Twelve brings together team members from many backgrounds in our shared mission of tackling the climate crisis through carbon transformation.
Meet Ashwin Jadhav
As a part of our Be the Element of Change series, we asked Ashwin Jadhav, Vice President of Business Development and recent recipient of Wings Magazine’s Top 20 Under 40, about his experiences in the climate tech industry and what led him to join the mission at Twelve.
What is your title? What do you do at Twelve?
As the Vice President of Business Development, I’m accountable for new customer acquisition, commercial strategy, and sales of our sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) called E-Jet®. I work closely with new and prospective customers such as airlines, airports, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and corporations wanting to decarbonize. I help them understand how using Twelve’s E-Jet SAF will help them achieve their sustainability goals.
In addition to customer relationship management, I also act as a brand representative at industry events and conferences.
What about Twelve’s work is important or meaningful to you?
Twelve is at the forefront of breakthrough technology that will improve the planet for future generations, which makes working at Twelve very important and fulfilling for me. The aviation industry accounts for about 3% of global carbon emissions and has set a goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Scaling existing technologies will take over a decade, a timeline that is too long considering the drastic effects of climate change we are already experiencing. That’s why our team has developed an easily scalable fuel, E-Jet, which is readily available today and can be used in existing aircraft of all sizes.
Twelve is at the forefront of breakthrough technology that will improve the planet for future generations
What’s unique about Twelve’s SAF?
The majority of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) currently being produced is made using biomass such as agricultural waste. E-Jet® SAF on the other hand, is a power-to-liquid fuel made with carbon dioxide, water, and renewable electricity, all of which are abundantly available. Our E-Jet Fuel also delivers up to 90% fewer lifecycle emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels and is easily scalable allowing us to meet future demand to power clean flight across the industry. In fact, we just broke ground on our first commercial-scale plant for producing E-Jet!
What’s your favorite thing about working at Twelve?
I have several favorite things about working at Twelve, beginning with our mission. Everyone is focused on our ultimate goal of decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries at a vast, gigaton scale. We’re all part of the same spearhead, putting our passion for a cleaner world into working together towards achieving that goal.
Also, diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t just buzzwords at Twelve — they’re embedded core values. Twelve has purposefully created an environment in which different backgrounds, locations, perspectives, and experiences factor into every decision.
Finally, I really appreciate Twelve’s people-first flexibility. I’m one of Twelve’s many remote workers, which allows me to continue living in Canada and have more time to spend with my family and less time commuting. Twelve’s culture promotes an excellent work-life balance that, in my experience, results in improved speed, output, and quality of work.
We’re all part of the same spearhead, putting our passion for a cleaner world into working together towards achieving that goal.
What are some things you’ve learned at Twelve?
Working directly with Twelve’s co-founders, Etosha, Nicholas, and Kendra, has given me tremendous insights into how Twelve’s carbon transformation technology can revolutionize efforts to address hard-to-decarbonize industries. I’m also fortunate to be working for Ram Ramprasad, Chief Commercial Officer at Twelve, who has decades of experience in the chemical industry. I’ve learned many things from him about chemical technologies, commercial perspectives, and adaptive leadership.
Can you share a 1-minute version of your professional story?
I’ve always loved watching airplanes. Since an early age, I wanted to become a pilot, an air traffic controller, or a flight dispatcher — I couldn’t decide which one! Throughout my career, I continued diving deeper and learning new things about the aviation industry from different perspectives; from airlines and airports to aircraft/engine OEMs and trade organizations.
Over time, I began to get increasingly concerned about aviation’s impact on the climate. I knew immediately upon learning about Twelve that they could benefit from my experience in the aviation industry, and I could benefit from learning from some of the best minds in the climate tech and chemical industry.
I knew immediately upon learning about Twelve that they could benefit from my experience in the aviation industry, and I could benefit from learning from some of the best minds in the climate tech and chemical industry.
How does it feel to be one of Wings Magazine’s Top 20-under-40 in Canada?
It’s a privilege and honor. I am very proud to have contributed to some of the most cutting-edge aerospace technologies in Canada like the Bombardier C-Series aircraft and Pratt & Whitney’s Hybrid-Electric demonstrator. I hope to partner with more Canadian suppliers and customers in the future as we deploy Twelve’s carbon transformation™ technology at scale across North America.
What would you tell someone who’s considering beginning or transitioning to a career in climate?
Imagine the chance to work for Microsoft in the 1980s, or Tesla in the early 2000s. That’s the kind of opportunity you have right now in entering the cleantech industry. A career in this field today gives you a front-row seat to the journey towards a healthier planet, and the opportunity to influence its future.
Our team is growing. Join the mission > Explore careers at Twelve