Getting to know Persefoni: Meet Terryn Lawrence

1. And you may ask yourself, "Well... how did I get here?" (Tell us your journey?)

I graduated with a degree in Philosophy, which made me a very overqualified, but conversational, bartender. I completed an MBA at the Walton School of Business at the University of Arkansas, and started my corporate career in consumer-packaged goods. I amassed a good set of skills and a lot of great experience, but I lacked passion for the industry. While on maternity leave with my second child, my husband and I made an angel investment in a small mental health tech company, and I joined them as employee #4. It was my first startup and I was hooked. After scaling that company, I left and co-founded a maternal health platform. I raised our seed round of financing, built a team, and began to grow revenue, only to be crushed by COVID. That failure turned into an incredible opportunity: two of our angel investors had founded Persefoni, and they invited me to jump in. It’s been an incredible ride so far, and a failed business turned out to be the opportunity of a lifetime.

2. And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile. (What do you do at Persefoni?)

I’m the Chief of Staff for our Commercial operations – I work across sales, partnerships, and customer success to ensure Persefoni’s solutions meet all our clients’ needs and to maximize efficiency across the organization. I also manage some of our key client and partner relationships. One of the best parts about this role is the global nature of our clients and partners. I recently had a day where I had meetings with individuals from six countries. For me, the ability to meet interesting people doing meaningful work is very fulfilling.

3. And you may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?" (What are your hopes for your time at Persefoni?)

The work we are doing is unquestionably important. We cannot ignore the damage we have caused the planet, and we have a responsibility to future generations. At Persefoni, we have combined experts in technology and sustainability to build an intelligent carbon accounting platform that changes the way organizations and financial institutions do business, measure their impacts, and achieve carbon neutrality. Access to a safe environment, clean air, and potable water are fundamental human rights. My hope is that the work we do helps all people have a better future.

4. And you may say to yourself, "My God! What have I done?" (Why is Persefoni a great home for you?)

It’s a rare opportunity to have the combination of an incredible team/culture, an amazing product, and a critical mission. The folks with whom I get to work are incredibly intelligent, passionate about climate change, and hilarious (which is a key component of work satisfaction for me). We think big, work hard, and make each other stronger due to our unique skill sets and perspectives.

Our product is amazing, and with each new release it is enhanced and expanded. I love guiding a prospective client through a platform demo and hearing, “Wow, where has this been for the last 10 years?” In meetings, I often see a collective sigh of relief when we demystify the “Alphabet Soup of Sustainability,” and we enable our clients to build a high-fidelity carbon accounting practice in-house.

5. And you may find yourself in another part of the world... (Tell us about your life/hobbies away from work?)

Life away from work is filled with beautiful chaos. I’ve been married to my wonderful husband, Mike, for seven years and we have three incredible kiddos (5, 4 and 9 months). We spend a lot of time in nature, swimming, and playing sports – I’m currently teaching my daughters to play soccer. I grew up on a farm, so I love to get dirty and work with my
hands. I enjoy growing food and cooking for friends. Now that I have greater appreciation for global environmental concerns, I am a vegetarian (and moving my family toward a fully vegan diet).

Traveling brings me a lot of joy and perspective – I’ve lived abroad and backpacked across a large portion of Europe and Central/South America. I enjoy hiking, camping, and kayaking – during graduate school, one of my favorite places to reset was the Buffalo River in Arkansas. Perhaps most importantly, Persefoni has brought me the opportunity to interface with talented people from across the globe. I look forward to experiencing other cultures, traditions, and perspectives as we expand our international footprint.

Meet other Persefonites!

• Getting to know Federico Rodriguez

• Getting to know Kristina Pedrosa

• Getting to know Priscilla Nzessi

“Once in a Lifetime" is a series of articles designed to help our customers and partners learn more about Persefoni's truly passionate team. We're not just building award-winning software ... together, we're helping to decarbonize our planet.