Episode 681

681: Nextracker’s secret marketing strategy is hard to copy, Kristan Kirsh

Published on: 8th March, 2024

How did Nextracker become the leading solar tracker manufacturer in the world in 10 years, and what was the secret sauce of one of the most successful IPO’s of 2023?  We finally have Nextracker’s Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kristan Kirsh, on the show sharing her journey of helping elevate Nextracker from 400 Megawatts to 90 Gigawatts in shipped solar trackers.

With Kirsh running marketing since 2015, Nextracker has not only navigated its landmark public offering but has also cemented its status as an industry icon. This episode delves into the strategic layers of her successful marketing prowess that has served as exemplar within the solar sector, offering listeners a chance to explore:

  • The creation of a customer-centric culture that goes beyond listening to actively incorporate feedback into both product development and marketing strategies.
  • The use of storytelling to make complex technological solutions relatable and captivating in a way that’s meaningful to the audience.
  • The importance of diversity and inclusion in fostering a creative and robust marketing team, and how to encourage diversity and inclusion at a high level.
  • Strategies for managing significant milestones, from tactically naming products to dealing with multiple stakeholders in the IPO process.
  • Nextracker's philanthropy, supporting nonprofits like Green Empowerment with small-scale solar projects in Africa and Latin America.

This interview with Kristan Kirsch demonstrates the power of strategic marketing, cultural and global diversity, and truly empowering others to elevate the industry.  And we had the honor of bringing it to you live in-person from the comfort of Kristan’s Bay Area living room! (so, definitely tune in on Youtube and watch!)

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

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SunCast is proudly supported by Trina Solar.

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Remember, you can always find resources, learn more about today’s guest and explore recommendations, book links, and more than 730 other founder stories and startup advice at www.mysuncast.com.

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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

Mentioned in this episode:

CPS July 2024 V2

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About the Podcast

SunCast
Your resource for developing a clean energy or climate tech career
Nico Johnson takes you into conversations with those at the forefront of Renewable Energy.

SunCast gives an inside look into what is happening in renewable energy. From conversations with the biggest Solar Panel manufacturers in the world to the small startups creating the future of renewable energy, such as carbon capture and battery technology breakthroughs.

SunCast is dedicated to providing the knowledge, research, tools and expert guidance you need to understand, grow and be ahead of the curve in the fastest-growing markets in the world.

Featuring over 600 conversations, Nico has interviewed people from Tesla, SolarCity, Trina Solar, Meyer Burger, Conergy, SunEdison, Energy Vault and even the US Government... to name a few. Covering topics such as Solar Power, Wind Energy, Batteries, Electric Vehicles, Carbon Capture, Finance, Hydrogen, and more.

You can watch SunCast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SunCastMedia

...or view the full archive of SunCast episodes here: https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes