This Week in Solar: Aaron sits down with Abby Hopper, the outgoing President and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). Hopper reflects on her legislative victories, the radical shift in leadership style she brought to SEIA, and spills the beans on what she’s doing next.
Hopper reflects on her nine years leading SEIA, a period of extraordinary growth and change for both the organization and the solar industry as a whole. During her tenure, SEIA tripled in size, played a critical role in securing votes for the historic Inflation Reduction Act, and evolved into a more open and people-centered workplace.
One of Hopper’s most lasting impacts was the leadership culture she helped build inside SEIA. She cultivated an environment where “scrappiness” meets well-being, introducing policies like mandatory rest weeks to reduce burnout and encouraging employees to bring their full selves to work. Many who worked alongside her say that Hopper will be sorely missed.
Throughout the conversation, Hopper argues that the solar industry’s greatest strength is its ability to adapt. Constant iteration, creative problem-solving, and resilience, she argues, are what allow solar to keep moving forward even in the face of policy uncertainty and rapid change. She emphasizes that strong leadership starts with treating employees as real people, not just “workers”.
Hopper also discusses her approach to communication, including her use of LinkedIn as a space for honest storytelling rather than corporate broadcasting. That strategy helped her grow her following from 30,000 to 70,000 in under two years and allowed her to connect more meaningfully with people across the industry.
For those new to the solar sector, Hopper offers practical advice on navigating what can initially feel like an insular community. She emphasizes that finding your people within the industry, whether through specific subgroups or shared values, is crucial for the health of our industry as a whole. She also pushes back against transactional networking, urging professionals to have genuine conversations about interests outside of work rather than just assessing utility.
Finally, Hopper opens up about her personal transition and what comes next as she steps away from her role at SEIA.
Quotes From the Episode
“I believe in my soul that in order to be highly effective and deeply impactful, we need to be connected to the people around us.”
– Abby Hopper
“I’ve never met a more scrappy industry. We’re constantly being challenged, and we constantly keep coming up with new iterations and new ways to get our work done.”
– Abby Hopper
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