Breaking Barriers, Building Confidence, Capacity Building, Female Leaders, Gender Equality
Iman Mkwanazi, Director at Matleng Energy Solutions which specialises in energy advice
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13
Jun
Jun
Bio
Iman is the co-director of Matleng Energy Solutions, which specialises in energy advice, sustainable housing, gas, and environmentally friendly renewable solutions. Iman has sustainable projects in the private and public sectors and has received awards for human capital development; advisory services; empowerment of women and youth and contributing to sustainability. She is also one of the finalists for Mail and Guardians 2023 200 Young South Africans.
Iman holds a BSc,MDP, Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and MBA as well as the international certificates from the IESEG School of Management, Paris.To better equip herself in her field, she went back to university to study electrical engineering and hopes to register for her PhD in Energy Studies. Iman’s vision is to contribute to stabilising transmission and distribution of energy so that all South Africans have access to energy through both alternative and traditional methods.
Personal Questions
How did you end up in the energy sector and what advice would you give to other women wanting to follow a similar career trajectory?
Situations personal to me led me in the direction of energy which really felt like a full circle moment, going back to the field of science. What I find most enticing about electrical engineering and the energy sector is that it is constantly evolving. You’ll never be bored, before 1973 who knew we would be powering up our own homes using solar?
I think our paths are always different and there’s no one size fits all. But I think preparation is so important, especially for us women, equip yourself with knowledge (not only institutionalized education). Sometimes its sheer luck but the majority of the time luck is preparation meeting opportunity. Don’t miss an opportunity because you didn’t prepare. Most importantly, patience- when it’s your season, nothing will stop you.
In your opinion, why do you think the energy sector in its current state has less female representation and do you see it increasing?
I think energy is no different to any sector or industry, the low representation of women is a product of centuries of patriarchal structures which often favoured men but as we move away from that things will change. I would also like to believe that unlike the other gender our strongest muscle is the brain ( I’m kidding). On a serious note I think it’s already changing, for instance 70% of STEM graduates in Iran are women.
If you could have tea with any public figure – dead or alive – who would it be and why?
Martin Thembisile Hani (AKA Chris Hani). In his journey from his days as a young man till his death he believed in putting people first, irrespective of the consequence. A true leader who lead with humanity and intelligence not one without the other.
What does being a woman in the energy sector mean to you?
Hmmmmm, this is a bit tricky. Sometimes I don’t like that I’m the only women in the room but I must be honest I don’t have an answer for this question. We know the historical challenges that women face in various industries, they are not specific to the energy sector and they are still there up until sectors/industries start to believe in equality and equity in order to equal the gender platform.
Industry Questions
What opportunities do you see in Africa’s energy market?
I think Africa has so much potential, Africa needs a well-structured strategy with an execution plan that works for Africa. We need to revise our energy plans and policies, many of our countries in Africa are developing nations who cannot compete with the goals of developed nations. The opportunities are endless with our plethora of natural resources but it all comes down to plans and policies that can be executed.
Capacity Building, Career Development, Collaborative Growth, Community Building
Safiya Aliyu, General Manager at SOSAI Renewable Energies Company
Posted on by admin
13
Jun
Jun
Bio
Safiya Aliyu joined the Renewable Energy industry in 2007. She has a Master’s in Business Administration. Before her graduation from the university, she volunteered with the Developmental Association for Renewable Energies (DARE) supporting the Solar Cooker Deployment project and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project on improved cook stove. Upon graduation from the university, she joined Sosai Renewable Energies Company as a Project Officer, she later rose through the ranks to become a Project Manager in which position she managed the Arthur Guinness Fund/ Relief International Water Filter Project.In 2018, she successfully became a Techwomen fellow after 6 weeks training with her team winning a seed loan for their community impact project; MAAMI Nigeria. She also gave the winning pitch of Solar for healthcare in 2022 at the Nigerian Power Sector Program supported by Power Africa. She is the incumbent Treasurer of the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria.
She has been with Sosai since its inception and is presently the General Manager at the core of Sosai’s transformation journey with a lot of dedication and hard work. Safiya has equipped herself in the field of Renewable Energy with several trainings and is now handling the Sosai’s Matan Arewa Project where women are encouraged and trained to become entrepreneurs in the Renewable Energy Sector. She is an expert in the deployment and management of projects on improved cookstoves, solar systems and community development. She has worked with Sosai team to operationalize 5 offgrid solar minigrids, distributed over 150,000 units of improved cookstoves and 20,000 units of solar lighting solutions. Sosai is estimated to have positively impacted 1,000,000 lives through its solutions and will be doing more as the business grows.
Questions
How does your business actively encourage women’s empowerment and development?
At Sosai Renewable Energies Company, we understand that women are backward when it comes to economic growth, this is because they face significant challenges in accessing technology and infrastructure, which limits their earning opportunities and financial inclusion. We encourage women’s empowerment and development by increasing their access to renewable energy technologies that they can resell or use as a piece of business equipment to earn income. We have established solar drying hubs in rural communities where women groups are the custodians of the hub, running the business to dry farm produce for the farmers in and out of their communities. Through this activity, they are promoting food security and also earning income for themselves.
We also support women with startup stock of solar lanterns, solar home systems, and improved cookstoves that they resell to promote the adoption of clean energy, and earn income for themselves. We train these women groups on the right kind of skills needed to grow their business and ensure it is sustainable. Our work with the women groups has increased their socio-economic status.
What message do you have for other women entering a male-dominated sector?
My message to women entering a male-dominated sector like the energy sector is to be confident, know your worth, and keep increasing your knowledge in the field you have chosen. It is important to believe in yourself and your abilities. Advocate for yourself and other women in the sector. It’s also important to seek out mentors and role models who can help you navigate the challenges of working in the sector because there will definitely be tough times that will even make you doubt yourself but with the support from role models and mentors, one will get the energy to be persistent.