This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives the voice to Darina Merdassi, the CEO of energy group Decci. She says that even though she entered the energy sector many years ago, she is still one of the few women sitting on speaking panels, while the “situation among the public is not much better.”
I think it’s fair to say that I didn’t choose the energy sector; the energy sector chose me. Immediately after completing my master’s degree, I started working in the sustainable energy sector. My company – Decci – allowed me to grow and learn through experience, and that also applies to the business side. They have been there through all seasons of my life. I obtained my MBA, participated in many local and international projects, negotiated or gave speeches, as well as getting married and becoming a mother. The support I received allowed me to grow, both professionally and personally. I am aware that for many women, even today, this is still not the case. I wish more companies would embrace and support women and work with them. Together with them, the companies would become stronger.
You could say that I have always been lucky to work with great people, both men and women. But sometimes I still look around and wonder, “Are there enough women in the room?” I got into the energy industry all those years ago, and to this day I’m still one of the few women on the panel of speakers, and for the public the situation isn’t much better.
When I walk into a business meeting, interview, or speaking engagement, I often feel a pause in which this unspoken question hangs in the air: “How did she come to run an energy company?” They wait for me to start speaking, and usually there is relief in their eyes when they realize I know what I’m talking about. I wish we could skip this part.
I am currently looking for a new team member and I would like to have a woman on our team, but there are not many people applying for this position. I believe there is a prejudice against the energy sector, combined with low self-esteem. Women study technical and scientific fields, but we struggle to retain them professionally in these sectors due to various reasons, whether it be a lack of support, prejudice or social norms. Unfortunately, women have inherited a tendency to adapt their actions and ambitions to the social norms around them. I come from the Czech Republic, where women are still learning to trust their judgment and build their self-confidence, often with minimal support.
Of course I remain optimistic. And I see that the energy sector is changing more than ever. The trend towards more decentralized energy solutions, combining renewable energy sources with modern innovations, opens up new possibilities, new positions and new flexibility in the workplace. As we integrate these new technologies into energy solutions and future-proof the electricity grid, we must also open the door further to women. The industry needs more female role models – I know I need them. It is important that there is someone there who understands you, knows the challenges you face and can advise you when necessary. I think this balance of voices is critical to our future.
Darina Merdassi is the CEO of Decci, an energy group active in the field of sustainable energy and modern energy projects since 2007. Merdassi has been involved in many local and international projects, working with leading energy companies, banks and regulatory institutions. She holds a master’s degree from the University of Economics in Prague and her MBA from the University of Jean Moulin Lyon. Through Decci, it manages renewable energy sources with a capacity of 44 MW, and since July 2024 a hybrid energy source – Energy Nest – with a total installed capacity of 52.4 MW, including the largest battery storage in the Czech Republic. She is about to take on her next challenge in wind energy. Merdassi thinks about energy in a comprehensive and sustainable way. And when she’s not thinking about the future of energy, she puts on something comfortable and spends time with her kids in the park next to her apartment.
Interested in participating Darina Merdassi and other female leaders and industry experts at Women in Solar Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
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