We sat down with trailblazing leaders to learn about what they do, how they measure success, and what it means to be a leader today. Vienna Zhou is the Founder and CEO of TROES Corp., a Canadian-based, Advanced Battery Energy Storage company, specializing in Intelligent Distributed Energy Storage solutions. Read more interviews in this series here.
Why is now the time for your company to exist?
Storing energy, especially in the form of electricity, is incredibly important. Stored energy can be moved over time, instead of being consumed the instant it is produced, which can smooth energy demand (enabling efficient power generation) and integrate renewable power generation (solar, wind, biomass) into the overall grid. Battery Energy Storage Systems are the most economical way to store electricity, especially at the customer level. 2017 was a turning point for this industry, when costs for Battery Energy Storage costs fell far enough that business cases could be made for its use.
How do you measure success?
We measure success on the number of systems deployed and the number of megawatts of energy capacity those systems can hold. Financial success in terms of revenue and profit follows from that. For projects, we define success as being on time, on budget, and on quality. We also measure success on our employee satisfaction and turnover. If our employees are happy and stay with us from year-to-year, then we are successful.
What does it mean to be a leader today?
The world today is probably more fragmented than at any time since the industrial age began. We are seeing the emergence of the idea that each person must be treated in a special way. Being a leader today means being able to meet all the special needs of each of your team while delivering for the customer. ventureLAB is a leading technology hub located in Markham in York Region, Canada’s second largest tech cluster. Through programs focused on capital, talent, technology, and customers, ventureLAB has supported over 2,000 tech companies and entrepreneurs, including 100 companies that have raised over $100 million and created 3,500 jobs. At ventureLAB, we grow globally competitive tech titans that build-to-scale in Canada.Want access to our tailored programming, advisory network, and exclusive funding opportunities? Apply to work with us.
