FEATURE
Powering Progress: How Women Are Energizing the Future of the Power Generation Industry
By Meghan Eyvindsson, General Manager – Americas, STAMFORD | AvK
The power generation industry has always stood at the intersection of ingenuity and endurance; keeping the world’s lights on, data flowing, and economies moving. Yet as our sector transforms through decarbonization, digitization, and distributed energy, one of the most powerful forces re- shaping its future isn’t a new tech- nology or fuel source. It’s people. Specifically, diverse teams that reflect the world we serve. Across the global energy landscape, women are playing an increasingly visible and vital role. They’re lead- ing engineering programs, managing complex installations, shaping sustain- ability strategies, and redefining what leadership looks like in traditionally male-dominated technical fields. At the same time, companies like STAMFORD | AvK are accelerating efforts to make inclusion a strate- gic driver of innovation, safety, and performance; efforts strengthened by collaboration within the Electrical Gen- erators Systems Association (EGSA) community. Diversity: A Business Imperative The power generation market is un- dergoing one of the most significant transformations in its history. Distrib- uted systems, renewable integration, and data-driven service models are changing how we design, manufac- ture, and maintain equipment. This new reality requires diverse thinking; from system design to field prob- lem-solving.
Diverse teams have proven to make better decisions and adapt more quick- ly to change. For STAMFORD | AvK, DEI isn’t a checkbox; it’s a competitive advantage. Companies that intention- ally recruit, develop, and promote di- verse talent are better equipped to anticipate customer needs, respond to market shifts, and drive sustainable growth. Power generation thrives on precision, reliability, and continuous improve- ment. When diverse perspectives contribute to design decisions and process enhancements, outcomes improve, from innovation speed to customer satisfaction. Inclusion also strengthens safety culture, which is a key value for STAMFORD | AvK. Diverse teams communicate more openly and challenge assumptions, reducing operational risk. Current Landscape: Progress with Room to Grow While there’s been encouraging movement, women still make up a small fraction of the global energy workforce, with even smaller repre- sentation in technical and field roles. The barriers experienced, including limited mentorship, unconscious bias, inflexible schedules, and lack of visible role models, are real but not insur- mountable. To help overcome these barriers, our company has established Women’s Empowerment Networks (WEN) across the globe. These employee resource groups work to connect, support, and mentor women across
all levels of the organization. Through regular workshops, leadership panels, and peer networking, this community amplifies women’s voices and acceler- ates professional growth. At STAMFORD | AvK, women have led initiatives that improved product reliability, launched new hybrid prod- uct lines, and strengthened customer engagement. Their impact proves that inclusion isn’t just a social objective, it’s an operational advantage. The op- portunity ahead lies in transforming our systems so that women don’t just enter the industry but expand their leadership within it. It is important that we remember, advancing gender equity requires the engagement of all employees, includ- ing men. Male colleagues can take an active role in these initiatives by en- gaging in employee resource groups, amplifying the voice of a female col- league in meetings and sponsoring diverse talent. Inclusion should be part of the way we lead, not an add- on program. At STAMFORD | AvK this shared accountability has fostered a culture where respect, trust, and fair- ness underpin every interaction which allows innovation to naturally follow. Powering Inclusion:The Role of EGSA The Electrical Generators Systems Association plays an invaluable role in connecting manufacturers, distribu- tors, service providers, and end users across the power generation ecosys- tem. For STAMFORD | AvK, EGSA membership provides more than a
24 | Winter 2025 POWERLINE
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