International Women's Day | Female Leadership in the Buildings + Energy Industry

A conversation with RMI buildings leaders, Stephanie Greene?and?Sukanya Paciorek,?on successful leadership in a male dominated field.?

Time is of the essence to cut emissions from the buildings and energy industries and to grow a diverse workforce that can get the job done.?This International Women’s Day, we are celebrating that the RMI Carbon-Free Buildings Program is led by Stephanie Greene and Sukanya Paciorek , two remarkable women who have made waves in the buildings and energy industries. RMI ’s Madeline Weir recently asked Stephanie and Sukanya to share some words about what inspired them to join the fight to decarbonize buildings, how they think women can succeed in the industry, and what tips they have for fostering?diversity and mentoring female leaders.??

Madeline Weir: What inspired you to pursue a career in the building energy space, and how did you get your start in this field??

Stephanie Greene: I have been fortunate to work on climate and energy in one way or another my entire career. I was initially drawn to the sustainability field when I was an undergrad taking classes on climate science. My eyes were opened to how much of a devastating impact climate change would have on people, particularly families and communities who are already marginalized . I felt I had to do something in this field, and urgently. I was drawn to buildings in particular because they are an immense climate problem hiding in plain sight. We spend 90% of our lives inside of them; and they make up 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. And on top of that, we don’t have to wait for some new breakthrough to address these emissions – we have the technology today, and the ability to improve our existing buildings and construct new ones to save energy and money with benefits for quality of life and the climate.?

Sukanya Paciorek: I started my career working in international policy for the State Department at the United Nations. I made the switch to energy while I was pursuing my master's degree because I was interested in doing more impactful, tangible, and market-oriented work. I was lucky to start my career in the building energy space at Vornado Realty Trust where I helped to grow their sustainability program from the ground up. Vornado is committed to making its portfolio of buildings carbon neutral by 2030.?

Madeline: How do you see the role of women in the building energy industry evolving over the next decade, and what can we do to promote greater gender diversity and inclusion in the sector??

Sukanya: I personally know many women who are taking leadership roles in the building energy industry, and I think that trend will continue. I think the intersection of buildings and energy is unique because there are so many career pathways: from?property managers to engineers to architects; each of these jobs has an impact on how we evolve a sustainable built environment.?

Stephanie: I agree, we are seeing progress, but we need more women in this space hands down. And we can all be role models for each other. I hope that women in college or early in their careers see more female leaders in this space, and they feel like this is a path for them here too. When organizations hire, they need to have diverse interview teams, and interviewers need to have unconscious bias training. ?As someone who has benefited greatly from the support and guidance of others, I make a conscious effort to pay it forward by supporting and mentoring women who are earlier in their careers. I hope to help other women overcome challenges they may face and achieve success.?

Madeline: In your experience, what are some of the key skills and attributes that can help women to succeed in our field, and how have you developed these skills over time? ?

Sukanya: I think the fundamentals of success in life apply to any career, including one in the buildings and energy field: a desire to continuously learn, to work hard, to listen, to be honest, and a willingness to take risks. In this field in particular, the willingness to learn new things and solve problems is essential because the industry is evolving in real time and the needs we face today, and tomorrow are being solved in real time. It is such an exciting time to be in the buildings and energy space!?

Stephanie: Having a curious and growth-oriented mindset, as well as a willingness to tackle challenging problems, are good skills to hone for any profession, but especially for the buildings & energy field where we’re tackling complex interdisciplinary challenges in the clean energy transition of buildings. While being trained or educated in science, math, engineering, or architecture can be helpful, it is not a requirement. We need individuals with a diverse array of skills to drive change across the buildings and energy field.?

Personally, I have honed these skills through my interdisciplinary academic background, which required me to study science, engineering, policy, and economics. I have also sought out roles that have required me to be proficient in different areas, which has boosted my confidence in collaborating with experts from different disciplines to arrive at solutions together. It is important to recognize that while we may not be experts in every aspect of a problem, working in teams across diverse fields can help us to achieve greater success.?

Madeline: What advice would you give to other women who are interested in pursuing a career in the building energy space, and what can we do to support and encourage the next generation of women leaders??

Stephanie: Have confidence that your opinion matters and is important. Believe that you don’t need to know everything to have an important and valuable perspective for solving critical challenges in the buildings & energy space. Take classes on different subjects or get involved with local programs in your community and learn what gets you excited. Usually, it is when you follow the things that make your heart sing that you will excel at what you do.?

Sukanya: Find good mentors to support you and be a good mentor to support others. Your career will evolve over time, and having the right support network of people who can help you navigate through tough decisions and change will be critical to your success. ?Make sure to pass those learnings forward by supporting others as they build their careers. ?

Women climate leaders like Stephanie and Sukanya are bringing a fresh perspective to the built environment. Their wisdom is grounded in an understanding of the interconnectedness of human and environmental systems and the impact our buildings have on each one. On this International Women's Day, we celebrate the contributions of women leaders in the building energy space and beyond. Let us continue to support and empower women in leadership roles and work together to create a more diverse, vibrant, and sustainable future for everyone