What if the garbage we throw away every day could power the flights we take tomorrow? In this episode of the True North Success Podcast, Gary Mah sits down with Stephen Akpakwu to explore how municipal waste is being transformed into sustainable aviation fuel — and why this could change the future of energy, climate impact, and cities around the world.

Stephen shares his journey from working in global finance at Goldman Sachs and Bank of America to becoming a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Portage Energy in Calgary. He explains how his team takes landfill waste — something most people see as worthless — and converts it into high-value fuel for the aviation industry.

Throughout the conversation, Stephen breaks down what sustainable aviation fuel is, why aviation is one of the hardest industries to decarbonize, and how using existing carbon above ground can dramatically reduce net emissions. He also explains what sets Portage Energy apart: solving both a climate problem and a waste management problem at the same time.

The discussion goes beyond technology. Stephen talks about leadership, entrepreneurship, and redefining success as a long-term journey. He shares lessons on believing in yourself, surrounding yourself with honest advisors, and staying flexible when moving from a stable corporate career into entrepreneurship.

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