In this inspiring and candid episode of Making It with Jess Ekstrom, Jess sits down with Carson Harkrader , CEO of Carolina Solar Energy, to talk about leading in a male-dominated industry and building a career with purpose. Carson shares her unexpected path from office manager to eight years at GE before joining the business her father founded. She opens up about why being the only woman in the room feels like an opportunity, how she moved beyond the pressure to know everything, and what it takes to earn trust in conversations about clean energy. Together, Jess and Carson explore family business dynamics, the power of listening, and why investing in yourself deserves the same attention you give your career.
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Episode Highlights
• The Only Woman in the Room: Carson shares how her upbringing shaped her confidence and why she sees her different perspective as an asset.
• Taking Over the Family Business: How a business school class helped Carson reconsider joining her dad’s company, and the experience she brought home from GE.
• Listening Before Persuading: From kitchen-table conversations to community meetings, Carson explains how understanding people’s actual concerns builds trust.
• Clean Energy Is Already Here: Carson breaks down her work in solar and the impact these projects can have on local communities.
• Letting Go of Knowing Everything: Why getting older has helped Carson release the pressure to have every answer.
• Redefining Making It at 50: After years of investing in her business, Carson shares why her next chapter is about bringing that same care to her inner life.
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