Beyond the Traditional Path: From Climate Degrees to Capital, Tech & Startups

Think an environmental degree only leads to consulting or policy roles? Think again.

Current Duke students, join us for a dynamic alumni panel exploring how Nicholas School of the Environment graduates have built careers in technology, entrepreneurship, product management, engineering, business intelligence, and capital-driven industries—pathways that may not traditionally be labeled “environmental,” but are shaping the future of climate innovation.

Learn how to:

• Translate your climate degree into tech & startup spaces
• Leverage sustainability expertise in data and business roles
• Position yourself for impact beyond traditional career tracks
• Think strategically about growth, innovation, and economic systems

This will be a candid, conversational discussion designed to expand your understanding of what’s possible.

If you’re curious about the broader career playbook available to those pursuing environmental degrees — this event is for you. Current students from ALL degree programs at Duke are welcome. 

Daniel Kolomeets-Darovsky brings more than 14 years of experience spanning renewable energy, energy-tech startups, and global product leadership. He is co-founder and chief product officer of Modyrn & Co., where he advises high-growth companies on product strategy, innovation, and scaling from concept to launch. Previously, he served as global head of product at Siemens Energy and held founding leadership roles in cleantech ventures, driving cybersecurity innovation and distributed energy solutions. Daniel holds a master of environmental management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Emily Davenport is a technology and operations leader with experience spanning consumer electronics, clean energy, and venture investing. She currently serves as senior program manager at Amazon, where she leads beta testing programs for Kindle, Tablet, and Fire TV devices. Previously, she held product and operations roles at Apple and Phononic, and began her career in energy storage engineering at Primus Power. Emily also worked with SJF Ventures and Rocky Mountain Institute on clean energy innovation. She holds an M.B.A. from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a master of environmental management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.

Nicholas Garafola is a data and analytics leader specializing in product management, business intelligence, and scalable data integration solutions. He currently serves as a solutions architect at Wholesail, following leadership roles at Afresh, Glew.io, Spectrum Reach, and JLL, where he developed global BI platforms and analytics tools that enabled data-driven decision-making across organizations. Nicholas focuses on building systems that reduce manual work and empower teams through actionable insights. He holds a master of environmental management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment and a bachelor's degree in environmental studies and economics from Denison University.

John Gust is a digital product leader with more than 20 years of experience building high-performing teams and delivering complex, mission-driven technology solutions. He currently serves as lead data product manager at the US Department of Veterans Affairs, following senior product leadership roles at Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Deloitte, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Legal & General America. John specializes in agile development, digital transformation, and scaling product teams to deliver measurable impact. He holds a master of environmental management degree from Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment.