“Renewable energy is women-friendly. It has the potential to be customised for every use case, but I don’t think enough has been done. Women have always been both producers and consumers of energy, from gathering firewood to cooking. What’s needed is for women to understand that this is an area where they can make a difference and adopt this energy source that is modular and customizable [for their needs].”

Gauri Singh on Electric Ladies Podcast

COP28 set an ambitious goal to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030. Achieving this target requires countries to deploy clean energy to billions of people around the world. With investments in regulatory frameworks and grid infrastructure, there is a critical opportunity for women around the world to be involved in – and benefit from – the transition to clean energy.

Listen to Gauri Singh, Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), who is leading the way in the deployment of renewable energy in more countries. She has over 30 years of experience in renewable energy and sustainable development, including the development of India’s National Solar Mission. 

You’ll hear about:

• How is IRENA working with countries to develop tailored policy and regulatory frameworks to support their renewable energy goals.
• The shift in focus from renewable energy costs to issues around grid integration, storage, and flexibility.
• The unique opportunities renewable energy presents for women’s economic empowerment and food Security.
• Plus, career advice on getting out of your comfort zone, breaking out of career stereotypes, and finding good mentors.

“It’s important to get out of your comfort zone. You really need to push yourself to get out of the comfort zone because that’s what gives you Growth. Every woman has within her the potential to break boundaries. These boundaries are there to be broken.”

Gauri Singh on Electric Ladies Podcast

Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.

You’ll also like:

• ICWS Webinar, moderated by Joan Michelson, on the future of the energy transition and the grid.
• Bjork Kristjansdottir, COO/CFO of Carbon Recycling International, on how carbon recycling is accelerating the energy transition
• Halla Hrund Logadottir, Director-General, Iceland’s National Energy Authority, on how the country has become 85% renewable energy.
• Inna Braverman, Founder/CEO of Eco Wave Power, on how wave power works and her powerful personal story that reflects today’s geopolitical dynamics.

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Joan Michelson Electric Ladies Podcast - Innovation, Energy, Climate, Careers

Joan Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning strategic social impact and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader, who drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte, small businesses, and government agencies. She is an instructor on ESG issues to professionals, leaders and board members across industries. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Joan is also an accomplished journalist who has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), about innovation and leadership in energy-, climate- and sustainability-related issues across industries, featuring women experts.

She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been in the Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), New Thinking magazine, regional business journals; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.

Joan has spent her career working in energy-sustainability-climate-ESG issues and in marketing communications, including as head of communications and co-leader of the sales and marketing team of Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), driving “best year ever” growth and significantly accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Prior to GEM, she led marketing communications efforts to high-net-worth and high-visibility clients in management consulting-financial services companies Deloitte and American Express. She's a native of NYC and has a BA from UCLA, an MBA from Baruch College at City University of NY, and post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, The New School and The Aspen Institute, among others. She has a Sustainability and ESG certification from Competent Boards.