This week, women in Solar+ Europe give a voice to Krystyna Kacperska, marketing director Europe at the Poland -based Segenolar. She says she never labeled her leadership style, but she always sought to lead authentically. “That includes vulnerability. I lead in the same way as I live: solution -oriented, assertive, empathetic and open. I give a lot to what is happening at work, and although I still learn to set limits and link, I know that care makes me a stronger leader,” she says.
Working in the solar industry has been a transforming experience – professional and personal. Like many technical sectors, ours still have a considerable genderon balance. Men have the most leadership roles. Nevertheless, that has enabled very imbalance that communities such as Wiseu appear – spaces where women connect, share and argue for a more inclusive future.
I attended my first Wisu session in 2023, a year after entering the industry. I already led a small team but was missing trust. To be honest, I hardly went – I felt uncomfortable in network spaces. But that session has changed everything. I met inspiring women, some of whom became permanent professional contacts. What is more important, I started to recognize situations that I had wiped out as ‘normal’ for what they really were: inappropriate, uneven and part of a larger pattern. That consciousness was the first step in the direction of deeper transformation – in myself and in how I lead.
A stereotype about female leadership that I have consistently encountered, in and outside the sun sector, is the idea that women are ‘too emotional’ to be guided. Research shows that women generally come into contact with their emotions more, but that is a force, not a mistake. Emotional consciousness does not hinder cooperation; It improves it. Leaders who manage emotions promote more authentic, connected teams. And authenticity is increasingly seen as a leadership power.
I have never labeled my leadership style, but I strive to lead authentically. That includes vulnerability. I lead in the same way as I live: solution -oriented, assertive, empathetic and open. I give a lot to what is happening at work, and while I still learn to set limits and disconnect, I know that care makes me a stronger leader.
During a recent Wisu workshop what I noticed was not one story, but the realization of how similar our experiences are, regardless of age or background. Many of us had had to deal with inappropriate comments, double standards or our authority that was questioned. Hear “yes, I experienced that too,” reminded me that these are not isolated experiences – they are systemic.
This clearly plays in feedback. Although its form can be comparable between genera, content and interpretation often. Assertiveness in humans is praised; In women it is seen as dominant or ‘non -preminin’. The emotional reactions of men are often welcomed; Ladies are rejected as ‘too sensitive’. I was even told that my emotions were “just hormonal” – a biased and minimizing comment.
There are also data that demonstrates that well -performing women receive more negative feedback than men. While men internalize positive stereotypes, women more often have negative absorbs. I remember that HR explained that women simply “apply less often” for leadership roles. But I thought of those Hewlett-Packard study men apply when they meet 60% of the criteria; Women wait until they all meet them. This is not about ambition – it is a deeper, systemic problem.
To support the next generation of female leaders, especially in our industry, we must go beyond traditional leadership forms. The current workplaces appreciate inclusiveness, empathy and flexibility. Yet I wish I had known before that Impostor syndrome is customary. I regularly face it – I think about whether I am able or just happiness. But I learned that those feelings are not facts.
A tool that I use is my “trust folder” – a collection of positive feedback, performance and friendly words that I visit again during moments of doubt. I also accepted that you don’t have to keep your work every day whether you always feel completely fulfilled. Setting up and defending healthy boundaries is not only valid – it is essential. And although leadership does not have to fit into a fungus, representation makes a real difference. Early in my career I had no senior female role models. That changed when I entered the solar industry, and it helped me to see my own potential clearer. Visibility is important.
But we can’t do this alone. Men must be part of the conversation – they still have a lot of influence. Without their involvement, change will be slow and incomplete. But participation must start listening. In Poland it is still customary to see all the mans of all male rights discuss-a approach that the point is completely missing. We need men to trust and believe what women say about their experiences. That trust is where change begins.
A super power that I have discovered is my ability to bridge generations. I am between Millennials and Gen Z, which gives me a unique perspective. I appreciate age-diverse teams and make a point to learn from both older and younger colleagues. That ability to connect with generations helps to build stronger, more inclusive teams – and it is something that I will continue to feed.
The industry for solar and clean energy offer a powerful opportunity – not only to combat climate change, but to reform leadership. By connecting to fairness, diversity and inclusion, we not only build stronger teams – we build up the future. And in that future, any types of leader should have the space to thrive.
Krystyna Kacperska is a dynamic and results-driven marketing leader with a strong focus on the solar industry. Since 2022 she has been the marketing strategy in the room for renewable energy – which now acts in the course of the Marketing Director Europe at Segenolar, a leading international PV distributor. Previously she was head of marketing at Menlo Electric, where she led marketing efforts in the EMEA region. Krystyna specializes in developing and implementing international marketing strategies, managing well -performing external teams in time zones and building strong partnerships with global manufacturers. She brings a unique mix of millennial pragmatism and Gen Z Boldness, which combines strategic thinking with creative implementation in the fast world of solar energy.
Interested in becoming a member Krystyna Kacperska And other leaders and experts in industry at women in Solar+ Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
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