Rob Kleinbaum

Rob founded Mission Driven Energy in 2022 after he saw that electric vehicles with bidirectional capability could boost inclusion of poor nations and the poor in rich nations in the energy transition. EVs could turn a trade-off between economic growth and GHG reduction into a positive relationship. The idea needed to be developed outside the private sector to be openly shared and freely used.

Prior to creating Mission Driven Energy, Rob was a Technical Fellow at General Motors.  There, he worked on Advanced Energy Services, specifically the role of electric vehicles and the new opportunities they may offer in creating value for customers, society, and the company. He helped redefine for GM the role of the vehicle in the context of the energy transition.

Earlier in his career, Rob was CEO of RAK & Co, a partner at Strategic Decisions Group, director of General Motors’ Decision Support Center, Research Scientist at the University of Michigan’s Population Studies Center and Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics.

Rob also authored the book: “Creating a Culture of Profitability, A Revolutionary Model for Managing Culture.” Quoted extensively in the global press, he has been featured on NPR, MSNBC, BBC, the LA Times, Reuters, Asahi Shimbun, and by David Brooks in the New York Times. He was on the Executive Committee of the Cultural Change Institute at the Fletcher School and is a Fellow and former Board member of the Society of Decision Professionals.

He received a Ph.D. in Economics and B.A. Summa Cum Laude in Sociology from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.