Speaking at Women in Solar Europe (WiSEu) this week is Darina Merdassi, CEO of energy group Decci. She says that although she entered the energy sector many years ago, she is still one of the few women on the panels and that “the situation in the audience is not much better”.
I think it’s fair to say that I didn’t choose the energy sector, the energy sector chose me. I started working in renewable energy right after my Master’s degree. My company Decci allowed me to grow and learn through experience, and that goes for the business side too. Decci has been there for me at all stages of my life. I did my MBA, participated in many local and international projects, negotiated or made speeches, but also got married and became a mother. The support I received allowed me to grow – professionally and personally. I am aware that this is still not the case for many women today. I wish more companies would welcome and support women to work with them. Companies would grow stronger together with them.
You could say that I’ve always been lucky to work with incredible people, both men and women. But sometimes I still look around and wonder, “Are there enough women in the room?” I entered the energy sector all those years ago and to this day I’m one of the very few women on the speaker panel, and the situation isn’t much better in the audience.
When I walk into a business meeting, interview or speaking engagement, I often sense a pause where this unspoken question hangs in the air: “How did she end up running an energy company?” They wait for me to start speaking and there is usually this relief in their eyes when they realize I know what I’m talking about. I wish we could skip this part.
I am currently looking for a new team member and would like to have a woman on our team, but there are not many applicants for the position. I believe there is a prejudice against the energy sector, coupled with low self-esteem. Women study technical and scientific subjects, but we struggle to retain them professionally in these fields for a variety of reasons, be it lack of support, prejudice, or social norms. Unfortunately, women have inherited a tendency to conform their actions and ambitions to the social norms around them. I come from the Czech Republic, where women are still learning to trust their judgement and build their self-confidence, often with minimal support.
Of course, I remain optimistic. And I see the energy industry changing more than ever before. The trend towards more decentralized energy solutions, combining renewables with modern innovations, is opening up new opportunities, new roles and new flexibility in the workplace. As we integrate these new technologies into energy solutions and future-proofing the grid, we should also open the door wider for women. The sector needs more female role models – I know I need them. It’s important to have someone there who understands you, knows what challenges you face and can advise you when needed. This balance of voices is, in my opinion, crucial for our future.
Darina Merdassi is CEO of Decci, an energy group active in renewable energy and modern energy projects since 2007. Merdassi has been involved in many local and international projects, working with leading energy companies, banks and regulators. She holds a Master’s degree from the University of Economics in Prague and an MBA from the University Jean Moulin Lyon. Through Decci, she manages renewable energy assets with a capacity of 44 MW and, since July 2024, a hybrid energy source – Energy Nest – with a total installed capacity of 52.4 MW, which includes the largest battery storage in the Czech Republic. She is about to tackle her next challenge in the field of wind energy. Merdassi thinks about energy in a comprehensive and sustainable way. And when she is not thinking about the future of energy, she puts on something comfortable and spends time with her children in the park next to her apartment.
Interested in working with Darina Merdassi and other female industry leaders and experts at Women in Solar Europe? More information: www.wiseu.network
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of pvmagazine.
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