AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics - 327: Can Solar Really Power the Future? Breaking Myths and Building the Next Energy Revolution with Scott Wharton, Tandem PV CEO

327: Can Solar Really Power the Future? Breaking Myths and Building the Next Energy Revolution with Scott Wharton, Tandem PV CEO

03/17/25 • 32 min

AI and the Future of Work: Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace, Business, Ethics, HR, and IT for AI Enthusiasts, Leaders and Academics

Scott Wharton is a visionary entrepreneur and CEO making waves in the solar industry as the leader of Tandem PV, where he’s developing solar cells that are about 30% more efficient than current market options. Previously, he spent eight years at Logitech as a general manager, revolutionizing how businesses use consumer tech for productivity and collaboration. Before that, he was the CEO of Vidtel, which was acquired by Fidelity Investments in 2013. A bold thinker and risk-taker, Scott is known for his leadership and innovation across industries. He holds an MBA from Yale and a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University.

In this conversation, we discuss:

How solar energy has become the cheapest and most scalable power source —and why most people haven’t caught up to this reality.
The breakthrough potential of perovskite solar cells and why they’re set to replace silicon as the industry standard.
Why the U.S. must invest in solar manufacturing – and how bringing production back from China strengthens energy security.
The evolving synergy between solar and battery storage —how new advancements are making 24/7 renewable power a reality.
Common myths about solar’s limitations and why concerns about cost, reliability, and land use no longer hold up.
Scott’s journey from leading video conferencing at Logitech to revolutionizing the solar industry – and what motivated him to take on this challenge.

Resources:

In this conversation, we discuss:

How solar energy has become the cheapest and most scalable power source —and why most people haven’t caught up to this reality.
The breakthrough potential of perovskite solar cells and why they’re set to replace silicon as the industry standard.
Why the U.S. must invest in solar manufacturing – and how bringing production back from China strengthens energy security.
The evolving synergy between solar and battery storage —how new advancements are making 24/7 renewable power a reality.
Common myths about solar’s limitations and why concerns about cost, reliability, and land use no longer hold up.
Scott’s journey from leading video conferencing at Logitech to revolutionizing the solar industry – and what motivated him to take on this challenge.

Resources:

Previous Episode

326: The Startup Survival Guide—Avoiding Costly Mistakes, Scaling Smarter, and Planning Your Exit with Mona Sabet, SVP at GCG

Mona Sabet is the co-author of Sail to Scale: Steering Startups Clear of Mistakes from Launch to Exit and currently serves as SVP, Strategy, Projects, and Operations at GCG. With a track record of driving growth and strategic transformations, she has held executive roles at VulcanForms, UserTesting, and Cadence Design Systems. At UserTesting, she played a pivotal role in securing $100M in funding, leading acquisitions, taking the company public, and negotiating its $1.3B sale to Thoma Bravo. Beyond her corporate leadership, Mona is a passionate advocate for women in tech, law, and policy, having co-founded ChIPsNetwork.org and leading HiPower, a community dedicated to empowering executive women shaping the future of technology.

In this conversation, we discuss:

The critical mistakes startups make at different growth stages—Mona shares insights from Sail to Scale on why companies struggle to scale and how to avoid common pitfalls.
How founders should "fire themselves" to scale effectively—Why transitioning from founder to CEO requires a mindset shift, and the biggest mistakes leaders make in this process.
The AI bubble: hype vs. reality—Mona explains why overfunding in AI-first companies mirrors past tech bubbles and what it means for the future of the industry.
Why acquisitions should be a long-term strategy, not a last-minute decision—The importance of planning exits early and why companies that wait too long often fail to sell at the right valuation.
The evolving landscape of M&A and IPOs—How companies can differentiate themselves in a crowded market of late-stage startups waiting for an exit.
The unseen biases keeping women out of leadership—Mona’s perspective on why brand bias impacts diversity in tech and what leaders can do to create real change.

Resources:

Next Episode

328: Why Job Loyalty is Dead & How AI is Reshaping Work with Bryan Power, Nextdoor’s Head of People

How has the dynamic between employees and employers shifted over the past 18 months? And what does the future of work look like in a world defined by AI?

In this special live episode, recorded at Transform—the conference at the intersection of the People space and the tech industry—Dan Turchin sits down with Bryan Power, Head of People at Nextdoor.
Bryan took the stage at Transform to share insights on "The Power Shift: Navigating the New Employer-Employee Dynamic," where he explored how evolving expectations are reshaping the workforce.

Bryan has spent his career shaping workplace culture at some of the most iconic tech companies, including Google, Square, and Yahoo. Now, as the leader of People Operations at Nextdoor, he’s at the forefront of redefining work in an era of rapid change.

In this conversation, Bryan and Dan discuss topics such as:

How the employee-employer relationship is evolving—why job loyalty is declining and what it means for the future of work.
The rise of hybrid work and its impact on company culture—how Nextdoor navigates the balance between flexibility and connection.
Why culture must be intentional—lessons from Google, Square, Yahoo, and Nextdoor on shaping a workplace where people thrive.
The role of AI in HR and leadership—how AI is disrupting traditional people operations and what leaders must do to stay ahead.
Bryan’s biggest leadership lessons—what he’s learned from building teams at some of the most influential tech companies.
The future of HR in an AI-powered world—how the Chief People Officer role is shifting as AI and automation reshape the workplace.

Resources