A Pitch That Changed Everything
Brendan Pierce's (MSES ‘23) path to a future in clean energy began in the most unlikely of places – the baseball field.
When Brendan Pierce (MSES '23) stepped onto a baseball field at Trinity College in Connecticut in 2014, he never imagined it would lead him to the forefront of the clean-energy revolution.
Yet a chance reconnection set him on an unexpected path. Today, Pierce is director of sustainability at Budderfly — one of the fastest growing energy-as-a-service companies in the United States — where a fellow Trinity College baseball player is founder and CEO.
“We got reconnected," Pierce said, "and he said, ‘Hey, I’ve got this startup company. I need a young, hungry sales person to come in and start to drive some new customer activity for us.’”
A Career Debut
Pierce joined Budderfly as a sales support specialist in 2019. His journey from the baseball diamond to the energy-efficiency sector is a testament to the power of networking, education, and a willingness to step up to the plate in unfamiliar territory.
“At that point, I knew what a light bulb was, but I didn't know what an LED light was," Pierce said. "I didn't know what a smart thermostat was.”
He started to learn more about energy efficiency, and the more he learned, the more interested he got in the energy sector. That's ultimately what led him to Northwestern's Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability (MSES) program. MSES is jointly offered by Northwestern Engineering and the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy.
The program, Pierce found, was the perfect bridge between his sales experience and his growing interest in the technical aspects of energy projects.
“I was really starting to get interested in how the sausage is made on the back end, how these projects actually are executed,” he said. “I saw MSES as an opportunity to not only further my education and my skill set but also learn more broadly about clean energy and sustainability outside of my niche.”
Called up to the Majors
Returning to Budderfly after MSES, Pierce now leads initiatives that go beyond traditional energy efficiency measures. His team is expanding into onsite solar generation, battery energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging, and electrification.
“It’s just really fun to work on things that are not only new for us as a business but are new in the clean-energy industry overall,” Pierce said. “It requires a level of creativity and nimbleness, and I really enjoy trying to create something from scratch.”
The MSES program equipped Pierce with a holistic understanding of the energy sector, including finance, technology, and policy. This interdisciplinary approach has proven invaluable in his current role post-graduation.
Pierce's work extends beyond project management. He is also spearheading Budderfly's ESG reporting efforts, a crucial task following the company's acquisition by a private equity firm in 2022.
A Long Season
The rapidly evolving nature of the sustainability field keeps Pierce motivated and engaged. He said thanks to MSES, he sees the challenges as opportunities for innovation and growth.
“If you look at sustainability and energy in general, there is probably no other industry that is having as much change,” Pierce said. “That leads to so many opportunities.”
As he continues to navigate the complexities of the clean energy transition, Pierce remains grateful for the foundation set by his MSES education.
His journey from a novice in energy efficiency to a leader in sustainability showcases how seemingly random encounters completely unrelated to the professional world can sometimes alter the course of a career.
It also speaks to the power of remaining open to new opportunities and hard work, he said.
“When it comes to energy and sustainability, you can’t get too caught up in short-term gratification. You’ve got to commit to it for the long term and know that there are a lot of hurdles to overcome," Pierce said. "That should keep anybody who cares about the industry motivated.”