There’s data that companies with three or more women on their boards of directors significantly outperform companies with no women on their boards. One woman shattering a barrier is only part of the work we need to do. I worry about the idea of a “glass ceiling.” It allows us to focus too much on one job or person. Q: What is the “glass ceiling” for women in the renewable energy industry? Does this differ for women of color? I’m excited to see how that shift will continue to play out in terms of actual changes in the workforce. We have a long way to go, but this shift provides hope for a path forward. There is now widespread recognition of the importance of diversity, and that’s promising. And, having shifted as much as it has in the last 10 years, we’re at an exciting point. What I have witnessed, however, is a transformation in the conversation around the issue of representation in the workforce. We’ve seen a small shift from 20-25% to more in the range of 25-30% of women in the workforce, but that’s not the dramatic change I’d like to see. I wish I could say I’ve seen this explosive growth of women in the industry’s workforce, but that hasn’t been the case. This November will mark my 10 th year at WRISE. Q: What changes have you seen in the industry’s workforce since you joined WRISE? In this interview excerpt, Kristen explains why workforce diversity is critical for the advancement of the renewable energy industry-and how trade shows can provide more opportunity and inclusivity.
#Wrise jobs professional#
That’s why we jumped at the opportunity to speak with Kristen Graf, the Executive Director of Women of Renewable Industries and Sustainable Energy (WRISE), a national nonprofit that promotes the education, professional development, and advancement of women to achieve a diversified workforce and support a robust renewable energy economy.
As event organizers, we’ve long recognized the importance of diversity-understanding how different perspectives, experiences, and skills enrich the event experience and encourages new conversation and problem-solving.