Lori Dunn
COO
Optimus Technologies
Pittsburgh, PA USA
“Keep listening to yourself. Never let that voice get dimmed.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationLori Dunn
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
I’ve always been passionate about social impact, which has been the throughpoint for my career path.
I started my career exploring a few different avenues—I worked as a wedding photography assistant, a retail associate in a department store, and then a stage manager at Disneyland.
I wasn’t really sure what to do next and I wanted to get into the social impact space, so I joined the Peace Corps, hoping to gain more direction there.
Unsure if I could build a career in social impact with the experience I had, I decided to go back to school and earned two master’s degrees in global impact and conflict studies.
I eventually found myself in the world of startups and sales while still being involved with social impact.
That path led me into decarbonization, where I worked to help decarbonize buildings and the electrical grid, ultimately increasing our capacity for renewable energy.
I now work as the chief operating officer at Optimus Technologies, a company focused on decarbonizing the heavy-duty diesel engine.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Bachelor
Technical Theater / Theater Design and Technology
California State University, Fullerton
Technical Theater / Theater Design and Technology
California State University, Fullerton
Graduate
Coexistence in Conflicts
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Coexistence in Conflicts
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Graduate
Sustainable International Development, International Relations and Affairs
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Sustainable International Development, International Relations and Affairs
The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University
Career
COO
I help shape the future of heavy-duty trucking with innovative decarbonization.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Business
Environment & Nature
Accomplishing Goals
Day to Day
My days are dynamic and driven by our mission to decarbonize heavy-duty trucking. Whether strategizing new marketing plans, filling novel roles, or engaging with customers, I'm deeply involved in anything that affects our people and revenue. Overseeing the deployment of our advanced fuel technology system, I take pride in the tangible impact we're making. It's the blend of creativity, strategy, and passion for environmental change that fuels my daily endeavors.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"You're bossy."
