Aleezeh Shahid is a Consultant for Business Growth and Marketing Strategy at PTR Inc., where she provides strategic guidance on enhancing the company’s market position and expanding its business footprint. Leveraging her expertise in brand management, public relations, and strategic communication, Aleezeh helps shape impactful growth initiatives.
Previously, Aleezeh was the Brand and Strategic Communications Manager at PTR, where she spearheaded efforts to boost brand awareness, recall, authority, and advocacy across diverse business units. A significant part of her role was also dedicated to establishing thought leadership for the company’s C-suite executives.
Earlier in her career at PTR, Aleezeh led the power grid market intelligence team, specializing in the European and Middle Eastern Transmission and Distribution sectors. An accomplished author of numerous industry thought pieces, Aleezeh is recognized as a prominent voice in the energy sector. She serves on the Advisory Board of Women in Power Systems.
Aleezeh holds a Master’s degree in Electrical Power & Energy Systems and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from LUMS.
Energy My Way
In an industry traditionally dominated by male leadership, women in the energy sector are increasingly stepping forward as catalysts of change, breaking through longstanding barriers and leading the global charge toward a sustainable future. Their influence is reshaping the dynamics of energy organizations and accelerating innovation, diversity of thought, and sustainable growth.
Historically, the energy sector has presented women with numerous obstacles, ranging from underrepresentation in technical roles to limited visibility in executive leadership positions. Yet today, a growing cohort of inspiring women is overcoming these hurdles and significantly impacting the industry. Their voices are critical as the energy landscape rapidly evolves to address the climate crisis, energy security, and the urgent transition to renewable and sustainable energy sources.
Women professionals in power systems bring distinctive strengths to the table, such as strategic vision, collaborative leadership styles, and a strong emphasis on long-term, sustainable solutions. By leveraging these attributes, female leaders across the sector are breaking glass ceilings and driving transformative progress toward achieving global energy goals aligned with sustainability and climate action.
Take, for example, the increasing presence of women in key technical roles within renewable energy projects. Women engineers, data analysts, and technology innovators are at the forefront of developing cutting-edge solutions, from enhancing grid stability to improving energy storage technologies.
Their creativity, perseverance, and attention to detail contribute significantly to operational excellence and innovative breakthroughs.
Leading with Diversity
Furthermore, women’s role as thought leaders is profoundly reshaping industry dialogues. At international conferences and through various platforms, female executives and specialists are bringing fresh insights, highlighting crucial intersections between gender equality, energy access, and sustainable development. This holistic perspective is essential for driving inclusive energy policies and ensuring that sustainable energy solutions reach all communities equitably.
Organizations that embrace gender diversity in leadership consistently demonstrate better performance and innovation. A diverse leadership team can foster richer discussions, generate new ideas, and promote comprehensive risk management strategies.
Encouragingly, many companies within the power sector are now actively adopting diversity and inclusion policies, mentorship programs, and professional networks to support women’s career advancement. However, the industry still has significant room for growth, especially at the highest levels.
Women Inspiring Women
The journey for women in the energy sector is indeed challenging, but it is also filled with immense opportunities. As advocates, innovators, and decision-makers, women professionals have a critical responsibility to actively mentor the next generation of female leaders. Providing support networks, sharing valuable experiences, and encouraging younger women to explore STEM careers can significantly close the gender gap and build a robust pipeline of talent committed to a sustainable energy future.
AS ADVOCATES, INNOVATORS, AND DECISION-MAKERS, WOMEN PROFESSIONALS HAVE A CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTIVELY MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE LEADERS.
Throughout my career, I’ve been inspired by extraordinary women who’ve shaped the energy sector with their passion for sustainability and innovation. My colleague, Saifa Khalid, leads PTR’s power grid research team, providing remarkable insights to leading electrical equipment manufacturers worldwide and demonstrating decisive leadership every day.
Alexandra da Fonte Martins at CWIEME champions women’s visibility and voices through her influential work in content leadership, and she also drives CWIEME’s Women in Engineering Programme at the Berlin exhibition, creating mentorship and visibility opportunities that uplift female engineers and build community across the sector.
My dear friend, Marium Raseed, has a truly inspiring journey, proving that women can lead at the cutting edge of EV innovation and research. As a Power Electronics and HV Battery Systems Research Engineer at Ford, Marium works in the Electric Vehicle and Digital Systems group within the Research and Advanced Engineering division. Her expertise spans power electronics for HV fuel cell and battery systems, inverter design, and improving efficiency while reducing costs.
And, of course, Debbie Ellis, whom I had the pleasure of interviewing at the start of my career for a research project, has over 35 years of experience in the sector. She champions clean energy solutions such as solid dielectric switchgear and reclosers for medium-voltage distribution.
These women are role models illuminating the path forward for countless others.
Leading a Sustainable Future
As we look ahead, it is evident that achieving sustainable energy transformation requires the full participation of women professionals in all aspects of power systems. Breaking existing barriers and amplifying women’s leadership is a strategic necessity that will accelerate our collective journey toward a cleaner, more resilient, and equitable global energy system.
Let us continue celebrating and elevating the achievements of women in the energy sector. Together, we can dismantle barriers, inspire future leaders, and ensure that the sustainable energy transformation is truly inclusive, impactful, and enduring.
The charge toward a sustainable future must be powered by diverse voices, and women, undeniably, are leading the way.
This article was originally published in the September 2025 issue of the Women in Power Systems magazine, which you can access here.
