This week, women in Solar Europe (Wisu) give voice to Rachele de Angelis, European Affair Officer at Italian Enel. She says that bringing new ideas from new academic backgrounds and early career experiences can help companies to achieve transformative insights. “These perspectives can contest old assumptions and generate more creative and inclusive solutions,” she says.
Working in the renewable energy sector is more than just a job – it is part of a powerful movement that transforms the world. As a woman who entered this field driven by passion and goal, I have seen first -hand how sex diversity and inclusion are not only crucial for fairness, but of vital importance for innovation, resilience and long -term success.
Renewable energy sources – solar, wind, storage, hydrogen and more – are still relatively new industries, which undergo rapid growth and transformation. This freshness makes them fertile soil for both young professionals and women. Many of us, including myself, have chosen to devote our professional life to stimulating the transfer of energy. It’s no coincidence. The novelty of this industry makes them more open to different backgrounds, more willing to challenge traditional standards and to be more able to rewrite what leadership looks like.
Innovation thrives where different perspectives are welcomed. Each of us brings our own journey – formed by different life experiences, training and challenges. These perspectives can dispute old assumptions and generate more creative and inclusive solutions. We must enable younger professionals in decision -making processes. We bring new ideas from our academic backgrounds and early career experiences. We do not have all the answers, but with more confidence we can offer transformative insights.
My path to renewable energy sources was not easy. I have not studied exclusive energy or climate change, but I have always known that I would end here. That certainty was rooted in a deep passion, which, in combination with determination, created opportunities that I could not ignore. After Stints at the OECD and in the insurance sector I heard a “phone call” from my home country and one of the leading companies of renewable energy bags. It was time. Regardless of the role, I knew that I finally contributed to the energy transition in a real, tangible way.
Although I have had many positive experiences, challenges remain. As a woman I still notice how we are often mentioned more as ‘people’ than as professionals. Although that may sound positive, it can subtly reinforce the stereotype that we are emotionally or overly sensitive – shining that are rarely attributed to our male colleagues in the same way. These unconscious prejudices are something that we must continue to tackle. I believe that future managers – including themselves, have a responsibility to promote equal treatment and to challenge outdated assumptions.
I did not grew up in an energy-oriented family, but the examples of my parents-through their dedication and life choices were always a leading light. Along the way I was lucky to meet two professional mentors: a school professor and an HR manager. Their conviction in me and their guidance was instrumental. I still remember the words of my professor: ‘Choose who you want to be, not just what you want to do. “ That advice stayed with me.
I have to admit that I am lucky to work for a team where we all believe in a very horizontal organization, which first comes from my boss. It is the competence that drives, not the role that you cover, according to our internal organization. This culture gave me the opportunity to play a leading role-and vice-chairman of the EU’s Solar Trade Association lawyer committee. That opportunity would not have been possible without the trust and support of my managers.
Working in gender-diverse teams has been transforming. The first thing you think when your boss is a woman is: “What if that was ‘me’ in just a few years?” Seeing a woman with goal – and sharing how she is in balance with work and equally at home with her partner – leadership leads within reach. Equally powerful is when male managers show no bias that trust you on the basis of merit, not gender. These moments quietly redefine what inclusive leadership looks like.
For young women who are considering a career in renewable energy sources: do not let under -representation scare you. The sight of a few women in hard hats is not a warning sign – it is a call to be to be deducted. I once underestimated the contribution that I could make, thinking that I didn’t belong. That was a mistake. Never let yourself be your own obstacle. There is a place for you in this transition, because you are the future.
Rachele is based in Brussels and is a European policy officer at Enel Group – a leader in renewable energy and electricity distribution. Before that she worked at the head office for international affairs at the CEO office. Responsible for the Renewables associations where her company is active, she has been chosen as vice-chairman of Europe’s largest trade association for solar energy. If she is not in the office, she usually runs or cooks a number of Italian plates while listening to opera music music.
Interested in becoming a member Rachele de Angelis And other leaders and experts in the industry at women in Solar Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
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