Dream Job: Going Electric

Looking for a career that integrates sustainability? This new series spotlights NC State alumni who are making a difference in sustainability. 

Randall Hayward, a 2016 graduate of NC State majoring in Supply Chain and Operations Management, shares about his jump from campus to a sustainability-related career.

How is sustainability part of your current work?

I’ve worked for Tesla Motors [in] Raleigh as a Sales Advisor for almost [six] years working on Tesla’s first mission: to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable transportation. Now, with the addition of solar and home battery storage, [we work] to accelerate the world’s transition to clean energy.

How did NC State prepare you for a sustainability-related career?

I felt an incredible sense of community in the EcoVillage at Bragaw Residence Hall and got involved in volunteering to increase my awareness of some of the issues [that] our state and world are facing. Every class I took incorporated real-world problems [that are] very relevant today into the discussion and curriculum. The professors…were filled with passion and enthusiasm for our prospects for a sustainable future. Seeing that lasting drive and intensity was truly inspiring.

What message do you have for current NC State students hoping to integrate sustainability into their career?

You won’t work a day in your life if what you do makes you happy and fosters a positive impact on our world. [The Research Triangle Park region] and NC State are leaders in clean energy and technology, and the demand for jobs in those fields will continue to rise. Invest your time in something that challenges the status quo and pushes you to think differently. “The greatest threat to our planet is believing someone else will save it” – Robert Swan.

Do you want to be featured in this series or know someone who should be? Let us know