2024 Ones to Watch - Rising Stars: Michael Doty, Nuveen Green Capital

“As one of our firm’s original employees, Mike is a rising star, not only for the numerous C-PACE deals he has closed in the Northeast, but also because he has helped lead Nuveen Green Capital’s growth with his extensive commercial real estate finance expertise, collaborative leadership approach, as well as his expertise in clean energy policy.” - Jamie McCorry, Vice President at Nuveen Green Capital.

How do you balance your rising career with your personal life? Good time management and setting clear boundaries in your mind are important. When I am not traveling, 6-8PM is dinner and bedtime for our kids, and I am unavailable for anything else. If more is needed for work, I am happy to put in the time early or late, but it cannot come at the expense of that time window. 

In the last 12 months what accomplishment are you most proud of? More than closing any particular deal, we have won huge administrative and legislative victories in MA and CT that expand the addressable market for C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing and increase the impact our funds have in addressing climate change. In Massachusetts, C-PACE is now able to fund ground-up development and in Connecticut, C-PACE can now fund resiliency improvements.

Who are the key people in your life that have contributed to your success? My wife has taken on much of the responsibility of our life so that I can focus on my career, which provides me with the ability to travel when required. Second has been the Nuveen Green Capital executive team, who have provided me with the space and opportunity to fail, improve, and subsequently succeed. President and CEO, Jessica Bailey; Head of Sustainability and Policy, Genevieve Sherman, and CIO and Co-Founder, Alexandra (Ali) Cooley have provided an atmosphere where failure is accepted as a result of striving to do difficult things.

Outside of your career, where else do you seek continuous learning and personal growth? Being a parent requires continuous learning and does not come with an instruction manual. To parent well is a continuous work in progress. I continuously strive to be more patient, a better teacher, a better listener, and more self-aware.