About Essential Leap

We’re passionate about driving sustainable change by helping our clients navigate and develop complex market ecosystems that accelerate their climate innovations.

Meet the founder

Veronica Rocha

Founder and Owner

Our founder, Veronica Rocha, is a leader in clean energy and climate adaptation with a wealth of experience including private and public sectors, public policy, and engineering.

Under Veronica's leadership, Essential Leap has:

  • Raised more than $65 million in grant funding 

  • Established a consortium 30+ cross-sector partners to establish a breakthrough zero-emission maritime transportation industry 

  • Created over 6 climate mitigation and adaptation/resilience programs across private, public, and non-governmental sectors

  • Fundraised over $300 thousand for pilot projects

  • Navigated dozens of policy and regulatory hurdles to bring innovations to market

Her experience includes more than a decade of cross-sector experience in Hawaii, including Renewable Energy Branch Manager at Hawaii State Energy Office (HSEO) where she led efforts to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2045, developed more than 10 laws and represented HSEO in more than 10 regulatory proceedings, and implemented and administered the $3 million per year renewable fuels production tax credit.

Ms. Rocha also enabled collaboration across federal and state agencies to analyze, plan and implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions regulations that properly take into account clean energy measures as key compliance mechanisms.

She also represented Governor Ige on the Solar and Wind Energy Governor’s Coalition and led the State of Hawaii — Department of the Navy Renewable Energy Working Group.

Ms. Rocha is the Former President and Emeritus Board Member of Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides a forum for women who are working to bring a sustainable Hawaii powered by clean energy.

Accolades

Women Who
Mean Business

40 under 40
Top Business Leader

Clean Energy and Empowerment (C3E) Government Award Finalist

A background that means business

Ms. Rocha has worked with clients across the Pacific, from Japan and Hawaii to the U.S. West Coast, as well as across the country in Washington, DC.

She has also worked in Silicon Valley helping Fortune 500 and startup companies manufacture, develop, and launch new technologies nationally and abroad.

Ms. Rocha holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and Master of Business Administration, both from Stanford University.

Essential Leap is a minority- and woman-owned small business. Ms. Rocha is also a member of the National Small Business Association Leadership Council.

Let’s start with a chat

If you’ve read this far on our website, you know plenty about us. Now, we want to know about you. Schedule a consulting call to learn more about how we can help you succeed.