At September’s Solar & Storage Live in Zurich, Solar&StorageXtra had the opportunity to talk to Carmen Madrid, Founder of Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) and Founding Director of Circular Synergies.
Carmen discussed WiSEu’s mission and work in the renewable energy sector, the initiative’s new mentoring platform, and the importance of creating a psychologically safe environment for all employees.
WiSEu’s strides were evident again at Solar & Storage Live in Barcelona (13-14 November), where members and allies again came out in full force to network and catch up.
Interview with Carmen Madrid, Founder of Women in Solar Europe
“For some, DEI naturally feels like the right thing to do, but for those more focused on business outcomes, it’s important to show the rewards of making an effort.”
Xtra: What is WiSEu’s mission in the industry?
Carmen: We are a network of women – a network for the professional development of women in the solar energy, storage, and EV charging industries. We aim to bring women together, not just to network, but also to guide them through leadership topics.
Contrary to what some might think, the network is not about criticising. It’s about understanding our realities, which are often shaped by cultural backgrounds, and helping to create a new future for the solar and energy industry.
We run workshops, host webinars online, and will soon launch our mentoring program – or rather, a mentoring platform.
Xtra: Has WiSEu shared any announcements (in Zurich)?
Carmen: We have announced the launch of our mentoring platform, which will allow women in the industry across Europe to connect with mentors and mentees anytime. It will let them find matches by fields of activity or specific topics they want to improve in.
Mentoring can be difficult for women to access for a simple reason: there are fewer women in leadership roles, which reduces the pool of potential mentors. Male mentors, meanwhile, are often more inclined to mentor other men.
There’s a lot of data supporting this – people tend to mentor like-minded individuals, which creates barriers for women. This is what we hope to address and resolve with our Women in Solar Europe mentoring platform.
Xtra: Can you talk to us about both your panel session and the WiSEu meetup?
Carmen: Today, at Solar & Storage Live Zurich, we were thrilled to host a panel discussing the business case for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Often, it’s women talking about these issues, but there’s a strong business case for DEI. Reports from McKinsey, EY, and the big four (organisations) show that companies with more diverse workforces and more women in leadership positions perform better financially.
For some, DEI naturally feels like the right thing to do, but for those more focused on business outcomes, it’s important to show the rewards of making an effort.
Industry leaders need to understand the significant benefits for their businesses when they embrace DEI.
Xtra: How can solar businesses investing in DEI develop inclusive leadership?
Carmen: There are many ways companies can implement DEI policies and activities. However, one major challenge, as highlighted by the EY index, is that leaders often believe their companies are better at DEI than they actually are. This is why leaders must take responsibility.
Everyone in the organisation is responsible for creating a psychologically safe environment, but that is key to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Psychological safety allows everyone to feel secure in expressing their ideas without fear of judgment. This starts with awareness of biases. Bias is natural – our brains use shortcuts to make quick decisions – but these shortcuts can lead to stereotypes.
Companies need to provide training to help employees identify and overcome biases. Everyone in the organisation, regardless of their level, is responsible for contributing to a psychologically safe environment, but leaders must lead by example.
Xtra: How can businesses in the solar industry learn how to make inclusive environments?
Carmen: For smaller businesses, especially in the solar industry where many companies have fewer than 50 employees, a good starting point is implementing existing DEI policies that provide guidance.
Another important element is to join networks like Women in Solar Europe. These networks ensure that women, even if they don’t find the support they need within their organisations, can access the resources and sense of belonging they need to thrive.
Even if a company is not yet perfect in its DEI efforts, demonstrating a willingness to improve is critical. There is support available from associations and networks to you get there.
Xtra: What are the benefits of attending Solar & Storage Live in Zurich?
Carmen: The benefits of attending Solar & Storage Live go beyond learning about the latest industry trends in technology and project development. A key ingredient is networking.
What I appreciate about this event is the growing effort in networking. Bringing thousands of people together is great, but the focus on one-on-one and smaller group interactions adds real value.
For example, through the Women in Solar Europe network, we’ve hosted meetups here, which have been incredibly helpful.
This event is unique because it combines technology showcases, industry trends, and excellent networking opportunities through the app and dedicated spaces.
Missed out on Solar & Storage Live, or want to come back for more? Don’t miss the London edition from 2-3 April 2025.
