Home → Blog → Company news → The energy sector needs more women: meet the ones who are helping Withthegrid grow
By
Karina Rosario Peguero
Published on:
08/03/2025
The energy and cleantech sectors are changing fast. As new job opportunities emerge, there’s real potential to build a workforce that’s diverse and inclusive. But to ensure women have a strong presence in shaping this future, we need more than just open doors. We need stronger representation and incentives, both in education and as they advance in their careers.
That’s why we want to use International Women’s Day as another opportunity to share the stories of three of the inspiring women that help Withthegrid grow further. What inspired them to join the industry? What specific challenges have they faced as women? What advice would they give to other women who are just starting out (or considering it)?
Whether you’re a student, a recent graduate, or transitioning from another field, we hope their insights encourage you to explore opportunities in this industry. We all look forward to welcoming more women as colleagues in the near future.
Meet the women of Withthegrid
At Withthegrid, women lead in diverse roles, each driving the company’s impact forward:
Anouk is our Head of International Operations. She focuses on getting the business ready for scale, finding ways to automate, and improving the way we work.
Anaïs is our B2B Marketer. She focuses on communicating about our mission and our products to the energy stakeholders it can serve.
Irene is our Recruiter. She’s responsible for attracting and hiring the right talents who will help us scale and accelerate our impact.
Despite the different roles, they all share one common goal: moving projects and sustainable growth forward.
What drives them?
When asked what keeps them motivated to push through challenges and lead projects, each one of them had a different answer, but a shared determination to make an impact.
For Anouk, her North Star is growth:
I really enjoy the interactions with the team and customers, and I’m constantly looking for ways to work smarter. Seeing how far we’ve come already, and the potential for the future, motivates me every day.
On the other hand, Anaïs thrives on curiosity and continuous learning:
I love that it forces me to learn constantly. Both the cleantech industry and the marketing field don’t stand still. Every day there’s a new challenge/opportunity that demands both creativity and technical understanding, which keeps things from ever feeling monotonous.
In the case of Irene, it’s all about connections:
I enjoy the personal interactions with candidates, getting to know their motivations, skills, and aspirations, and finding out whether Withthegrid and the role are the right fit for them.
Why the energy industry?
The reasons they joined this sector are diverse but equally powerful. For Anouk, the motivation to join the energy industry came from a deep sense of responsibility for the future.
The energy transition is one of the biggest challenges we face today. Contributing to addressing it gives me a deep sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Irene, meanwhile is moved by the people who drive the change:
The passionate and driven people! This industry is filled with problem-solvers who genuinely want to make a difference and leave the planet in better shape than we found it.
And sometimes it’s all about aligning work with values. In the case of Anaïs, she wanted to pursue a career with a positive impact:
I’ve always had a strong interest in sustainability and tech topics, and from the very start of my career, I sought a job that could make a positive impact. The clean tech industry perfectly aligned with all of these aspirations!
While passion might spark the initial interest in a field, it’s experiences that reinforce it over time.
In Anouk’s case, it has not been a single moment, but rather something that has developed over the years.
The more I witness and experience changes in the climate and increasingly extreme weather, the stronger my sense of urgency grows that drastic change is needed. At Withthegrid, it’s inspiring to see how actively companies are focusing on clean energy and the energy transition. Similarly, at my previous job at Tesla, the constant drive to lead change was incredibly motivating.
Overcoming challenges
Like in any industry, entering and learning the ways can be a challenge in itself. Our colleagues shared the underrepresentation and technical barriers they faced, but also how they overcame them with the right attitude.
My challenges were primarily rooted in lacking a technical background while entering a highly technical industry that was also predominantly male.
However, for me, the most important thing has always been staying true to who I am. While I may not speak the same technical language, I am confident that my skills still have valuable contributions to make.
I believe this applies not just to women, but to anyone. If you remain authentic and act with integrity, your voice will be heard.
While reflecting on the past, our colleagues shared what they wish to know earlier and what will they say to someone doubting if to start their careers in energy:
Once you start, you won’t want to switch to any other industry, there’s so much work to be done, and it will take a long time to finish.
I would tell them how incredibly fulfilling it is! There’s a unique energy (pun intended) in this industry. So much positivity and drive to make an impact!
We understand that starting is sometimes the most difficult step. But the industry is welcoming to all who would like to put the right energy into a project, no matter your gender or background. For the latter, our colleagues share how their career paths changed and brought them here.
I began my career in consulting because I wasn’t sure which industry truly interested me.
What I discovered during that time is that I’m passionate about process optimization and continuous improvement, regardless of the industry.
At Tesla, sustainable energy really sparked my interest, which led me to pursue my next job in the same field.
For Irene, her transition started with a job opportunity she was eager to embrace:
I transitioned into this industry about three years ago when I started recruiting for a clean tech scale-up.
Since then, I’ve never looked back! The combination of purpose-driven work and innovation keeps me engaged every day.
The future of women in energy
The landscape for women in cleantech has evolved over the past years with the growth of the industry, and we’re optimistic about where it’s headed. More representation, stronger networks, and greater opportunities are shaping the industry. We’re excited about the momentum in the industry, but we’re also realistic about the work still ahead.
Anouk believes these new opportunities are the door to more diversity in the field.
It’s inspiring to see more and more female colleagues across all sectors of the industry.
They bring unique perspectives and a different culture to companies, which I believe adds tremendous value. I hope this trend continues, not just in clean tech, but across the tech industry as a whole.
As a Recruiter, Irene sees the imbalance in the workforce, but believe change its being fostered:
There’s still a gender imbalance, especially in technical roles, but we’re seeing progress. More companies are recognizing the value of diverse teams, and as recruiters, we play a key role in fostering this shift.
In the coming years, I expect to see even more women stepping into leadership and technical positions.
Yet, there’s still work to be done. Our colleagues agreed that a more gender-balanced workforce means a wider range of perspectives, which leads to better innovation and problem-solving.
Anaïs and Anouk touch upon a very important point: diversity is all about a greater range of views.
I think it’s not just about fairness, but about effectiveness. Diverse teams challenge each other more, which leads to better problem-solving.
When you’re tackling something as complex as the energy transition, having a range of perspectives is essential.
A gender-balanced team brings diverse viewpoints, life experiences, and problem-solving approaches, leading to better decision-making and more innovative, creative solutions.
It’s important to address inequalities across all individuals, not just women, and to actively seek out and understand different perspectives in order to learn and grow as a team.
The power of role models
We all agree that representation can make a difference not only in how a diversity of perspectives makes work more effective but also in how these roles are perceived by the future workforce. What is being done now serves as a mirror for how young women can envision themselves tomorrow.
For Anaïs role models had been of great inspiration.
I enjoy following the work of several inspiring women in the energy industry, such as Kristal Hansley, the CEO of WeSolar, and Walburga Hemetsberger, the CEO of SolarPower Europe
I also admire women making a difference in the broader field of sustainability. Since I’m French, I’d like to highlight some inspiring French women: Maud Caillaux, co-founder of Green Got; Lucie Basch, co-founder of Too Good To Go; and Julie Chapon, co-founder of Yuka.
Advice for other women
Starting a career or a job in a new industry is a big step, our colleagues have one piece of advice: Go for it!
Anaïs would like to remind us that there is no such thing as being fully ready.
Don’t wait to feel 100% qualified before putting yourself forward. This industry needs fresh perspectives more than it needs perfection.
Find a niche where your skills intersect with your passions, and go all in. Your voice brings a dimension that’s still missing in a lot of rooms – so use it!
Finally, Irene encourages to embrace uniqueness:
Go for it! The clean tech industry needs diverse perspectives and fresh ideas, and you can truly make an impact. Don’t be afraid to step into a male-dominated field.
Your skills, passion, and unique approach are valuable. Surround yourself with a strong network, keep learning, and believe in the difference you can make!
Final thoughts
The energy industry is growing, and diversity will be key to shaping its future. If you’re considering a career in the energy industry, remember: your perspective, skills, and ambition are needed now more than ever.
We hope the insights of Anouk, Anaïs and Irene will inspire you to take that first step or to keep pushing forward if you’re already on your journey.
If you would like to know how your future role could look or if you are already looking for an opportunity in the energy industry, check out our opening roles, send us a message, or keep us in your radar.