Business Strategies for SMEs from the Solar Industry

Marisol Oropeza, a prominent figure in the solar industry, is recognised as an exceptional advocate for solar heating, renowned for her extensive knowledge and dynamic presence as a public speaker, moderator, and storyteller. Her influential collaborations span initiatives in accelerating the energy transition and advancing solar thermal technology, showcasing her as a highly-skilled professional with a creative mindset. She has cultivated a vast network of contacts in Germany, Europe, and Latin America. Marisol's academic background includes graduating with honors in Business Administration from UNAM, a Master's degree in European Studies from Hochschule Bremen, and additional studies in Strategic Marketing, Leadership, and Sustainable Development. She is business and marketing strategist for the solar industry with her own consulting brand: matters. Among her clients there are highly recognized companies and organizations in the solar industry. In addition, she has launched projects and is part of initiatives to increase the visibility of the solar thermal energy sector and technologies internationally. She has been a speaker and moderator in multiple specialized forums. She is founder of the Heat Changers community, responsible for the International Affairs Secretariat of the National Solar Energy Association (ANES) and advises on marketing and public relations to the Solar Heating Initiative, the Global Solar Certification Network and Intersolar Mexico.

Executive Director of REN21, the only global policy network of renewable energy actors from science, governments, NGOs and industry. She is also the chair of SLOCAT, an international multistakeholder partnership enabling knowledge and action for sustainable, low carbon transport. Rana comes from a background in private industry and applied research in the areas of renewable energy, energy access, waste management as well as waste to energy. With her cross-functional profile, she is championing pathways to a renewables-based world.

Founder and Director of AMERALI Group. In her 29 years, she has led the design and implementation of high-impact sustainable strategies for saving electricity and gas in companies and homes. She has trained distributors and integrators in sales in LATAM. In 2022 she was named as one of the 100 leaders in the energy sector by Petróleo & Energía magazine. She is vice-president of the Women in Energy Network (REDMEREE) and a member of Women Leaders of the Americas. Her purpose is to bring safe and affordable energy to all people.

Brad has twenty-five years of clean energy advocacy experience with state and national organizations in the U.S. He is the author of dozens of research reports written for policy campaigns across the country. He has led initiatives for limits on existing coal-fired power plants, low-emission vehicle standards, greenhouse gas reduction frameworks, renewable energy mandates, and many other clean energy policies. He has been in his current position for ten years, where he leads the policy work for California's customer-sited solar industry on net metering, rate design, interconnection standards, and other issues.

Viridiana Vázquez Guerrero as a founding partner of VA Energía Sustentable, she plays a crucial role in promoting renewables energies. She is the VP of Green Economy at Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Transformación (CANACINTRA), and actively participates in the Industrial Branch of Renewable Energy. Previously, she was General Manager of the Asociación Mexicana de Energía Solar Fotovoltaica (ASOLMEX) and General Director of (CANACINTRA) in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. In addition, she is the creator of ""Mujeres Transformando"" program, and has contributed to the development of the Centro Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo de Energías Alternativas (CRIDEA) through the Colegio de Chihuahua. She has a degree in International Relations from the Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, with a postgraduate degree in Administration, focused on Business Development and a specialization in Energy Law from the Escuela Libre de Derecho.