In Episode 25 of Power Players by Origis®, host Glenna Wiseman, Head of Marketing and Communications for Origis Energy, and Doseke Akporiaye, Executive Director of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), discuss career growth in renewable energy and the contribution women have made to the industry.  

MEET THE PLAYERS

Doseke Akporiaye is the Executive Director at Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE). She has an extensive career and executive experience that spans over 20 years, in Strategy and Business Development, Strategic Human Resources, Performance Management, Organizational Design and Operations Management.

Glenna Wiseman brings nearly two decades of renewable energy experience into her role as Head of Marketing & Communications for Origis Energy. A discipline for inclusive stakeholder engagement drives her long-standing determination to amplify customer stories and build a strong company brand.

Unlikely Journey

Wiseman kicked off the conversation with Akporiaye talking through her career path to Executive Director at Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE).

She began as a computer programmer. She knew she wanted something different. So she began talking to people in different industries and making moves. Eventually she began working in clean energy deploying capital for residential solar in off grid communities with no access to electricity.

Her initial work in renewables was providing “residential solar for people at the bottom of the [economic] pyramid. Or people that were in rural areas, or people that couldn’t afford electricity,” said Akporiaye. “Balancing that with revenue models or financing models that combined aid but also combined their ability to pay.”

One of the major lessons Akporiaye learned through her career journey was the need for transferable skills, which is something she thinks women often undervalue and don’t see how to transition into renewable energy. This is an important message she tries to relay for an industry that is rapidly growing.

“I think a lot of the time for some of the people in our community, we are just so self-conscious,” said Akporiaye. “Or we feel that our work should speak for ourselves, that we shouldn’t market ourselves as much. We shouldn’t put ourselves out there as much, right? But you really do need to because you need to be top of mind with people that can connect you to your next opportunity. You need to be top of mind with people that are looking for good people. You need to be top of mind with people that are looking for partners.”

Putting a Human Face on Renewable Energy Job Stats

Wiseman pointed out that the renewable energy industry employs approximately 3.5 million people in the United States. Last year, adding another 150,000 jobs.

Akporiaye gave examples of the human faces of those jobs. Many of these women were in communities that were not doing well economically, but renewable energy onshored manufacturing jobs or trades that offered them better work than they had ever had previously.

“The industry is reviving, not just other sectors that have been dead, but hope. Reviving hope for people, giving families dignity,” said Akporiaye.

She gave the example of three women who participated in programs through WRISE to recruit more women into the renewable energy industry. One is now a solar technician for a developer. Another works for an investment firm, and another is at a clothing company. These women are part of the growing percentage of female participation in the renewable sector.

These are also places in the industry that women with transferrable skills like HR or finance and accounting also find meaningful work.

WRISE and Women’s Influence in the Renewable Energy Sector

WRISE is celebrating 20 years as an organization this year. Akporiaye spoke about their mission and success over the past two decades advocating for women in the renewable energy space.

Akporiaye said her work with WRISE is often about advocacy for diverse workforces with company boards and executives as well as training and mentorship for women to move into leadership positions.

“The data is there that having more diverse teams leads to higher gross profits for companies,” said Akporiaye. “The data is there that having more diverse team leads to more success in international market expansion.”

Conclusion

Wiseman and Akporiaye wrapped up discussing what the next 20 years might look like for the industry, acknowledging there is currently some uncertainty about policy in the U.S.

“We want to be forward-looking in our approach, you know, incorporate innovation, sustainability. Adapting how we push all these things and remain focused.” Said Akporiaye. “The danger is being distracted by this current uncertainty and not remaining focused on what lays ahead. That is what we’re going to keep on doing at WRISE.”

Wiseman agreed, “Even if you don’t have a total vision. Even if you don’t have all the answers in front of you, do the next best thing.”

During their conversation, Wiseman and Akporiaye discussed three key takeaways:

1. Transferable skills are often undervalued by workers, but the key to success in the renewable energy sector.
2. Behind every energy policy and statistic about clean energy is a person who has a job that’s bringing economic life and dignity to families and communities.
3. The energy sector today was built in the past. Don’t let temporary times of uncertainty distract from the work of advancing the renewable energy sector for the future.

We’d like to thank our Power Players expert guest Doseke Akporiaye and Glenna Wiseman for their insightful conversation.

Resources:

Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE)