This year, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend Distributech 2025 in Texas as an official media partner through WPS. As the leading event for transmission and distribution in the U.S., it continues to spotlight technologies shaping the future of power.
Though still fairly new to the industry, each event offers a fresh lens. I love watching how innovations unfold, trends emerge, and—perhaps most inspiring—how the faces in the room slowly begin to change. One shift that truly stood out this year was the growing presence of women in technical and leadership roles—not just in HR or communications, but in engineering, grid operations, and innovation. A small, funny moment at the conference—bumping into another woman in the bathroom line—struck me. Just a few years ago, that was rare. Now, it is a quiet but powerful sign: we are showing up, and we are being seen.
One of the true highlights of the week was the DTECH Women Happy Hour, which we were proud to co-host with Women in Cleantech and Sustainability. I am so grateful to their team for not only including us, but for creating such a thoughtful, empowering space. It was a reminder that real networking is about community—about honest conversations, shared experiences, and simply being in the room together. That is where meaningful connections begin.
For me, it was a standout moment. I had the chance to speak with women who have shaped this industry for over a decade—listening to their journeys, their insights, and the progress still to come. Grounding, inspiring, and unforgettable.
Many women I spoke with reflected on the impact of male mentors in their early careers—positive, formative relationships that reminded me how mentorship, at its best, transcends gender. Still, what came through just as clearly was the unique value of mentorship from another woman. A female mentor offers something distinct: not only technical wisdom, but also lived experience. She can offer insight into navigating salary negotiations, finding your voice in male-dominated spaces, or handling moments when your authority is quietly questioned. She understands the subtle dynamics because she has lived them—and she can help you prepare for the same obstacles she once had to face alone. In doing so, she makes the path forward that much clearer.
But this brings us to a deeper issue within the industry today: there simply aren’t enough women in senior leadership roles—especially in energy and tech. And that matters. Because while we can applaud the increasing presence of women across the workforce, representation at the top is still lagging far behind. This absence has real consequences. Without visible female leaders, many women are left to navigate career milestones on their own, wondering how to return from maternity leave, balance family demands, or plan their next professional move without a guide who’s walked that road before. In conversations throughout the event, this theme kept resurfacing: the need for mentorship, and the weight of trying to forge ahead when there are so few examples to follow.
With more women entering STEM fields than ever before, optimism is growing. Yet, progress will not happen without action. It is up to those of us already in the room to speak up, support one another, and leave the door open wider than we found it.
Strong internal DEI initiatives are essential—not just to hire women but to create environments where they can thrive, lead, and grow. These efforts need support from leadership, recognizing gender equity as a business priority.
We can’t wait for change to come to us. No one else will create this future—we must take the lead. The responsibility is ours, and the opportunity is now.
It is on us to make space for women to lead. That is how real transformation happens.
