About Barbara
Barbara S. dos Santos, Ph.D. is the Utility Partnerships Lead at Arcadia and a national leader in clean energy policy. A Brazilian immigrant in the U.S., she brings a mission-driven approach to every role she takes on, leading with intention to build a more equitable and sustainable energy system.
Leadership isn’t about a title. It’s about how you show up, how you move through the world, and how you bring others with you.
There are many definitions of leadership, but the one that resonates most with me ties directly to mission. To lead, you must have a clear purpose. Leadership starts with asking: what am I here to do,and how can I move toward that goal with intention?
Once that’s clear, the next step is helping others get there too.
You might be surprised how few people live intentionally. Most go with the flow. But when you are called to a purpose, when you know what matters, you become a leader. And that purpose becomes your compass, helping you decide where to push, what to let go, and where to focus your energy.
WHEN YOU ARE CALLED TO A PURPOSE, WHEN YOU KNOW WHAT MATTERS, YOU BECOME A LEADER.
This mindset shaped how I navigated graduate school. During my PhD, a professor made it clear that they didn’t think I belonged. Their behavior was targeted and relentless. Looking around, I saw the pattern, students of color
received the same treatment, while white students did not. But I had a mission: to earn my doctorate. So I organized, supported my peers, and together we found ways around every unnecessary barrier. We became doctors because we
supported each other and stayed focused on the goal. That was leadership, even if no one gave us the title.
Now, working in the energy industry, my mission is different, but the approach is the same. I keep my eye on the big picture: building a sustainable, equitable future. The politics are complex. Policies shift, and many communities get left behind. But by staying grounded in purpose, I can lead my team through that uncertainty. We find what can be done, even in difficult times. And we look for ways to align technical work with equityand justice.
THE POLITICS ARE COMPLEX. POLICIES SHIFT, AND MANY COMMUNITIES GET LEFT BEHIND. BUT BY STAYING GROUNDED IN PURPOSE, I CAN LEAD MY TEAM THROUGH THAT UNCERTAINTY.
Leadership, for me, is never just about personal success. As an immigrant Latina, I’ve learned that the world doesn’t always expect me to lead. But that’s exactly why I must. Representation matters. And it’s not enough to open the door for yourself. You have to hold it open for others too.
If you care about justice, if you want to build something better, then you’re already being called to lead. The only question is whether you’ll answer that call with intention. My advice: lead on purpose. Not just for results, but for change.
This article was originally published in the September 2025 issue of the Women in Power Systems magazine, which you can access here.
