LED Alumni Spotlight: Adrian Katzew, Honours Economics (1998)

Adrian Katzew (Honours Economics, 1998) joined Laurier after coming here on exchange from Mexico.  He has dedicated his career to renewable energies.  After graduating from Laurier he went on to work in consulting, completed an MBA at Harvard Business School, and has had a career in consulting, banking, infrastructure finance and in particular the development, financing and construction of sustainable energy infrastructure. Outside of work, he has a lovely family, his main source of joy and meaning.  He enjoys traveling with his family.

Why did you choose to study economics at Laurier?

Laurier had an exchange program with the university I was attending at the time in Mexico, ITAM.  I experienced a semester at Laurier and I appreciated very much the business focus of the program as the university I was in Mexico was much more focused on macroeconomics.  Also, life on campus was outstanding and Waterloo was a great university town.  So I decided to stay and finish my degree at Laurier.

What advice would you have for students starting out in Economics?

The world is changing very fast, mainly as a consequence of technology. This can result in significant challenges, but also major opportunities.  In order to be able to access such opportunities it’s instrumental to develop the skills and understanding that allow you to anticipate what shifts will happen, and position yourself to be of value in the future.  A strong education in economics is a very valuable foundation to develop the understanding of how markets and industries will evolve, and how to create and capture value.

Was there anything you learned that you didn’t expect to be useful later on but that was? (or vice versa)?

In other countries, when you go to university, you only study about your field of specialisation; but in Canada there is a dimension of general studies that was very rich for me as an experience, and I really enjoyed that.  I took classes in photography, which is still is a close hobby, and also I remember classes in anthropology which broadened my perspective about people.  I still remember learning theories about the relevance of tattoos in our society, as a means for people to differentiate themselves and gain a sense of identity.

What are you working on currently, and what do you find most exciting about it?

At the moment I am bringing to financial close two very large solar power and battery projects in the south of Mexico, at a state called Campeche.  I am advising a private equity fund from Denmark that is contributing the capital, and I have been responsible for the origination, development and structuring of these projects.  Overall, it will be 900 megawatts of photovoltaic  power, plus 450 megawatts of storage, with a five-hour duration.

I am very excited by the transformation that power storage technologies, in this case batteries, are having towards the acceleration of a clean and low-cost power grid.

Is there some industry or job area where you think there are underappreciated opportunities?

I’ve dedicated my career to the financing, building, development, and operation of very large infrastructure.  The world will have a growing need for clean power, which is my area of specialty, and other infrastructures as well.  In particular, the increasing demand for power is creating significant incremental needs for new power supply.  This is an area where finance skills are of great value. An understanding of the optimisation of systems, policy and politics matters as well.  It’s a very exciting field that will continue to need talent in the future.

What do you remember best from your time a Laurier?

Industrial organization classes – I really enjoyed them.  I also have fond memories of the campus as it was back then. I am sure it has changed significantly: I need to go back and visit. I am always grateful to Laurier, it offered me the opportunity to finalise my degree, I was able to find friends, projects and teachers that supported my stay in Canada, which I enjoyed greatly.  

My first job out of Laurier was possible as a result of a recommendation of a teacher, Terry Levesque, I went to a consulting company in DC. I was also able to pay for my studies because the university employed me to help organise visits to manufacturing facilities in Mexico.  I really felt supported and integrated by the school.

 
                                                              Adrian with his family

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