I will both get value from the conversation.

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