The clean energy industry just had its biggest year yet, supporting 1.4 million jobs and growing the U.S. economy by $150 billion. However, women make up just 32% of the full-time renewable energy workforce, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s 2025 report — largely because most women don’t know the door’s open.
So we headed to Charlotte, North Carolina for EmpowHER26, where theSkimm’s Kylie McConville moderated a live podcast with three of the industry’s most powerful women. “Power Players: Leading, Growing, and Thriving Through Every Stage of Your Career” brought together Kelly Veney Darnell (COO, American Clean Power Association), Melissa Peterson (president, Americas Onshore & US Country Manager, Ørsted Wind Power North America), and Amanda Koonjbeharry (public affairs manager, Leeward Renewable Energy).
The conversation covered opportunities in clean energy, what it takes to rise to leadership in a male-dominated field, and how to grow your influence along the way. Here are four takeaways that stuck with us.
1. The barrier to a career in clean energy isn’t a lack of skills. It’s a lack of awareness
The gender disparity in clean energy isn’t because women aren’t qualified, it’s because no one’s telling them that these jobs exist.
“I just don’t think we know that it’s a viable option. It’s not introduced to us,” said Darnell, who attended a women’s college and never once heard clean energy mentioned as a career path. “The more we can talk about it and bring it [up] to women, I think we’ll see the numbers increasing significantly.”
Peterson added that representation matters. “If they can see themselves or somebody who looks like them [in those positions above them], they might be more willing to lean in.”
2. Your current skills are more transferable than you might think
Spoiler alert: You don’t need an engineering degree to work in clean energy. Koonjbeharry’s background stems from public policy work on issues unrelated to clean energy. Peterson spent years as a field biologist watching bird migration patterns before pivoting into renewables. Darnell is a lawyer by training who’s made five career pivots.
“There’s HR, there’s back office, there’s finance, [and] legal,” Darnell said of the entry points for getting started. “We should not let [not being an engineer] scare us from wanting to be in the industry because there’s just so much opportunity."
Peterson’s advice? Stop thinking about your job title and start thinking about your actual skills. She pointed to a woman on her team who went from wedding planner to top-tier procurement pro because staying “cool under crisis,” being organized, and reading contracts closely translates a lot better than you’d expect.
3. Leveling up means shifting from “doer” to strategic leader
Getting promoted often means unlearning the exact thing that got you promoted in the first place.
“A lot of women are successful because we are the ‘doers,’” said Peterson. “As you move into a more leadership role, you have to shift that mindset from being a ‘doer’ to being a more strategic leader. You have to stop being the hero.”
Kelly’s framework for pushing past the fear that comes with that shift boils down to two words: “delusional grit.”
“I think imposter syndrome is just fear,” she said. Beating it “takes being able to challenge that fear of being in those positions and seeing yourself in that position of being successful.”
4. Relationships (not just job titles) grow your influence
You don’t need a senior title to start leading, and your network might matter more than your spot on the org chart.
“The power of relationships has literally been the catalyst for my career,” said Koonjbeharry. “It’s helped me get on boards. It’s helped me lead in the community.”
“It’s just taking that one step to let people know ‘this is what I want to do and this is where I want to be,’” said Darnell. “If you stay silent, no one can help you get there.”
The bottom line? “You can lead from all levels,” said Peterson. ”You have influence and you can lead across whatever level of whatever career you’re in.”
theSkimm
Clean energy might not be the first industry that comes to mind when you’re mapping out your next career move, but according to the women running it, that’s kind of the point. The entry points are more accessible than you might think, and the door to the industry is wide open.