From Client to Catalyst: Anna Geevarghese’s Incredible Journey with Energy Exemplar

Energy Exemplar’s 25-year journey is filled with remarkable stories of innovation and the people who made it possible. One of these is Anna Geevarghese - a trailblazer whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the company and the energy industry. 

The beginning of an unlikely partnership 

Anna’s journey with Energy Exemplar began long before she joined the company. At the time, she was working at California ISO, where she played a pivotal role in market monitoring. The energy industry was undergoing seismic shifts, moving from vertically integrated utilities to deregulated markets. Amidst this transformation, Anna was tasked with finding a software solution that could address critical challenges in transmission expansion planning - a need driven by the complexities of a deregulated market and the lessons learned from the infamous Enron crisis. 

With her background in mathematics and experience as a product manager, Anna was uniquely positioned to identify gaps in existing solutions. When a professor on her market surveillance committee mentioned a promising software from Australia called "PLEXOS", Anna didn’t hesitate. She picked up the phone and called Dr. Glenn Drayton, the founder of Energy Exemplar. What followed was a partnership that would shape the future of energy modeling. 

Read more about Dr. Glenn Drayton and the early days of PLEXOS® in this blog post.

Innovating in real-time 

In a world before smartphones and Zoom, collaboration was anything but simple. Anna and Glenn worked tirelessly, often on the floor of Anna’s living room, fueled by countless cups of Indian chai. “We didn’t have powerful laptops or anything. It was kind of an adventure,” Anna recalls. They were joined by a team of dedicated individuals, including engineers and economists from California ISO, as well as Ben Hobbs, a professor from Johns Hopkins whose academic insights were integral to the project. “I’m a mathematician,” Anna explains. “Engineers believe in precise things, and economists believe in not precise things. I was in the middle.” Together, they developed groundbreaking capabilities for PLEXOS, bridging the gap between economists and engineers. The result was a powerful tool that not only met the needs of California ISO but also set a new standard for the industry. 

This collaboration wasn’t just about building software - it was about solving real-world problems with ingenuity and determination. The partnership culminated in a published IEEE paper, solidifying their work’s significance and establishing PLEXOS as a leader in energy modeling.

Coming full circle 

Years later, after a successful career that took her to the likes of GE and Siemens, Anna returned to Energy Exemplar. By this time, the company had grown exponentially, backed by private equity and recognized globally. Anna’s decision to join wasn’t just about continuing her career; it was about coming home to a company she had helped build. 

Today, Anna serves as a driving force behind Energy Exemplar’s product strategy. From pricing and technical partnerships to evaluating new technologies and acquisitions, her work touches every corner of the business. Yet, she remains grounded, attributing her contributions to a collaborative team and a shared commitment to innovation. ”

A legacy of impact  

Anna’s story is a powerful reminder that Energy Exemplar’s success is built on the vision, passion, and expertise of its people. Her journey from client to catalyst exemplifies the company’s ethos: empowering transformative energy decisions through collaboration and innovation. 

Looking ahead, the foundation laid by individuals like Anna ensures Energy Exemplar is well-equipped to continue addressing the evolving needs of the energy industry for years to come.