Female Energy Episode 1 Recap

In episode 1 of Female Energy, we dove into the personal journeys of female leaders in the energy space. Read on to get an overview of what we talked about, and who we talked to.

Webinar overview

This webinar series is a relaxed, open and honest deep dive into all things Female Energy. Our very own Becky Bradnam has partnered with Victoria Mant to release a webinar series sharing their stories and careers as females within the energy sector. Expect insights into controversial topics around women in the industry, and a safe environment to share your own thoughts and personal experiences.

The series provides a great opportunity for women to connect with other women in similar sectors around the world, and to build relationships and inspire those involved. We hope our webinar series shines light onto female perspectives from within the male-dominated sector.

What the Experts Said in Episode 1:

Kerry Hayes - Portfolio Director – Offshore Wind, Simply Blue Group. 

Kerry was recently appointed as Non-Executive director at RenewableUK, and during the webinar took us through the journey of how she got there.

Get to know Kerry

“I work for a company called Simply Blue Group; a blue economy developer focusing on  early-stage projects. My role within the company focuses on the offshore wind and floating offshore wind projects we are pioneering. Most recently I got elected onto the RenewableUK Board after a stint of 2 years sharing the RenewableUK shadow board.”

Kerry’s advice on board election processes - The benefits of a shadow board

• Shadow boards can be a fantastic starting point that provides learning and growth opportunities.
• Be clear on what being on a board entails.
• Preparation is key - Books and podcasts are a great way to learn about other peoples’ experiences.
• Learn from eachother- No matter the level, everyone can learn something from one another.
• Embrace the process for what it is and gain as much experience as you can.

How do you know a board is the right thing for you?

• Remember there are different types of boards to consider.
• Ask yourself: Could you add a specific thing from your skillset that perhaps isn’t related to your day job?
• Remember you can add value at any point in your career, no matter your seniority.
• Remember there is no monoply on knowledge and having a variety of different skillsets across the board is essential. 

How do we ensure a more diverse industry in the future?

• Companies must be conscious of their hiring habits.
• More diverse candidates should feel comfortable in putting themselves forward.
• Securing a pipeline of women in the workforce across all levels will encourage women to climb the ladder to more senior positions.

 

Lauren Burm – Senior Director, Public Affairs, Offshore Wind, Vestas. 

Lauren took us through her experience of juggling career and family life, and gave us her tips on securing a fulfilling work-life balance.

Lauren's Story

“I started my career in the Massachusetts state house in 2003. A big part of what I always did and continue to do is network. While I was in those first few roles of my early career, I got to meet lots of different people which led to me leaving the state house and working at a trade association. While I was there, I was approached by someone recruiting for Orsted who was looking for someone to help support the setting up of the business in the US. Long story short, I ended up working there for 6 years. Looking for a new challenge, I then fell into working within the cannabis industry for a short while before returning to the energy industry and joining my current company, Vestas.” “My job is super important to me, yet my job as a mom is more important. I have a 12-year-old son and an almost 10-year-old daughter who were both born when I was working within the depths of those nuclear days. Balancing raising children and having a career especially while maintaining senior roles is difficult. Covid-19 made me release what is important and now I make a conscious effort to balance my time. It is important for companies to be flexible and for women to set boundaries regarding their family/work-life balance. It is super important for all women to stick together, especially in the workplace.”

Lauren’s advice for getting back into the industry

• Don’t put pressure on yourself - You are allowed to change your mind.
• Have confidence - If you are good at what you do, you can apply your skills to any industry.

Tips for gaining confidence in networking

• Bring a colleague/friend or find a friendly face. Remember you are not alone!

 

Find out more

I hope you enjoyed our recap of episode 1 of Female Energy. Find out about the next webinar in the series by following Becky Bradnam on LinkedIn. We look forward to seeing you in the next webinar!