With funding from the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Energy Resources’ (ENR) Power Sector Program (PSP), the United States Energy Association (USEA) is implementing the Women Energy Leaders (WEL) program. WEL follows the completion of the predecessor program, Female Leaders in Energy (FLIE) , funded by ENR and implemented by USEA from 2021-2023. The WEL program aims to increase women's leadership in the clean energy sector in Southeast Asia and the Pacific by advancing the professional development of early- to mid-career level women in the clean energy workforce.
The program was announced by the U.S. Department of State On Gender Equality Day December 4, 2023 at the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28. It is part of the U.S. Department of State' strategies, initiatives, and programs addressing the disproportionate impacts of climate change on women and girls and empowering them as climate leaders. Press Release
This 2-year mentorship program, technical and leadership skills training workshops, executive coaching, capstone project, and job shadow will:
- Empower, encourage, and guide women participants in setting targeted professional goals to advance their clean energy careers;
- Build confidence and leadership skills in the next generation of women clean energy leaders;
- Strengthen women participants’ professional networks;
- Improve women participants’ clean energy and job function knowledge and skills; and
- Provide women participants with opportunities for career development, public speaking, and project management.
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WEL Mentee eligibility requirements:
WEL Mentee applicants must be citizens and residents of one of the following emerging clean energy markets: Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, or Vietnam.
Additional eligibility requirements:
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
- Minimum of 3-5 years of professional experience in the clean energy industry.
- Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken).
- A track record of leadership and achievement in professional career or otherwise.
- Willingness to commit to the duration of the program from April 2024- April 2026 (participating in four in-person workshops/conferences, two virtual workshops, quarterly meetings with mentor, capstone project, and one week job shadow).
WEL Mentor eligibility requirements:
WEL Mentor applicants must work in and/or be citizens of one of the following countries: Fiji, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, United States, or Vietnam.
Additional eligibility requirements:
- Minimum of 10-15 years of professional experience in the energy industry with a current focus on the clean energy industry.
- A track record of leadership and achievement in professional career or otherwise.
- Full professional proficiency in English (written and spoken).
- Willingness to mentor two mentees.
- Willingness to devote 1-3 hours monthly, with an additional 5-10 hours quarterly to interact with mentees.
- Interest in speaking on a workshop panel.
- Willingness and ability to host a week-long job shadow for two mentees at your organization (travel, meal expenses, and lodging will be provided to the mentees by the program). The job shadow is tentatively slated for late 2025 – early 2026.
- Quarterly virtual mentor-mentee meetings.
- A specially designed learning and development program to advance the professional development of early- to mid-career level women.
- Six workshops:
- Tentatively planned for June 2024, October 2024, March 2025, July 2025, November 2025, and March 2026.
- Mentees are expected to complete a Capstone Project, which could include an original research paper, developing a training program, or other projects.
- Network building opportunities.
- A week-long job shadow to take place either in Southeast Asia, Fiji, or in the United States.
December 2023 – February 18, 2024
WEL Mentee and Mentor Applications open.
January 2024
Two WEL program opening conferences. One planned for U.S. business hours and one planned for Southeast Asia and Pacific business hours.
February 19– March 31, 2024
Applications reviewed and mentees and mentors selected. Successful applicants will be notified by early April 2024.
April 2024 – April 2026
Successful applicants take part in the two (2) year program.