871: 10 Years Later - Adam James on Building Teams, Time & Impact

This episode marks ten years of SunCast - and the return of its very first guest.

In 2015, a young GTM Research analyst named Adam James joined host Nico Johnson for the debut episode exploring the rise of solar in Latin America.

A decade later, Adam is a Partner at Energy Impact Partners and Chair of the Clean Energy Leadership Institute (CELI). Together, he and Nico reflect on how far both they—and the clean energy industry—have come.

This isn’t just a reunion; it’s a conversation about how work, leadership, and life evolve over time. Adam shares what he’s learned about managing people, building systems that scale, and staying grounded through seasons of growth and fatherhood.

They explore:

🔹 What it takes to build great teams and sustainable systems inside fast-growing organizations

🔹 How to hire for responsibility, not just experience

🔹 The lessons fatherhood teaches about leadership and presence

🔹 Why consistency—and showing up—is the real differentiator in both parenting and management

Whether you’ve been listening since that first episode or you’re just discovering SunCast today, this 10-year anniversary conversation captures the heart of what the show has always been about: how we grow—personally, professionally, and collectively—in the work of powering a better future.

Are there other technologies you’ve scouted on the frontlines of the Clean Energy Revolution that you think we should be covering here on SunCast?

Hit us up - [email protected] with your feedback & recommendations.

Check out OpenSolar OS 3.0 at: https://suncast.media/opensolar

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to their contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://suncast.media/episodes/.

Our Platinum Presenting Sponsor for SunCast is CPS America!

SunCast is also sponsored by Nextpower!

You can learn more about all the sponsors who help make this show free for you at www.suncast.media/sponsors.

Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 875 other founder stories and startup advice at www.suncast.media.

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You can connect with me, Nico Johnson, on:

Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/nicomeo

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickalus