Lynn Jurich: Leading Women in the Energy Business

Lynn Jurich is a woman entrepreneur who has made a significant contribution to the world of renewable energy. As the co-founder and CEO of Sunrun, she has helped to revolutionize the way people access and use solar power.

Jurich was born in 1979 and grew up in California. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies from Stanford University and her MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. After graduation, she worked as an analyst for Summit Partners, a private equity firm, where she gained experience in finance and investment.

In 2007, Jurich co-founded Sunrun along with Edward Fenster, a fellow Stanford graduate. Their vision was to make solar power accessible to everyone by offering affordable solar installation and financing options. The company’s innovative business model allows homeowners to lease solar panels rather than buying them outright, making solar power more affordable and accessible to a wider range of people.

Jurich’s leadership and entrepreneurial spirit have helped Sunrun grow into one of the largest residential solar companies in the United States. Under her guidance, the company has expanded its reach to 23 states and has installed solar panels on more than 400,000 homes. Sunrun has also become a leader in energy storage technology, offering customers the ability to store excess solar power for use during times of high demand or power outages.

Jurich’s success as an entrepreneur has not gone unnoticed. She has been named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business and Forbes’ Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. She has also received numerous awards for her contributions to the field of renewable energy, including the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leader award.

Jurich’s success as a woman entrepreneur is especially notable given the challenges that women often face in male-dominated fields. In an interview with Forbes, Jurich acknowledged the difficulties she has faced as a woman in the tech industry, saying, “I’m very aware of how few women there are in tech, how few women there are in energy, how few women there are in finance.”

Despite these challenges, Jurich has remained committed to her vision of making solar power accessible to everyone. She has also been an advocate for greater diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, saying, “It’s really important to have diverse perspectives at the table, and that means diversity in gender, diversity in race, diversity in backgrounds.”

Jurich’s contributions as a woman entrepreneur are a testament to the power of perseverance, vision, and innovation. She has not only built a successful company but has also helped to pave the way for other women entrepreneurs in the renewable energy and tech industries. Her leadership and dedication to sustainability have made a significant impact on the world, and her legacy is sure to inspire future generations of women entrepreneurs.