Left to right: Alisha Raghoonanan, Juliana Diniz, Shanthini Madras Sambandan, America Zelada Leon, Lalitha Mahalingam
Many people enter the renewable energy field for different reasons. Some by chance, others by choice. In this edition of the
2025 Inspiring Stories series, we feature alumni from the
Women in Wind Global Leadership Program Class of 2024 Cohort who share
what inspired them to join the wind energy sector. Their paths are unique, but they are all driven by a common goal: to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
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 My journey into renewable energy wasn’t planned—it was a complete chance. After earning my degree in Civil Engineering, I began my career in commercial construction, steadily working my way up to the role of Site Manager. It was during this time that I was headhunted by a renewable energy company to lead the construction of a wind farm in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. At first, I assumed it would be a straightforward project, especially compared to the technically complex works I was accustomed to. But I quickly discovered that building a wind farm was one of the most intricate and challenging projects I had ever encountered. It was also one of the most rewarding. The Oyster Bay Project became a turning point in my career. I fell in love with the renewable energy sector, its purpose, its complexity, and its potential to shape a sustainable future. From that moment, I knew that wind energy was more than just a job, it was my vocation. Since then, I’ve grown through various roles in the industry. I started as a Project Engineer, focusing on development, feasibility studies, and design. I then transitioned into Project Management, where I led EPC negotiations, finalized industrial contracts, and oversaw financial close and execution. Today, I serve as a Project Execution Manager, where I play a strategic role in project acquisition, financial close, pre-construction planning, and the oversight of construction across multiple sites. Each step of this journey has deepened my commitment to renewable energy and strengthened my belief in its power to transform communities and combat climate change. - Alisha Raghoonanan (South Africa) WiW Class of 2024
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 Women are under-represented in the STEM fields and especially the energy sector, both at the policy and decision-making leadership level and in the work force. Growing up in a country where there is deep rooted social and cultural discrimination towards women against talking up traditionally masculine roles, I experienced this issue firsthand. This led to me being passionate about women empowerment and has been at the forefront of my journey in the renewables sector. I didn’t just want to be in the room. I wanted to help open the door for others too. This inspired me to pursue a career in renewable energy or wind power. Wind power offered me a way to combine technical challenge, sustainability, and a sense of purpose. It’s not just a job for me; it’s about being part of something that makes the world better. - Lalitha Mahalingam (India) WiW Class of 2024
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 The satisfaction of contributing to the betterment of the environment together with the betterment of posterity is a magnetic factor to attract me towards the renewable energy field. It is also fascinating to see how the giant blades are used to harness nature’s wind force into a useful energy that is used for the benefit of mankind. The passion towards technology along with sustainability imbibed in it, drove me naturally to this sector. - Shanthini Madras Sambandan (India) WiW Class of 2024
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 I haven’t always been on the wind market. I started as a Mechanical Engineer in the mining industry in Chile many years ago. I knew then I wanted to support the energy transition but sometimes opportunities take a bit to arise. Some years later I started scuba diving and fell in love with the ocean and that was the catalyst to move to a different career path and eventually became a marine geophysicist supporting the development of offshore windfarms. - America Zelada Leon (Chile) WiW Class of 2024
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 I have always described myself as a "greeny," so pursuing a career in renewable energy felt like a natural path. My fascination with the sea—and the realisation that clean energy could be harnessed there—sparked my interest in offshore wind soon after I started working as an engineer. I was fortunate to enter the industry and learn on the job, as my academic background did not include formal training in renewable energy. I firmly believe that wind power, and offshore wind in particular, has a crucial role to play in the energy transition needed to meet our global climate goals. It is a field full of potential, and I am proud to be contributing to it. - Juliana Diniz (Brazil) WiW Class of 2024
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 Growing up in a region heavily impacted by climate change, I witnessed first-hand the urgency of transitioning to sustainable energy sources. Wind power, with its potential to democratize energy access while protecting ecosystems, became a symbol of hope. I was inspired by the idea of merging technical innovation with social impact—empowering communities while combating climate change. - Nancy Ahmed Taha Ahmed (Egypt) WiW Class of 2024
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 What inspired me, and continues to inspire me every day, to work in renewable energy is the desire to contribute to something meaningful that can help combat climate change. I started my career focused on energy planning in the oil and gas sector and gradually I became more involved in low-carbon strategies and renewable technologies. During my work at the Brazil Energy Programme (BEP), I realized how powerful wind energy could be, not only in reducing emissions, but also in transforming economies and creating opportunities. Working nowadays at ABEEólica has been especially inspiring as I am at the center of this transformation in Brazil, supporting innovation and helping to build a more sustainable future. In Brazil, one of the people who really inspired me to get into the wind sector was Elbia Gannoum. Her leadership and advocacy for wind energy are fundamental to shaping the sector, and seeing her impact made me want to be part of this transformation. - Fernanda Pires Domingues Cardoso Guedes (Brazil) WiW Class of 2024
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 Since childhood, I was always curious about how things worked — a curiosity sparked by watching my father repair things around the house. Throughout school and even as I prepared for university, this drive to understand and problem-solve only intensified, leading me naturally toward engineering. The real question for me was never whether I would become an engineer, but which path within engineering I would follow. I was torn between electrical engineering and environmental engineering, but ultimately chose electrical because I believed it offered a broad range of opportunities in an area that truly fascinated me. At the same time, topics like sustainability, climate change, and environmental responsibility were becoming increasingly prominent in public discourse. I felt called to contribute professionally in a way that could make a tangible difference. As soon as I had the opportunity to work in renewable energy, I eagerly embraced the challenge — and I continue to be inspired by this purpose every day. - Marcella Pinheiro Lazar (Brazil) WiW Class of 2024
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 Since childhood, I was always curious about how things worked — a curiosity sparked by watching my father repair things around the house. Throughout school and even as I prepared for university, this drive to understand and problem-solve only intensified, leading me naturally toward engineering. The real question for me was never whether I would become an engineer, but which path within engineering I would follow. I was torn between electrical engineering and environmental engineering, but ultimately chose electrical because I believed it offered a broad range of opportunities in an area that truly fascinated me. At the same time, topics like sustainability, climate change, and environmental responsibility were becoming increasingly prominent in public discourse. I felt called to contribute professionally in a way that could make a tangible difference. As soon as I had the opportunity to work in renewable energy, I eagerly embraced the challenge — and I continue to be inspired by this purpose every day. - Sophia Saldanha Biondi Assumpção (Brazil) WiW Class of 2024
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About Women in Wind
The Women in Wind Global Leadership Program is a joint initiative by GWEC and GWNET to advance gender equality in the wind energy sector. Through mentorship, training, and global networking, it equips women with the skills and support to lead the energy transition. Since 2019, WiW has empowered women from 20+ emerging markets, driving career advancement, increasing representation, and fostering inclusive change across the industry.
