After years at the Wall Street Journal and an MBA from INSEAD, Zeke Turner had a choice of career options. He could go back to journalism, join a big bank or try another conventional path.

But he did something different.

He joined Moonfare when it was still a startup finding its feet in Berlin.

In our interview, Zeke talks us through why he made that call and his experience at Moonfare.

Take us through your journey from the Wall Street Journal to Moonfare.

There were actually a few steps in between. I went from the Wall Street Journal to do my MBA at INSEAD.

While there, I was part of a private equity investor circle where I met someone senior at Moonfare. That's how I first heard about the company. I remember there was quite a buzz about it on campus.

My plan was to put my journalism background and MBA to work while developing my interest in finance.

Moonfare was the perfect opportunity. And we found each other pretty serendipitously, right in the middle of the pandemic. So, when a role opened up, I went for it.

What was your role at Moonfare?

It was all about elevating our marketing strategy and creating a compelling story around each product, then turning this into attractive marketing material.

While institutional investors expect dense technical documents, our individual investors needed something clearer, more engaging. But this hadn’t been done before. Moonfare was first in the sector.

So we had to invent everything from the ground up. I worked closely with designers, almost like a creative director, to develop collateral with a publication-level quality that set a new benchmark for the industry.

What was it like working at Moonfare in those early days?

It was demanding but amazing, mainly because of the people. There was an incredible team spirit and I made some great friends from that time.

It was a classic startup: flexible, inventive, figuring things out as we went. At the same time, we worked to a high standard. Our clients expected a perfect experience and we had to deliver.

Which colleagues made an impact on you?

Magnus and Lorenz really stood out as mentors. They both went the extra mile to give me feedback that helped sharpen my professional skills.

Magnus in particular. He's just an extremely humble, approachable guy who's always willing to explain things or give you his time.

It was also a great opportunity to be around people like Steffen. Even through small touch points and just being in his orbit you can really learn a lot.

What's the biggest lesson you took with you?

Being ready to invent something new and execute it at a high level. At Moonfare, we did this over and over.

When the sales team needed reading material for investors, we had to figure out what the deliverable would look like, even though it had never been done before.

You don't get to do that if you work at a mature company. They already have all these processes in place. But at Moonfare, we had the space to create.

Figuring out how to build something from scratch and make it as good as possible the first time: it's a skill that’s useful in any role.

Which leads me to my next question: what is your current role?

I'm Group Communications Director at Energy Infrastructure Partners. We invest in energy infrastructure globally, including renewable energy sources.

Our portfolio includes everything from massive hydropower plants in the Alps, like batteries keeping the lights on in the winter, to power grids and gas pipelines ensuring energy flows where it’s needed.

I work for our Managing Partner, covering everything from press relations to internal communication, marketing across all channels and our company publications.

Final question: What advice would you give to someone joining Moonfare today?

Two things. One, make as many friends as possible and create bonds with your colleagues. Getting to know them and learning from each other takes some patience but it's really worth it.

And number two, no matter what your job description is, look for a way you can make the company better, make your team better or add some value.

It might not be exactly what was envisioned or promised in your job interview. But you might learn something that will help you in your next job and the job after that.

Thank you for your time, Zeke. It was great to reconnect with you.