I’ve long been interested in the intersection of emerging technologies and business, particularly in renewable energy—and later, digital media. I also appreciate the often underestimated role of the ‘first (or early) follower’—joining purpose-driven initiatives once they have attained a certain practical validation. My professional path has taken me from a consultant with McKinsey to managing the world’s largest solar cell manufacturing production, then the operations of a Sequoia Capital-backed thin-film solar startup, a global specialty paper champion and now to Ecosia, Europe’s largest search engine, which dedicates all its profits to climate action. At Ecosia, I have the unique opportunity to both reflect on and actively engage with some of the world’s most pressing issues: biodiversity loss, the energy transition, and the defense of democracy against autocratic threats.