This week, women in Solar+ Europe give a voice to Jessimiela Usidame, purchasing manager at the British Elgin. She says that creating fairness means that they make room for women to speak, lead and form outcomes at every level. “Yet many women in commercial and project-oriented roles have to prove themselves again and again. There is often an unspoken suspicion about what we cannot do before someone sees what we can,” she says.
There is a unique energy that runs through the renewable industry – a constant momentum, a feeling of building something vital and new. That energy comes from the increasing diversity of voices that enter the space. It is no longer only engineers and financiers who shape the transition – it is also the people behind contracts, collaborations and connections. But as the sector grows, we must be more intentional about who is the future. If we want this industry to really thrive, women should be seen as central in strategic and commercial leadership, not just supporting support.
I was not going to participate in the renewable energy sector. I stumbled in, but I stayed because I saw how purchasing, when it is done well, becomes a strategic force. It is not just about managing suppliers or reducing costs. It is about influencing the results, making cooperation possible and coordinating decisions with long -term goals. My work has shown me that technical, commercial and relational perspectives are all essential and women often bring a combination of those strengths naturally.
Too often the leadership in our industry still reflects outdated models – those who parted characteristics such as cooperation, foresight and resilience. These are qualities that women bring in abundance. Yet we are often silenced in logistics or administrative roles, rarely handed commercial or strategic responsibilities without a fight. Equity starts with visibility. It is about making room for women to speak, to lead and form the results at every level.
When I entered this industry without a technical background, I had to reduce against assumptions. In purchasing, in particular, the position is often misunderstood as purely operational. I had to consistently argue for the value I collect, whether it is about the management of stakeholders, process improvement or the creation of coordination between teams. In the course of time I learned to let the results talk. Trust do not always come first, but clarity and results can build it.
During my time at East Anglia One Offshore Windpark, I managed O&M BOP, CTV, Telecom and HV contracts – all crucial in preparing the project for the rejection. That experience made clear how critical work is for the success and profitability of every energy project. At JPM and Southern Water, both companies with huge carbon reduction goals, I refined my skills in cross-regional stakeholders, in particular in EMEA and APAC, in contract management rolls. Nowadays I think in the IPP and EPC room the goal of making purchasing a value driver, not just a back-office function.
Yet many women in commercial and project-oriented roles have to prove themselves again and again. There is often an unspoken suspicion about what we cannot do before someone sees what we can do. But where there are challenges, there is also opportunities. The renewable energy sources sector is in Flux. That means there is room to define your role, bring your entire self and to lead your conditions.
With project purchase, gender dynamics are still very real. It remains a space dominated by men, especially with interface with engineering, legal or construction teams. I have seen how women are bumped into administrative tasks and less with commercial decisions. I had to challenge that dynamic – not only with words, but by showing how purchasing can be project success.
For every woman who enters this sector: do not shrink yourself to fit into the room – grows out to your voice. You don’t have to have all the answers on the first day. What you bring – your curiosity, perspective, integrity – is already valuable. Ask the questions. Take the space. Hold your soil. Your work is not only a task – it is part of a transformation. This industry needs people who combine competence with character and courage with cooperation.
You hear here, not because of happiness, but because of what you contribute. Let your presence be a signal of what is possible.
Jessy Usidame is a strategic purchasing specialist and supplier Relationship Manager, who is currently working as a purchasing manager at Elgin Energy. She recently came to the team to support the delivery of more than 1 GW of solar and storage projects in the United Kingdom and Ireland in the next 24-48 months. With more than 11 years of experience in the non -profit, banking, utilities and renewable energy sectors, Jessy specializes in contract negotiations, process improvement and performance management of suppliers (MSAS, SLAS, KPIs). Her performance includes leading purchasing for solar PV, Bess and onshore wind projects, managing global supplier relationships, delivering a reduction of 25% energy costs on 14 sites and implementing a supplier offboarding process for 350 suppliers. Jessy is passionate about helping women thrive in every season of life. Through mentoring and advocacy, she encourages women to pursue a career in renewable energy sources and to step into strategic and decision -making roles with confidence.
Interested in becoming a member Jessimiela Usidame And other leaders and experts in industry at women in Solar+ Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
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