Meet Vickie Wen

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vickie Wen. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Vickie , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I didn’t discover my purpose overnight — it revealed itself to me gradually, as I challenged myself and reflected on my values.

I came to the US when I was 16 years old and was eager to explore the new world around me, yet unsure of how to channel my curiosity into action. I wanted to make an impact, but I didn’t yet know what that looked like for me. I tried a lot of different things as an entrepreneur, college drop-in, college dropout, and employee in the corporate world — things that I ended up later in life realizing were valuable leadership lessons. It was through these trial and error experiences that I learned about resilience, showing up authentically as myself, and the impact work could have if I focused on using my strengths to do something meaningful.

As I matured, I became more deeply aware of the issues surrounding the climate crisis and the waste emergency. This sense of urgency has made me realize how the tools of technology and innovation could address this waste problem. It made me want to leave a mark on the world. This was when I co-founded Reverse Energy Solutions (RES) — a solar panel recycling and circular economy technology company. The journey hasn’t been easy, I’ve been met with challenges and barriers ranging from fundraising and team building to changing regulations in the environmental world. But, each time I have navigated through a struggle, I am more grounded in my purpose — which is to build solutions that care for the Earth and point us in a direction that’s more sustainable for our planet.

As I’ve developed in my journey, I have formed habits that allow me to hone in on my purpose. Listening deeply to others, being curious and reflective, and asking if the things I do are in alignment with my values. Purpose for me is not only creating a successful company, but how I can best use my strengths to make an impact and empower those around me and leave a legacy of creating good in the world.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the Co-Founder and CFO at Reverse Energy Solutions (RES), a cleantech startup manufacturing the future of solar panel recycling. We’re on a mission to recover the precious and scarce raw materials that solar panels contain. Our mobile dismantling factories streamline end-of-life panel processing while reducing logistics costs by up to 90%.

As much as I love the potential to extract revenue from what are essentially bound-for-landfill solar panels, what really excites me is the circular, scalable solution we’re providing. Closing the loop in renewable energy’s lifecycle like this is just one of the economically and environmentally responsible ways RES is driving impact in a sector with more work to do.

As a Techstars-backed company, we’ve also been accepted into Greentown Labs Houston and LACI (Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator). Add that to processing more than 150,000+ panels nationwide, and I think it’s safe to say our work is an answer to a growing and timely demand.

Away from RES, the past few years have been filled with similar work around sustainability, innovation, and international entrepreneurship. Whether it’s refining circular economy models or launching and scaling workforce development programs with inclusive hiring, I’m consistently drawn to building companies that are meant to grow and leave a legacy.

We’re currently in development of new product launches to expand our dismantling capacity. We’re testing solar maintenance machinery to further serve our existing customer base as well as meeting pilots and exploring partnerships to help us scale nationwide.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Reflecting on my journey, the top three qualities that have had the most influence have been adaptability, financial acumen, and empathy in communication. Adaptability has allowed me to stay resilient and proactive through changing markets, evolving regulations, and the inherent uncertainties of startups. Financial acumen, particularly in my CFO role, has been critical in ensuring the alignment of capital and strategy, and that our growth was sustainable. Lastly, empathy has been the cornerstone of how I lead and make decisions, allowing me to truly understand and connect with our customers, investors, and team members. To an early-career professional, I’d say, embrace change, have a solid grasp of business fundamentals, and always communicate with empathy—it’s these skills that open the right doors and keep the momentum going in the long run.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I only had 10 years to live, I would want to make those 10 years count. I would want to focus on three Ps – purpose, presence, and people. I would want to work towards a greater goal that matters and contributes to a better future. I would want to be more present in everything I do, savoring the good moments and learning from the challenges. I would want to spend more time with the people who matter most to me, whether that’s family, old friends, mentors, or younger generations who need support. I would travel more, eat more exotic food, and do the things I always put off, like writing, painting, or building something for fun. Most of all, I would want to make sure that my loved ones and the communities that I care about are taken care of, that they have the support and systems in place that they need to thrive when I’m gone. 10 years may not seem like a long time, but if lived with purpose and presence, it can be enough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://res-us.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vickie-wen/