This week, Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) gives voice to Elina Kivelä, chief of staff at Sweden’s Turn Energy. She says companies should implement mandatory physical training, daily wellness hours, great parental leave benefits, health check-ups, and a hybrid work model. “This is crucial for balancing family life, something we know women often struggle with the most,” she states.
October 4, 2024 Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu)
The solar industry is an innovative and fast-growing field, offering the opportunity to be a pioneering leader in driving gender equality and diversity. Structured mentoring programs, opportunities for professional growth, and encouraging female leadership at all levels will help women pave the way for more women to join and stay in the industry. I’ve been highly inspired by other women working in typically male-dominated companies, which has given me the strength to believe in my own success.
At Turn Energy, we are proud to have 50% of the C-suite positions filled by women, and on average, in the whole company, we are 40% female. Still, we have encountered challenges finding women for specific roles, particularly in more technical positions. Women are making their mark, especially in leadership, ESG, marketing, legal and finance, but are still underrepresented in technical, construction and maintenance roles. Historically, many of the applicants for these roles have been male, highlighting a gap in finding women in technical fields.
To address this situation, we’ve taken proactive steps. We’ve partnered with an external recruiting firm, actively worked on enhancing our employee branding, and worked extensively on our company culture to make it attractive for everyone, as we have many functions beyond engineering and construction.
We have implemented mandatory physical training, daily wellness hours, great parental leave benefits, health check-ups, and a hybrid work model. This is crucial for balancing family life, something we know women often struggle with the most. We are the trailblazers in our industry, leading the way in shaping the modern workplace in the solar industry. These efforts have allowed us to successfully find and recruit more talented women for our teams, reinforcing our commitment to diversity and inclusion across all business areas.
For real change to happen in the industry, many things are needed, and a good start is brave industry leaders giving opportunities outside the typical job descriptions or qualifications, ensuring pay equity, fostering inclusive cultures, and encouraging women not to hesitate to enter or advance in industries where they don’t see role models. Be a role model, and the change will come.
Fortunately, my colleagues and managers at Turn Energy have been incredibly supportive and have given me the space and opportunities to grow and find my path within the company. I’ve found that my contributions are respected, and my leadership is valued.
My ability to lead and operate in uncertain environments as a leader in the retail industry during the pandemic was invaluable when starting my career in this industry.