My Experience Learning From All-Female Leadership

For young professionals, navigating today’s work environment can be an equally challenging and humbling experience. When I entered the workforce in 2024, it felt like every application I sent disappeared into thin air. I knew someone would eventually take a chance on me — but I didn’t expect it to be a firm as welcoming, enriching, and experienced as Inova Energy Group.

As Women’s History Month ends, I wanted to reflect on and share some of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned from the incredibly talented, hardworking, and thoughtful women I’ve had the opportunity to work with here.

Closed mouths do not get fed.

I grew up a quiet, polite Midwesterner where modesty and humility were core values, and I carried them into my professional life. Through my experience at Inova, especially watching the leadership of a small, minority-owned business, I’ve learned the importance of gratitude-driven advocacy for your work. The Inova team has shown me that you can lead with gratitude while still being ambitious and confident. They consistently acknowledge the team and our collaborators while also communicating their own value, accomplishments, and impact.

From them, I’ve learned in order to foster your work and mission, you must be willing to amplify your voice and your impact. They’ve also impacted my understanding of resilience and what it means to be professionally resilient. In the face of setbacks, they’ve shown me the importance of remembering past successes, learning from losses, and continuing to show up, improve, and push forward.

You are more than your professional life, and that is what makes you better at your job.

One of the most meaningful lessons I’ve learned from our leadership is that professional success is not built by sacrificing your personal life, but instead by investing in it. At Inova, work is seen as a contributor to a meaningful life, not the definition of one. Our leadership has created an environment where it’s normal to see someone’s pet wander across the screen or discuss what’s happening outside of work. These moments make everyone feel more human and ultimately more connected as a team. I’ve learned that when we are given space to travel, spend time with family, socialize, and rest, we return to work more energized, more creative, and with a better perspective.

Invest in yourself, but also invest in the people around you.

There are certainly times for head-down, independent work, but the women I work with have shown me how collaboration is what solves the hardest problems. They’ve taught me that you don’t need to have all the answers, and admitting that will lead to better solutions. When people share ideas, experiences, and perspectives, the result is always stronger than what one person could produce alone.

They’ve also shown me the importance of building relationships across the industry. The clean energy industry is full of passionate, kind, and mission-driven people, and I’ve learned how valuable it is to take the time to meet people, learn about their work, and build genuine relationships. These relationships not only expand your knowledge but also create a community of people who are willing to support you and work together to solve big challenges.

As I reflect on my time at Inova so far, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from such experienced, thoughtful, and supportive women and I look forward to continuing our collaboration. Their leadership has shaped how I approach my work, collaborate with others, and think about building a meaningful career.