Unstoppable Stories - Anagha Acharya, Hydrogen Optimized

Summary

Anagha Acharya from Hydrogen Optimized discusses the potential of hydrogen in decarbonizing industries like ammonia and steel, aiming to improve air quality and reduce climate change impacts. She shares her journey from considering bioengineering to focusing on industrial emissions reduction for a greater impact. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, she appreciates the diversity and collective goal of her team, which she believes drives innovation. Acharya views failure as a stepping stone, embodying the 'unstoppable' spirit that seeks solutions to any problem.

Takeaways

• 🌿 Anagha Acharya works at Hydrogen Optimized, focusing on decarbonization solutions.
• 🚀 The company specializes in large-scale chemical plants to decarbonize industries like ammonia and steel production.
• 🌍 Hydrogen Optimized aims to expand its decarbonization efforts to other industries, including shipping and transport.
• 🧬 Anagha develops catalyst coatings for oxygen and hydrogen production through water splitting.
• 💨 Growing up in a city with poor air quality, Anagha appreciates the clean air in Ontario, where 80% of energy comes from green sources.
• 🌳 She envisions a future where everyone can breathe clean air and live in an environmentally friendly world.
• 🔬 Initially considering bioengineering, Anagha pivoted to focus on industrial processes to make a larger environmental impact.
• 👥 Being a woman in the industry, she finds the environment has become more diverse and inclusive over the years.
• 🤝 Anagha values the diverse perspectives on her team, which she believes are crucial for problem-solving and innovation.
• 💪 She defines being unstoppable as the ability to face any problem with the confidence that there is a solution.
• 🔄 Anagha embraces failure as a part of growth, using it as a stepping stone to find new opportunities and move forward.

Q & A

What is Anagha Acharya's profession and what company does she work for?

Anagha Acharya works at Hydrogen Optimized, where she develops catalyst coatings for the production of oxygen and hydrogen by splitting water.

How does Anagha describe the role of hydrogen in addressing climate change?

Anagha Acharya describes hydrogen as one of the most versatile solutions to decarbonization and limiting the effects of climate change.

Which industries is Hydrogen Optimized initially focusing on to decarbonize?

Hydrogen Optimized is initially focusing on decarbonizing industries such as ammonia and steel production.

What is Hydrogen Optimized's long-term goal regarding decarbonization?

Hydrogen Optimized's long-term goal is to eventually move on to decarbonizing other industries such as shipping and transport.

What was Anagha's initial plan when she entered university?

Anagha initially planned to go into bioengineering when she entered university.

How did Anagha's career focus shift from bioengineering to industry decarbonization?

Anagha realized that changing how industry worked and limiting emissions and waste would have a bigger impact, leading to her focus on industry decarbonization.

What is Anagha's perspective on being a woman in the industry of decarbonization?

Anagha finds it interesting and notes that the environment and atmosphere have changed significantly compared to 10 to 20 years ago, with a more diverse team in terms of ethnicity and gender.

How does Anagha view the importance of diverse perspectives in her team?

Anagha believes that varied perspectives help the team move forward in addressing problems and finding solutions.

What does Anagha think about the concept of being unstoppable?

Anagha views being unstoppable as the ability to look at any problem and believe there is a solution, using failures as stepping stones to open new doors.

How does Anagha handle failures in her work?

Anagha does not see failures as embarrassing but rather as opportunities where one door closes and another opens, motivating her to find ways to move forward.

What is Anagha's dream for the future regarding air quality?

Anagha dreams of a future where everyone can breathe clean air, inspired by her experience living in Ontario where 80% of energy sources are green.