BrazilGraduates on their challenging projects and career growth at Magnus Energy
Having all kicked off their career at Magnus Energy, Kotaro Kuribayashi, Marisú Mangino and Willem Verhoef have been able to work on some of the biggest issues in the energy landscape. We sat down with the three young professionals to discuss their challenging projects and how Magnus Energy supports their continued growth.
The management consulting sector has long been considered a top destination for graduate talent. Thanks to the diversity in projects and roles, and the possibility to work on high-impact matters, the industry provides young professionals with the opportunity to broaden their knowledge in a fast-paced and steep learning environment.
Magnus Energy provided exactly this opportunity for Willem Verhoef, who joined the firm after completing a master’s of science at the Delft University of Technology. During his studies, he had become increasingly interested in the energy transition, and its impact on energy markets.
“Working in consultancy allows me to explore a wide range of topics, learn quickly, and contribute to projects where we can make a real difference. At Magnus Energy, I also enjoy working on high-level projects and collaborate with industry experts right from the start. The firm offers an amazing opportunity for fresh graduates to contribute to high profile international projects early on.”
Another important factor for young professionals when considering prospective careers is purpose – and consulting offers plenty of opportunities to fulfil those desires. This was a major factor in attracting Kotaro Kuribayashi to Magnus Energy.
The recent energy crisis in Europe made him realise how essential a secure, reliable, and affordable energy industry is for society. So, once he had obtained his master’s of science from Rotterdam School of Management, his next choice was clear.
“Energy security was a big reason why I was interested to join a company in the sector,” Kuribayashi expands. “Another factor is that the energy industry is very interdisciplinary and lies at the intersection of many disciplines – economy, regulations, engineering, and more. I consider myself as generally a very curious person, and hence thought that I would enjoy the exposure to all these different domains of knowledge.”
For Marisú Mangino, another Delft University of Technology graduate, who joined the firm after picking up a master’s in science in 2024, a combination of the two factors attracted her to Magnus Energy. Having always been fascinated by the energy sector, she is keen to work on topics that are “highly relevant and of direct influence on daily life”, such as climate change and the energy transition.
“The energy transition, if done properly, will be one of the greatest achievements of our time,” Mangino elaborats. “It will aid in the decarbonisation of several other sectors and practices across the world. I love working towards this common goal because I feel like what I do everyday matters and contributes in a small way towards a very large and important goal.”
Challenging and dream projects
Since arriving with Magnus Energy, all three professionals have spent time working on the Market Coupling Steering Committee (MCSC), a consortium consisting of all nominated electricity market operators (NEMOs) and transmission system operators (TSOs) in Europe. Together, this consortium runs both the European day-ahead and intraday wholesale electricity market.
Kuribayashi has been closely involved with projects such as the transition to 15-minute Market Time Unit (MTU). Due to go live this year, the project requires regional coordination with all Nordic TSOs and electricity market operators, as well as close collaboration with stakeholders from all over Europe to ensure alignment with the wider European market integration.
This is also something Verhoef has played a role in, as Magnus Energy helps to shift the Nordic intraday and day-ahead electricity markets from 60-minute to 15-minute trading intervals.
Mangino meanwhile hopes that this early engagement could lead to the fulfilment of one of her leading ambitions. “My dream project would be to conduct and in-depth investigation on the impact that Market Coupling in Europe is having/will have on the adoption of renewable energy sources and in turn how the increase in renewable energy sources will affect Market Coupling and the European energy market.”
Verhoef has similar hopes. After his experience in the Nordics, he says he would “love to further develop Magnus Energy’s presence” in the region by taking a project through its full life cycle, from acquisition and design through to successful delivery. “Seeing a project through from start to finish and ensuring real impact for the customer is something I find highly rewarding. It would allow me to take on more responsibility and further develop my entrepreneurial mindset.”
Kuribayashi has also taken inspiration from the engagement – noting that the project has seen stakeholders from across the continent come together, “sometimes even at the cost of national interests”, to work on very challenging yet critical projects for the joint future of the continent. The “collaborative ethos of Europe” is one he suggests that “maybe East Asian countries could learn from.”
Looking ahead to his own dream project, he states, “I very much enjoy being involved in MCSC and truly think that it is a great fit with my ambition. Coming from a business background, and having a great interest in markets, I would be also keen to explore projects with client types such as trading companies, aggregators, energy suppliers, and so on.”
Learning from experts and on the job
At Magnus Energy, young professionals are offered an in-depth program geared at developing their capabilities, interpersonal skills and in-depth energy sector knowledge.
“Magnus Energy provides a great learning environment through a well-structured onboarding and trainings,” notes Verhoef. This includes trainings on topics such as consulting, project management and energy markets, but also on soft skills to ensure young professionals grow into effective advisors.
“Besides these formal trainings, colleagues often present workshops on their topic of expertise, giving team members further opportunity to learn from their peers on relevant and intriguing topics in the industry.”
With consultants spending most of their time on the job, much of the learning experience is gained practically, says Kuribayashi. “Project managers and more senior consultants help me become better at my job every day. They also help me pave my own professional path through mentorship and guidance.”
Agreeing to this, Verhoef states: “There’s always a colleague available to help or explain, which makes it easy to grow and develop quickly. What I value most is working with experts who are genuinely interested in driving the energy sector forward and always willing to support the team.”
Mangino in turn points at the structured approach Magnus Energy takes in helping its people grow and push their boundaries to new heights. “We are assigned to a People Development coach, who helps us draft our personal and professional development plans. Every six months, we track the progress that we are making. This helps to ensure we achieve our goals and pursue our ambitions, demonstrating Magnus Energy’s commitment to help their staff grow professionally, but personally as well.”
