Harnessing the Sun: Ondine Suavet’s MBA'13D Path to Renewable Energy Leadership

Ondine Suavet's transformation from a chemistry engineer to the co-founder of MyLight150, a leading company in solar self-consumption, showcases the profound impact of education and entrepreneurial spirit. Her journey, marked by international experiences and a commitment to renewable energy, highlights the crucial role her INSEAD MBA played in her career. We had the pleasure of meeting Ondine at the ChangeNow summit 2024 in Paris. 

Ondine’s fascination with renewable energy began long before her INSEAD days. Specializing in semiconductor chemistry and photovoltaics, her academic journey led her from a French engineering school to completing her end-of-master’s-degree research paper on solar cells in Japan. She then joined the green tech movement in Silicon Valley. By 2013, Ondine realized she needed to expand her knowledge beyond engineering and chose INSEAD for its global perspective. The international curriculum and diverse cohort provided her with the business acumen necessary to complement her technical expertise. 

Meanwhile, Ondine’s brother, Virgile Suavet, had a vision for a solar self-consumption business in France that piqued her interest. She used her INSEAD internship to develop this idea, securing initial funding and co-founding MyLight150 with her brother in 2014.  

Now employing approximately 260 people, MyLight150 has expanded from France to Spain, Romania, and Switzerland. The company specializes in solar self-consumption solutions, empowering individuals and businesses to produce and use their own solar energy. Their innovative approach, combining advanced solar panel technologies with AI, secured €100 million in funding in 2023 to further expand their solar ecosystem.  

The early days of selling their product in industrial areas across Europe, despite frequent resistance, taught Ondine resilience and perseverance. The skills she gained at INSEAD, from negotiation to strategic thinking, have been invaluable in running a start-up. 

“INSEAD gives you self-knowledge, which is quite useful daily.” - Ondine Suavet 

Innovation is at the heart of MyLight150's success. The company continuously advances its expertise in home energy ecosystem management and leverages AI to optimize energy consumption and production. Ondine emphasizes the importance of aligning values with actions to make a meaningful impact: “I contribute to addressing the challenges of carbon and energy transition. While I’m aware that this transition is much more complex than my specific role, I focus on the part where I can make the most impact.” 

Ondine advises current INSEAD students and alumni aspiring to make an impact in entrepreneurship to focus on bootstrapping and market testing to quickly identify the right product. “Understand the problem you're solving and ensure your values align with your business actions,” she emphasizes. 

Ondine Suavet’s story is a powerful reminder of how technical expertise, business acumen, and a supportive network can drive innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. Running MyLight150 alongside her brother adds a unique dynamic to their leadership, blending familial trust with professional collaboration. Her journey exemplifies the spirit of resilience, responsible leadership, and continuous learning that INSEAD instills in its alumni.