Solar Sales to Solar Scale: Growing Your Industry Influence

Two strategies can make this shift possible: building your personal brand and becoming a speaker at solar industry events. These tools work together to expand your influence and help you lead, not just follow, in this fast-paced market.

Why Industry Influence Matters

Solar is no longer a fringe market. As it becomes more mainstream, buyers are seeking trusted experts who can guide them through complex technologies, financial structures, and regulatory changes. Companies want leaders who do more than complete tasks. They want people who can represent their brand, bring in new ideas, and advocate for better solutions.

Your voice matters, especially if you have experience solving problems in the field, communicating across departments, or helping customers navigate solar adoption. The more you share what you know, the more valuable you become to your company, your peers, and the industry at large.

Step One: Build Your Personal Brand

Personal branding is not about self-promotion. It is about sharing what you do well and how you think about the challenges your customers or colleagues face. When done right, your personal brand becomes a magnet for new connections, partnerships, and opportunities.

1. Get Clear on Your Focus

Start by identifying your niche within solar. Ask yourself what part of your job excites you the most or where you bring something unique to the table.

Are you especially strong at working with local governments?

Do you help non-profits go solar?

Are you passionate about energy equity?

By narrowing your focus, you give people a reason to remember you. Generalists often get overlooked, while specialists are seen as go-to experts.

2. Post with Purpose

You do not need to become a content creator or influencer. A few thoughtful posts each month on LinkedIn or other industry platforms can help others understand who you are and what you care about.

Here are some ideas to get started:

• Share a success story from a recent project
• Comment on a new policy and explain what it means for your customers
• Post a photo from a site visit and describe what made it unique
• Ask a question that starts a conversation among peers

The key is to show up consistently and add value. Your posts should reflect your voice, your values, and your insights.

3. Polish Your Online Presence

Update your LinkedIn profile so it reflects your current goals and expertise. Use your headline to say more than just your job title. Try something like “Helping schools and cities finance smart solar solutions” instead of “Project Manager at XYZ Energy.”

If you have writing samples, presentations, or case studies, consider building a simple personal website or digital portfolio. This makes it easier to share your work when you apply to speak or collaborate.

Step Two: Speak at Industry Events

Speaking at events allows you to share your experience with a wider audience. It helps position you as a leader, not just within your company but across the entire solar sector.

1. Start Small and Grow

You do not need to headline a national conference right away. Look for smaller opportunities first. Local solar meetups, regional trade associations, or webinars hosted by vendors or partners can be excellent places to get started.

Offer to lead a session on something you know well. This could be a walkthrough of a complex permitting process, lessons learned from a tricky project, or ways to streamline operations in a specific market.

2. Craft a Strong Session Pitch

To get selected as a speaker, your topic needs to solve a real problem or answer a timely question. Keep your pitch focused, actionable, and relevant to the audience.

A strong pitch includes:

• A clear session title that explains the benefit
• A summary of what attendees will learn
• Your personal experience related to the topic

For example, instead of “Trends in Commercial Solar,” try “How Our Team Closed $5 Million in Commercial Solar Contracts Without Cold Calling.” This shows your topic is grounded in experience and offers real takeaways.

3. Maximize the Moment

Once you are accepted to speak, make the most of the opportunity. Promote your session beforehand on social media. Invite clients and colleagues to attend. After your presentation, share a quick recap online and thank the organizers. This helps you stay visible and builds momentum for future speaking roles.

You can also turn your session content into a short article, checklist, or video clip. Repurposing content extends its value and shows that you are invested in educating others.

Be Part of the Conversation

Not ready to present at a conference yet? There are other ways to get involved and grow your voice.

• Join a panel: You do not have to lead the session. Many events look for panelists who can share field experience or a customer-facing perspective.
• Pitch podcasts or newsletters: If you enjoy speaking but prefer a more relaxed format, reach out to solar podcasts or digital publications. Offer a story or case study that their listeners can learn from.
• Write a guest post: Industry blogs often welcome guest contributors. Share what you’ve learned in your role, especially if it relates to new markets, tech adoption, or team collaboration.

These smaller steps build your confidence and expand your reach. You can always scale up from here.

Keep Your Momentum Going

Whether you are aiming to become a thought leader or just want to open new doors in your career, building your influence is a long game. Focus on steady, intentional actions that reflect your strengths and values.

Here is how to keep growing:

• Stay informed and share your perspective
• Support others by commenting on or sharing their content
• Reach out to potential collaborators in your niche
• Keep refining your message as your experience deepens

Most importantly, stay true to your voice. You do not need to sound like everyone else to be respected. In fact, your authenticity is what will set you apart.

Final Thoughts

Moving from solar sales to solar scale is not about chasing fame. It is about making sure your work reaches the people who need it. By building your brand and stepping into speaking roles, you raise your professional profile and contribute to the collective progress of the industry.

Your experience has value. When you share it, you inspire others to learn, lead, and do better. That is how true influence is built—one conversation, one idea, and one connection at a time.

Natalie Connell