In March, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) will launch its International Women’s Day 2026 campaign: “Beyond 10X: Leadership Without Double Standards.” Inspired by a reflection by Hungarian chess grandmaster Judit Polgár: “I had to prove myself 10 times more than if I had been born a boy,” the campaign invites solar industry professionals to reflect on how leadership is evaluated and how subtle double standards can shape career paths.
At a time when the energy transition is accelerating and energy security is more important than ever, the sector depends on innovation, collaboration and the full activation of talent. Ensuring that leadership environments allow diverse expertise to contribute and flourish is therefore not only a matter of fairness, but also a strategic imperative for building resilient energy systems.
While the renewable energy sector prides itself on innovation and forward-looking thinking, the way leadership behavior is perceived and assessed can still be influenced by long-standing assumptions. The Women in Solar+ Europe campaign aims to raise awareness of this dynamic while creating opportunities for constructive engagement across the sector.
“Many women in our sector do not face a competence gap, but a credibility gap,” says Zoraida Bejarano, Head of Talent at Nextenergy Group and ambassador of Women in Solar+ Europe. “The same leadership behaviors can be interpreted differently depending on who exhibits them. Recognizing those dynamics is the first step toward creating leadership environments where talent can thrive.”
Women in Solar+ Europe-WiSEu Network calls this phenomenon the ’10X Effect’. It describes the subtle pressures that many women face in professional environments, expectations to demonstrate higher competence, communication styles that are more critically assessed, or performance that can be attributed to external factors rather than expertise.
The challenge is not always explicit. In many cases, this is reflected in everyday professional interactions: feedback that focuses on tone rather than results, leadership styles that are labeled differently depending on gender, or the perception that mistakes carry different weight.
“These dynamics are often invisible until we start talking about them,” says Claire Gardner, Marketing Manager Europe at Solis and ambassador of the network. “The purpose of this conversation is not to frame the issue as a complaint, but to encourage reflection on how leadership norms are evolving.”
Jessimiela Usidame, Procurement Manager at Elgin, reflects on how these dynamics can shape leadership paths. “Many of us have experienced moments when we felt we needed to prepare more, justify decisions more clearly, or demonstrate expertise more explicitly than our peers. These are subtle signals, but over time they influence how professionals show up, how visible they become, and how organizations perceive leadership potential.”
For Maria Sabella, CEO and founder of Enlight Energy Services and WiSeu ambassador, the conversation is ultimately about leadership culture. “Innovation requires an inclusive and safe work culture and the freedom to contribute ideas knowing they will be considered without bias. When leadership environments combine consistent standards with strong soft skills such as listening, empathy and constructive dialogue, organizations unlock the full intelligence and potential of their teams.”
The Beyond 10X campaign focuses not only on awareness, but also on participation. This March, Women in Solar+ Europe invites professionals from across the sector to participate in a series of online discussions, a panel discussion and a reflective workshop designed to explore how double standards shape leadership experiences and how organizations can move towards more consistent evaluation practices.
To broaden participation, Women in Solar+ Europe has also introduced a personalized campaign banner, inviting professionals from across the sector, both women and men, to publicly express their commitment to leadership without double standards and to making a direct impact by contributing to reforestation efforts that benefit communities where women are disproportionately affected by environmental and economic vulnerability.
For Carmen Madrid, founder of Women in Solar+ Europe, the campaign reflects a broader vision of leadership within the energy transition: “The transition to resilient energy systems requires the full activation of talent,” says Madrid. “When leadership standards are inconsistent, organizations risk overlooking valuable perspectives and capabilities that are essential for innovation and strengthening energy security.”
Ultimately, the campaign positions International Women’s Day not only as a moment for recognition, but also as an opportunity for reflection and engagement across the sector.
Aga Michalak, Head of Marketing & ESG at JinkoSolar EU and Ambassador of Women in Solar+ Europe, emphasizes: “The point is not that women have to prove themselves ten times more. The real goal is to build leadership environments where this is no longer necessary.”
Professionals in the solar ecosystem are invited to join the campaign by joining the WiSEu Talks discussion, joining the Strategy Club session or contributing to the personalized campaign banner initiative. Learn more about the Beyond 10X: Leadership Without Double Standards campaign and how to participate at: https://wiseu.network/iwd26
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