Glen Rothquel works in Sydney. He is the CEO of “Todae Solar”, one of the largest commercial solar companies in Australia. The business has been in operation since 2003. However, commercial solar has only started to be a business since 2012.

Glen has an investment banking background and is a serial entrepreneur. He has bought, sold or invested in more than 16 different businesses.

The business of commercial solar in Australia is only just starting to pick up momentum. Large corporates are starting to roll out a solar solution as part of their assets.

Glen is passionate about sustainability. Taking solar to the market is just one aspect of this. Glen’s business interest also lies in LED lighting and energy efficiency solutions for clients. It is about saving business costs and saving the planet.

The recent change with people working from home and away from the office works well for his business. He can see a time in the future when his team will come to the office 1 to 3 days per week. However, full time back at the office is not necessary.

The leadership role now involves regular team meetings: Daily, weekly, monthly. The frequency depends on the need and the employee function. Glen’s business will always have a hybrid workforce. Some of the team have to install solutions for clients.

The blurring of the personal life of staff and the business life makes leadership a little more complicated. Some staff are struggling with separating home and work. Children not being able to go to school has complicated this.

For young graduates, Glen’s advice is for graduates to get into an internship. It is a very competitive environment. There are not many places available. Work hard and prove yourself with the view of being offered a permanent placement. It is tough to land a role after graduation with no industry experience. Once an internship is secured, then experienced mentors and coaches help the intern get valuable experience.