Simple as Sunshine: Disrupting the Energy Industry with Michael Chanin
Simple as Sunshine: A CEO's Playbook for Disrupting the Energy Market
Welcome to Season 4, Episode 7 of Better Than We Found It, the go-to podcast for sustainable leadership and purpose-driven business practices.
Today, we're joined by Michael Chanin, founder and CEO of Cherry Street Energy, the largest non-utility renewable energy provider in Georgia.
Michael's journey is one of conviction, meeting opportunities from studying human rights at the University of Cambridge to high-stakes finance at Goldman Sachs during the financial crisis, his path took an unexpected turn during a casual Friday lunch.
A conversation about a change in state law opened his eyes to a market opportunity, and he went home that same day to start a power company.
In this episode, we explore:
- How a single moment of insight during "Fried Chicken Friday" led to founding Cherry Street Energy
- The audacity required to challenge a century-old energy monopoly
- Building a business at the intersection of purpose and profit—not doing good as a byproduct, but as the core
- The power of making complex solutions "simple as sunshine" for customers
- Why behavioral traits trump technical skills when building a high-performing team
- Navigating political headwinds while staying true to a mission
- Creating a 100-year business focused on enduring value
Michael shares invaluable lessons on leveraging privilege responsibly, the importance of asking for what you want, and why the best leaders are storytellers who can take complexity and make it accessible.
If you're an entrepreneur, energy professional, or anyone interested in building purpose-driven businesses that create lasting impact, this episode is essential listening.
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
Available on all your usual broadcasting streams:
- Apple
- YouTube
- Spotify
This podcast is brought to you by GS2 Partnership, the recruitment partner for ambitious, impact-led teams across energy, finance, and the built environment.