To reach global carbon-emission targets, all industries are pushing for electrification and clean energy solutions. This drives the demand for energy storage innovation, especially across transportation and the electrical grid industry sectors. Lithium-ion batteries are a key technology for energy storage in these industries because of their high energy density and steadily decreasing cost of production. Despite their advantages, challenges remain for adopting and implementing this cutting-edge technology in all steps of the supply chain, from resource extraction to battery design to recycling. In this talk, Jill discusses these challenges from the perspective of a battery researcher, and shares the latest solutions these industries are embracing to create a renewable energy future.

When people underestimate you, you can be overlooked for opportunities. People’s assumptions and apathy should not limit you. You are destined for more. Jill spent her education and early-career creating her own opportunities in order to learn leadership and scientific skills and grow professionally and personally. From creating organizations and businesses to building relationships, she learned how to self-coach and grow into an industry leader outside of the traditional path. Now, she works with brands like Ford as a Lead Talent and founded her consulting firm Pestana Solutions to advise on battery technology R+D as well as media consulting. Jill shares her insights for creating your own opportunities based on your strengths and unique talents so that you can carve your own path towards your personal definition of success.

Throughout her career in physics and engineering, Jill faced obstacles like bias and harassment. After her career was nearly derailed due to workplace abuse, she committed herself to helping others learn the essential skills and knowledge to avoid and navigate difficult situations involving bias, harassment, and discrimination at work and school. In this talk Jill shares how to recognize illegal behavior and how to use The Resilience Mindset and Reporting Framework, two processes she developed for coping with and navigating workplace bullying or harassment.

Traditional sales techniques for scientific and engineering equipment are fast becoming outdated as new forms of media evolve. Furthermore, as technology advances it becomes more interdisciplinary and complex. Scientists and engineers must quickly acquire new skills and knowledge to solve these interdisciplinary challenges. Jill shares how by selling through science communication and new media forms, you not only help customers build their knowledge, but also connect their problem to your solution. Her expertise in science communication, research and development, and scientific equipment operation give her insights into best practices for mutually beneficial business relationship-building for sales success.

With the need for creativity and innovation across industries, organizational leadership must learn how to maximize their team potential by expressing their team’s talent. Jill shares insights from her leadership experience and research-backed techniques so that managers can immediately take action to bring out the best in their teams while professionally handling conflict resolution. (This talk was developed as an elective course for the University of California, Irvine's Management Beyond the Classroom (MBC) certificate program.)