Reflection from Sayra Martinez: Exploring Energy Futures on the 2025 Career Trek

April 2025

February 27-28 marked the 2025 Energy in Emerging Career Trek to Washington, DC, organized by Duke’s Global Energy Access Network (GLEAN) and the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke (EAP). This two-day journey brought together a diverse mix of students from undergraduate and graduate programs, all united by their interest in energy and environmental policy.

Our first day began with an introduction to resources offered by EAP and GLEAN —initiatives committed to fostering sustainable solutions and building platforms for interdisciplinary collaboration. The keynote by Alix Zwane offered a deep dive into the future of energy policy careers, using the metaphor “cross the river by feeling the stones” to describe the non-linear path of scaling impactful projects. Alix emphasized the need to move beyond traditional methodologies and embrace innovative, risk-tolerant approaches given unprecedented disruption in the sector.

We then visited CrossBoundary, whose team introduced us to their innovative approaches to developing clean energy markets across diverse regions. Their comprehensive advisory services include market assessments, fund design, and post-investment planning, playing a pivotal role in connecting stakeholders. They showcased project examples like tariff modeling for Zambia’s renewable energy program and green hydrogen pathways in Mauritania.

Day two continued at the World Bank Headquarters, where experts introduced us to the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), the Hydrogen for Development Partnership (H4D), and to the WB’s Climate Finance Framework. ESMAP drives energy access improvements to underserved populations, while H4D accelerates low-carbon hydrogen deployment in developing countries.

Our journey then took us to RMI, where experts discussed the need to overcome market failures and demonstrate that alternative pathways require complementary infrastructure, regulation, and incentives. Back at Duke in DC, Kate Steel shared her journey into the energy sector, and the decisions she made in her career upon the realization that power crises sometimes are driven by policy gaps rather than technical issues. She explained how her experiences shaped Nithio, an analytics and capital vehicle launched in 2019, and how innovative methods, like machine learning, are used to address data gaps in energy access

The trek concluded with a panel of Duke alumni—Hannah Girardeau, Jide Olutoke, and Faraz Usmani. Their discussion touched on diverse topics, from the gender components of environmental projects to the impacts of policy decisions on rural communities and quantitative analyses. The alumni highlighted the importance of creative analytics and innovative methodologies in addressing the evolving funding landscape. Faraz, the co-founder of GLEAN, expressed pride in the growth of the organization and its initiatives like this career trek. The day wrapped with a networking mixer at Duke in DC.

This career trek was a call to think creatively, engage meaningfully, and navigate the complexities of the professional world with curiosity and resilience. These lessons and perspectives will undoubtedly serve students in the ever-evolving landscapes of energy policy and international development. Special thanks to Malaika Martis and Jessalyn Chuang for making this enriching experience possible.

Originally from Mexico, Sayra is a Master of International Development Policy Candidate at Duke University, interested in public finances, tax, energy and environmental policies, and sustainable development. She believes that there are tax policy options with the potential to promote climate mitigation or adaptation measures. Before starting her graduate studies, Sayra worked as a public servant in the Mexican Tax Administration Service and the Mexican Ministry of Finance (designing and implementing tax and customs policies). She completed a summer internship with the World Bank’s Business Ready Project, focusing on taxation indicators. In addition to her current studies, Sayra is a Research Assistant for the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke and an active member and treasurer of Duke University’s Sanford Latin America and Caribbean Student’s Association (SLAC).