Trust and Influence – Wearewomenin

Advocacy for Women, Breaking Barriers, Personal Growth, Professional Growth, Trust and Influence, Womens Month

Meet Johanna Horz: The Visionary Behind Wetility’s Strategy and Growth.

Posted on August 23, 2024August 22, 2024 by admin

23
Aug

Johanna Horz
Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy and Emerging Business
Wetility

Meet Johanna Horz: The Visionary Behind Wetility’s Strategy and Growth. Discover Her Journey and Insights on Achieving Sustainable Energy Solutions.
Johanna Horz serves as Wetility’s Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy and Emerging Business. In her role, she ensures strategic alignment across the company, leads strategic initiatives, and incubates new business opportunities. Johanna holds deep expertise in business growth strategy, intelligence and anti-corruption investigations and international development projects.

Prior to joining Wetility, Johanna worked at international risk and business intelligence firms, where she led complex anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) and anti-money laundering (AML) investigations focused on African business, infrastructure, and power sectors. From 2016 to 2018, Johanna was a key figure at a leading women’s empowerment NGO, where she managed a girls’ health and education project in Sierra Leone.  Additionally, she served as an electoral observer during the 2017 presidential elections in Somaliland.

As a trailblazer in the energy sector, what do you believe are the most critical factors for achieving sustainable and inclusive energy solutions in our cities?
Bridging gender gaps and integrating diverse perspectives are crucial for an inclusive energy transition. Women often face higher energy poverty due to lower incomes and more single-parent households. For instance, in South Africa, female-headed households make up about 40% of the population and often struggle with solar adoption. At Wetility, we address this by innovating our credit screening process. Our advanced financing risk approach allows greater inclusion than typical asset-agnostic institutions, helping to improve access to clean energy.

What advice do you have for young women aspiring to make a difference in the energy sector and overcome gender-related barriers in their careers?
The renewable energy sector is a crucial industry for the future that I encourage all young people to enter. My advice for young women entering this exciting space specifically, is to keep going and own your place. Energy impacts all our lives, yet whilst women make up 40% of the global renewable energy workforce, less than half hold senior roles. If someone can do it, then why not you. So be bold as an energy producer, policymaker, or leader. Have fun, be brave and shape a sustainable future for everyone.

What is one quote or mantra you live by and why?
One mantra that I try to live by is “decide and live”. We can often get stuck in paralysis of analysis, be deterred by setbacks or unable to have faith that overcoming the hurdles we see is possible. It is true as well that achieving Wetility’s vision of sustainable energy independence for everyone is indeed difficult. However, nothing ever changed without someone starting. So – wake up with determination, surround yourself with wonderful people, both professionally and personally, and go for it.

How has the way you have grown up influenced the woman you are today?
I grew up slightly unorthodoxly and was constantly moving cities and countries. This experience taught me the importance of deep personal connections and exposed me to many beautiful adventures, people, and experiences that the world has to offer. However, I also witnessed significant disparities, injustices and discrimination first hand, many of them gender-based. These experiences instilled in me a strong sense of justice, perseverance, and restlessness to ensure that women are heard, respected and never sidelined. This understanding drives much of what I do today. 

“Decide and live, wake up with determination, surround yourself with wonderful people, both professionally and personally, and go for it.” – Johanna Horz

Know of a phenomenal women doing amazing work that you would like to shine a spotlight on, this could even be you. If so, please send an email to nazlee.fredericks@wearevuka.com.

Female Leaders, Success Stories, Trust and Influence, Women Empowerment, Women Entrepreneurs, Women in Technology

Captain Annabel | Pioneering Female Pilots| Breaking the Mold in Aviation & Mobility

Posted on August 6, 2024August 7, 2024 by admin

06
Aug

Captain Annabel Vundla

Captain A320

SAA/ Military flight instructor/Presidential pilot(RESERVIST) /RPL pilot

Let’s deep dive into the phenomenal Captain Annabel Vundla’s bio and her achievements to date!

Originally from Mafikeng, North West, Captain Annabel has harbored a deep passion for aviation from an early age. She began her career in the South African Air Force in 1999 and achieved a historic milestone as the first Black female pilot and instructor in the South African Defence Force. From 2005 to 2010, she was the sole woman of color entrusted with flying democratically elected heads of state. In 2010, she joined South African Airways, where they initially flew the Boeing 737-800, then transitioned to the Airbus A320. Notably, Captain Annabel became the first Black female captain of an airline in South Africa. Captain Annabel and her team are dedicated to the safe transportation of passengers by air. In addition to ensuring the well-being of passengers, she is responsible for overseeing the crew and maintaining the technical status of the aircraft.

“I am committed to inspiring women to chase their dreams and persevere in the face of challenges.” Captain Annabel Vundla

Know of a phenomenal women doing amazing work that you would like to shine a spotlight on, this could even be you. If so, please send an email to nazlee.fredericks@wearevuka.com.