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Jennifer Granholm

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  • Secretary of Energy (2021-2025)
  • 47th Governor of Michigan (2002-2011)

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Jennifer Granholm is an American lawyer, educator, author and politician who served most recently as the 16th United States Secretary of Energy, and previously as the two-term governor of Michigan. As governor, she spearheaded Michigan’s economic recovery after the Great Recession by diversifying the state’s economy to focus on clean energy and revitalizing the auto industry to build electric vehicles. 

As Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), Granholm restructured the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on research and development of advanced clean energy solutions and, importantly, deployment of zero-carbon technologies. She oversaw $200 billion of U.S. DOE investments into companies and projects to accelerate the clean energy transition. During her tenure as Secretary, thanks to the policies and laws that she helped to shape, the country saw record deployment of clean energy — adding the equivalent of 30 Hoover Dams of zero-carbon energy to the nation’s electricity grid in 2024, more than twice as much solar power deployed as ever before. Due to incentives to manufacture in America, businesses announced almost 1,000 factories were coming or expanding in the U.S. to build clean energy products -- solar panels, EVs, batteries, small nuclear reactors, clean hydrogen, geothermal and more. Thanks to DOE’s work, the nation’s transmission grid is seeing an 11X expansion of new transmission miles.

During her tenure as Secretary, DOE with its 110,000 employees was ranked among the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. Secretary Granholm was named in 2024 to the "TIME 100 Most Influential People" list, and Forbes’ list of "Top Climate Leaders."

Secretary Granholm taught law and public policy at UC Berkeley from 2011-2020, specializing in clean energy and public leadership. A former Attorney General of Michigan (1998-2002) and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School (1987), she is the author of A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future, has penned scores of articles and opinion pieces on clean energy, and continues to play a leading role in shaping America’s energy future. Heralded for her forward-looking insight, Granholm brings a balanced and nuanced perspective sorely needed in today's divisive times. 

 


Jennifer Granholm headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • JF Maddox Foundation
  • Consumers Energy
  • Broadbent Institute
Rave Reviews About Jennifer Granholm
“
Governor Granholm was incredible! She blew the roof off the place, in fact. That and she was a delight to work with.

”
More rave reviews

"We were thrilled with Jennifer and what she brought to our event. She really did her homework...Thank you so much for all your help on getting our first virtual event off the ground. It turned out really well."

-JF Maddox Foundation

"Everything was perfect. She was phenomenal, as always, and we have received great feedback from our guests."

-Consumers Energy
Collapse rave reviews

Jennifer Granholm: Advancing cutting-edge clean energy tech for net-zero carbon emissions goals by 2050 | SXSW - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Jennifer Granholm
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Fireside Chat: Governing Through Disruption

As the former Governor of Michigan and former U.S. Energy Secretary, JENNIFER GRANHOLM offers engaging stories and firsthand insight from her time in some of the most consequential roles in government. With an eye toward 2026 and beyond, she reflects on technological change, political and policy uph ...

As the former Governor of Michigan and former U.S. Energy Secretary, JENNIFER GRANHOLM offers engaging stories and firsthand insight from her time in some of the most consequential roles in government. With an eye toward 2026 and beyond, she reflects on technological change, political and policy upheaval, the energy transformation, and the promise and perils of AI. The conversation helps audiences cut through uncertainty and think more clearly about the decisions that will define the years ahead.

Five Electrifying Predictions About Energy, 2026–2030

Through keynote, fireside chat, Q&A, or a client-chosen combination, JENNIFER GRANHOLM offers informed and hopeful predictions about the global energy landscape over the next five years. She helps audiences understand rising costs, climate pressure, and the growing energy demands of AI and data ...

Through keynote, fireside chat, Q&A, or a client-chosen combination, JENNIFER GRANHOLM offers informed and hopeful predictions about the global energy landscape over the next five years. She helps audiences understand rising costs, climate pressure, and the growing energy demands of AI and data centers.
Her perspective is shaped by her service as U.S. Energy Secretary, a corporate utility board member, and a two-term Governor of Michigan. Granholm addresses the future of AI with clear eyes, weighing its risks against its potential to solve some of the world’s hardest problems. She tailors each program to the audience, offering practical insight into how organizations and communities can prepare for what lies ahead.

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Speaker News

Jennifer Granholm receives rave reviews for her speeches

U.S. Secretary of Energy and former Governor of Michigan JENNIFER GRANHOLM receives rave reviews for her live events: 

  • Broadbent Institute: "Governor Granholm was incredible! She blew the roof off the place, in fact. That and she was a delight to work with."
  • Consumers Energy: "Everything was perfect. She was phenomenal, as always, and we have received great feedback from our guests."
  • JF Maddox Foundation: "We were thrilled with Jennifer and what she brought to our event. She really did her homework...Thank you so much for all your help on getting our first virtual event off the ground. It turned out really well."

Secretary Granholm's engaging speaking style makes her a strong choice for talks on energy, policy, leadership, and innovation. Her career in government offers insights into decision-making, crisis management, and leading through change. 

Watch Secretary Jennifer Granholm speak on clean energy tech at SXSW >>

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Books by Jennifer Granholm
A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future

A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America's Economic Future

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Press & Media
China Will Be Thrilled if Trump Kills America’s Green Economy - The New York Times
Granholm: Nuclear plant revival “extremely positive” - Axios
How Jennifer Granholm’s Energy Department Is Pumping Billions Into Clean Tech - Forbes
Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm on 2nd Trump presidency, criticisms of U.N. climate summit - CBS News
How the U.S. Energy Department Reorganized to Champion Clean Energy - TIME
Jennifer Granholm - Extended Interview [video] - The Daily Show
Jennifer Granholm Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Energy | TIME100 Climate 2024 - TIME
China Will Be Thrilled if Trump Kills America’s Green Economy - New York Times
Jennifer Granholm: Education, Auto Industry, and Political Career - Investopedia
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Ideas for the Meeting Planner
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Biography

Jennifer Granholm is an American lawyer, educator, author and politician who served most recently as the 16th United States Secretary of Energy, and previously as the two-term governor of Michigan. As governor, she spearheaded Michigan’s economic recovery after the Great Recession by diversifying the state’s economy to focus on clean energy and revitalizing the auto industry to build electric vehicles.

As Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), Granholm restructured the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on research and development of advanced clean energy solutions and, importantly, deployment of zero-carbon technologies.   She oversaw $200 billion of U.S. DOE investments into companies and projects to accelerate the clean energy transition. During her tenure as Secretary, thanks to the policies and laws that she helped to shape, the country saw record deployment of clean energy — adding the equivalent of 30 Hoover Dams of zero-carbon energy to the nation’s electricity grid in 2024, more than twice as much solar power deployed as ever before. Due to incentives to manufacture in America, businesses announced almost 1,000 factories were coming or expanding in the U.S. to build clean energy products -- solar panels, EVs, batteries, small nuclear reactors, clean hydrogen, geothermal and more. Thanks to DOE’s work, the nation’s transmission grid is seeing an 11X expansion of new transmission miles.

During her tenure as Secretary, DOE with its 110,000 employees was ranked among the Top 10 Best Places to Work in the Federal Government. Granholm was named in 2024 to the Time 100 Most Influential People list, and Forbes’ list of Top Climate Leaders.

Granholm taught law and public policy at UC Berkeley from 2011-2020, specializing in clean energy and public leadership. A former Attorney General of Michigan (1998-2002) and an honors graduate of Harvard Law School (1987), she is the author of A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future, has penned scores of articles and opinion pieces on clean energy, and continues to play a leading role in shaping America’s energy future.  

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