Jack of All Trades - Entrepreneur Tom Rand

His devotion to carbon reduction led him to write his first book Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit: 10 Clean Technologies to Save Our World (Eco Ten Publishing). Released in the spring to a largely eco-friendly readership, Rand is now concentrating his efforts on getting every day people interested in carbon reduction.

Tom Rand's career path may have started in the world of software development with this first company, Voice Courier Inc., but today his resume includes venture capitalist, clean tech devotee, teacher, hotelier and author.

His first company, Voice Courier Inc. was founded in 1991, and was expanded by Rand to include three countries and over 100 employees, all working within the relatively new field of interactive voice response. Rand sold the company in 2005, when the company had annual profits of US$20 million annually.

But not all his skill came from on-the-job learning – Rand holds a string of degrees including a BSc in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo, a MSc in philosophy from the London School of Economics, and a MA and PhD in philosophy from the University of Toronto.

Now the self-proclaimed jack of all trades has switched his focus to clean tech, with his role as the Cleantech Practice Lead Advisor at the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto. Clean technology focuses on renewable energy sourced from wind, solar or biofuels.

Rand is also founder and director of VCi Green Funds, which is a seed and venture capital fund for the low-carbon sector. For the past five years, Rand's obsession has been carbon reduction. "The energy debate is very skewed right now. Everyone believes that real men drill for oil, and don't look for renewable sustainable energy options," says Rand.

The book is a bit like a Trojan horse. Most books about renewable energy are for those who are already interested in the subject. This book is for those aren't," explains Rand. Unlike the typical textbook or non-fiction hardcover, Kick the Fossil Fuel Habit is a coffee table book, jargon-free and paired with colourful photographs of the 10 technologies that could help the planet move from oil-based to non-oil based energy sources.

And Rand can now count hotelier in his list of responsibilities. With his partner, Anthony Aarts, Rand developed Planet Traveler, a 114-bed hostel in downtown Toronto that is solely heated and powered by geothermal and solar energy, the first commercial building to do so in the city.

"I didn't know geothermal from a hole in the ground," jokes Rand, "but when Anthony approached me about the project, I wanted to do something unique with his idea of a best-in-class hostel." Planet Traveler is scheduled to open in late November.

So as Tom Rand balances his multi-faceted career, he's committed to educating as many people as possible about carbon reduction. Rand answered some further questions about his career path:

Who made a difference at the beginning of your career?

I was invited to a dinner party of people active in the Cleantech sector, right after I sold my software company back in 2005. I met Toby Heaps of Corporate Knights and Nick Parker of the Cleantech Group. The conversations made me realize I had to do something relevant. As an entrepreneur and investor there was a clear path to action. Until then, I'd really been an over-educated observer. Once I started as Cleantech Lead at the MaRS Discovery District the rocket took off. MaRS is the center of the universe when it comes to the intersection of finance, technology and policy.

What was your goal when you began your career path?

I wanted to move the needle on carbon emissions, plain and simple. That could be done in a number of ways, only one of which was as a venture capitalist investing in promising Cleantech start-ups. There's a missing piece in the public debate – very few people from the business community are speaking about climate change with any degree of depth or real honesty. Either they don't acknowledge the urgency of the problem or they refuse to face up to the central role that policy has to play. So I move that needle in three ways – entrepreneurship, advocacy and public education.

How have your goals changed?

They haven't!

Describe a major obstacle you've faced.

The Harper government. They are completely disinterested in climate change. They also have no real idea as to the size of the market that will be generated by the need to de-carbon our economy. It's the largest infrastructure build in human history, and the biggest economic opportunity since the silicon chip. Countries will be buyers or sellers of clean technology, and as far as the folks in Ottawa are concerned, it's just fine if we focus on melting tar for energy. In terms of my own projects – the hotel, the investments I make – I tend to just bulldoze my way through them.

What are some books/website that inspire you?

350.org is a great site, George Monbiot's Heat, and his site monbiot.com is a pretty straight-shooter.

What's your advice for someone at the beginning of their career?

Find people who inspire you, and hang out with them.