‘Achieving real gender equality in the solar industry remains far from easy’
pv magazine, December 5, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe gives voice to Antonio Arruebo, Market Analyst at SolarPower Europe. He says that widespread lack of awareness about the barriers women face throughout their professional journeys is currently the major hurdle for change. “Many obstacles are invisible or completely normalised,” he also stated. “Without more education and conscious effort, this self-perpetuating cycle will not be reversed.”
Rewriting the leadership narrative: Women redefining power in the energy transition
pv magazine, November 11, 2025 - Ideas about who is “fit” to guide others have long been shaped by traditions that elevated certain traits and dismissed others. These inherited assumptions continue to influence professional environments, often limiting how women’s contributions are perceived and how they perceive their own potential. During the Women in Solar+ Europe gathering at Genera in Madrid, professionals from across our sectors explored how these long-standing views can be challenged and replaced with more empowering perspectives. Through open dialogue, they examined the beliefs that influence confidence, ambition, and presence, and reflected on how a more expansive and human-centered approach to leading can take root.
‘I’ve seen women promoted while pregnant, and others leading teams while working part-time’
pv magazine, November 18, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Marion Bourdais-Massenet, Country Manager France at Viridi Energies Renouvelables. She says true inclusion comes from daily practice, allyship, and self-reflective leadership, encouraging young women to pursue their potential and contribute confidently to the energy transition.
‘Inclusive leadership requires a very specific set of competencies’
pv magazine, November 14, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Clémence Leclair, ESG Manager at Germany’s Belectric. She says active listening, empathy, and self-reflection are are essential components of strong leadership within the renewable-energy industry. “As professionals in research and development already know very well, there is rarely just one path to excellence. In fact, some of the most unconventional approaches can turn out to be the most effective or innovative,” she states.
‘We need male allies who understand that inclusion benefits everyone’
pv magazine, November 7, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Rosilena Lindo, Global energy and climate advisor and former Secretary of Energy in Panama. She says that gender equality is not a women’s issue, but rather a global development imperative. “The gender and energy dialogue has evolved. Women are not victims, they are agents of change,” she states.
‘There really is a place for everyone in solar’
pv magazine, October 31, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Rachel Hayes, the Head of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) team at Solar Energy UK. She says careers in solar often evolve laterally, from project development to ESG, from engineering to policy, reflecting how transferable and rewarding these roles are. “The challenge isn’t retention; it’s entry,” she states.
Building an equitable energy transition: Insights from IRENA’s 2025 Gender Report
pv magazine, October 24, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) analyzes the findings of IRENA’s latest “Renewable Energy: A Gender Perspective (2025)” report, revealing that women’s representation in the renewable energy workforce remains stagnant at 32%, unchanged since 2019. Through the voices of WiSEu ambassadors and industry leaders, this article explores the persistent barriers, pay gaps, and cultural biases that continue to limit progress and the collective responsibility to build a truly inclusive and people-centric energy transition.
‘I discovered the importance of letting results speak louder than words’
pv magazine, October 17, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Maribel Gonzalez, Commercial Director Company at UK-based Brighter Green Engineering. She says breaking through traditional barriers required patience, confidence, and a focus on excellence. “Continuous learning became a personal compass; every challenge was a chance to adapt and grow,” she states.
‘You deserve your seat at the table’
pv magazine, October 10, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Hollie Carek, General Manager UK & Global Head of Partner Marketing Strategy at UK-based OpenSolar. She urges women to invest in relationships and networks while curating group of peers and mentors who can support growth and open doors.
‘Trust your knowledge and never hesitate to express your opinion’
pv magazine, October 3, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Sandra Kupiszewska Stylec, Revenue Management Director at Poland’s Keno sp. z o.o. She says that, without cohesion, even the most diverse teams may struggle to innovate. “Your voice is valuable, and your perspective deserves to be heard. This industry is dynamic and variable; there are no fixed rules that can’t be questioned or reimagined,” she states.
Inclusive leadership emerges as a key factor in accelerating the energy transition
pv magazine, September 26, 2025 - During EU PVSEC 2025, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu), in collaboration with PVSEC, hosted the workshop “Leading with Inclusion: Exploring the Six Traits of Inclusive Leadership,” creating a dynamic forum for dialogue and co-creation. Drawing on Deloitte’s framework, six industry leaders and experts guided participants through the traits of commitment, courage, cognisance of bias, curiosity, cultural intelligence, and collaboration. What emerged was a collective recognition that inclusive leadership cannot be reduced to a single quality, but must be consciously nurtured through the interplay of all six traits.
‘Progress is happening, but it remains slow’
pv magazine, September 19, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Maria Gil, Business Development EU at Spain’s Solargrade. She says that real change in the energy industry only comes when companies and institutions move beyond statements and consistently turn policies into sustained action. “As the sector grows and requires more workers, it must bring in talent with equity at its core, ensuring inclusion moves from policy documents into everyday practice,” she states.
‘Self-doubt has prevented many talented women from seizing opportunities they fully deserve’
pv magazine, September 12, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Fran Button, Deputy CEO at British Solar Renewables (BSR). She says mentorship and inspiring female leaders can help young women clearly visualise their own career path. “That visibility is vital,” she states. “When I started out, such pathways were far less obvious.”
‘I’ve learned to let the mission speak louder than the doubt’
pv magazine, September 5, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Polina Vasilenko, founder and CEO of France’s HelioRec. She says that, even after more than two decades in energy sector, she still face bias and scepticism. “Sometimes people underestimate me simply because I’m a woman. Other times, they dismiss my work because it’s unconventional; floating solar doesn’t always fit within traditional views of energy infrastructure,” she states.
‘Diversity and inclusion are not nice-to-haves, but essential ingredients for progress’
pv magazine, August 29, 2025 - Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Laura Riedl, Digital Marketing Manager at Solis. She says that the energy transition is inherently complex and multidimensional, which makes the diversity of perspective invaluable. “It helps uncover needs that might otherwise remain invisible and ensures that solutions are robust enough to serve broad communities,” she states.
‘Are there enough women in the room?’
PV Magazine, August 16, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Darina Merdassi, the CEO of energy group Decci. She says that, although she entered the energy sector many years ago, she is still one of the very few women on speaking panels, with the "situation not being much better in the audience."
‘It is crucial for our industry to take proactive steps to engage and empower young girls from an early age’
PV Magazine, August 9, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Paula Santolaria Martín, Senior Business Analyst at Schneider Electric. She says diverse teams not only enhance decision-making processes but also cultivate a sense of belonging and unity. “Embracing these two factors is not just a must nowadays, but it also fuels and lightens our ability to thrive in a dynamic and ever-evolving industry like Solar PV globally,” she stated. https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/08/09/it-is-crucial-for-our-industry-to-take-proactive-steps-to-engage-and-empower-young-girls-from-an-early-age/
‘I was hired while on maternity leave’
PV Magazine, August 2, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Valentina Scaglione, Asset Management Director at Econergy Group. She says Companies should recognize and accommodate the specific needs of women, such as flexible work arrangements. "Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was already working flexibly from home and the office, which positively impacted my well-being," she states.
‘Being a woman in solar is about more than creating your own career’
PV Magazine, July 26, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Soledad Andrade, Business Development and Operations Specialist at Spain's Youdera. She says, in its early days, she was often the only woman in meetings or on-site visits, making it harder to prove her value. However, as more women join the sector, it has become a more comfortable and supportive environment for development and growth.
'Empowering female entrepreneurs is essential for attracting more women to executive positions'
PV MagazineJuly 19, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Camille Zimmermann, Investment Director at France-based equity firm Omnes. She says that, when there are women at the helm of companies, it seems there is no problem in finding other talented women to join the ranks of their organizations.
‘Early in my career, I had the tendency to behave and perform like a man’
PV Magazine, July 12, 2024 - Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Mary Riccio-Kjærgaard, CEO and owner of Danish PV installer Risskov Teknik & Solar Aps. She explains how the idea of leadership is still being negatively influenced by cultural stereotypes and says women can accomplish more and go further by simply being “female leaders.”