GreenTech Sage

GreenPoint Ventures founder Stefan Pagacik inspired me when he shared his motivation for starting the business with members of Green Group Boston. Stefan assisted GGB members in crystallizing their sustainability concepts into action plans. He encourages people to be active stakeholders in their communities – on any project and by whatever path compels them. Through this involvement, each discovers his or her personal focus. They identify how and where they can contribute.

In just a few minutes interacting with Stefan, Green Group Boston participant Reem Yared identified a clearer path to improve water treatment and achieve it cost-effectively. She now has a specific action plan to lead the project and engage key industry and government stakeholders. I’m confident she’ll make it happen.

Stefan speaks passionately about halting beach erosion and preserving the coastal waters off Manomet near Plymouth, Massachusetts, which in turn will protect human health by restoring the natural food chain. Blending facts with anecdotes about recent odd behaviors of whales and seals, he educates listeners to observe their environment and assess their individual paths to stewardship.

His beach erosion example contrasts the level of community concern now versus two years ago. Then, 60 residents participated in the Manomet Beach Preservation Project; now 600 people are engaged from all political persuasions.

At GreenPoint Ventures, Stefan and his colleagues focus in three areas: healthy food, clean water and clean power. He leads with vision, activates each cleantech business initiative and connects the stakeholders through a process he calls the interconnected coalition model. Individual stakeholders work together wherever they identify or anticipate synergies among their initiatives. These collaborations accelerate both individual initiatives and overall progress due to the contributions of each person and organization.

Using a Socratic style Stefan helps people open their eyes to the path toward progress. The questions help participants discover their own ideas for what they can do today that will drive progress toward their sustainability goals. He encourages deeper analysis by asking which audience has the pain, e.g., the business need; then asks what causes that pain, and how can it be resolved. Like any coaching process, this results in specific, actionable plans. Equally important, the project is infused with personal passion.

Filed under: Cleantech, Sustainability