A Seat at the Table
Leadership, Legacy
When I realized this issue would land during Women’s History Month, it felt like the right moment to elevate voices that have not always been front and center in this industry.
Fortnightly Magazine - March 2026
13 Women, One Essential Service
Powering What Matters Most
The women featured here represent the breadth of the modern grid. Their roles span utilities, regulatory commissions, federal public power, trade associations, research institutions, consumer advocacy offices, and technology companies. The perspectives are varied, but several themes recur: translating complexity into clarity, balancing competing priorities, preparing the workforce of the future, and keeping customers at the center of the conversation.
Doseke Akporiaye, WRISE
Women's History Month
“Conversations around affordability, reliability, and new technologies can become polarized. But most people want the same things: dependable service, reasonable costs, and systems that support long-term economic growth.”
Hannah Bascom, Uplight
Women's History Month
“Across North America and globally, grids are facing sustained demand growth, tighter capacity margins, rising costs, and more extreme weather. Utilities do not have the luxury of time or the ability to rely on the status quo.”
Michele Beck, Utah Office of Consumer Services
Women's History Month
“I look for people who are mission-driven and who take satisfaction in serving the public interest. When a case does not go the way we hoped, we do not treat it as a simple loss. We debrief and ask whether we made a difference.”
Vittoria Bellissimo, CanREA
Women's History Month
“We live in what feels like an endlessly unprecedented time. You have to meet people where they are. You do not always know what someone has experienced or what they have read that day, and that uncertainty can weigh heavily on teams.”
Judy Chang, FERC
Women's History Month
“For the first time, the majority of Commissioners here are women. Each Commissioner brings a different background and perspective, and that diversity is incredibly valuable given the scale and complexity of the challenges we are facing.”
Neva Espinoza, EPRI
Women's History Month
“At EPRI, we often talk about our role in powering prosperity while protecting the planet. That phrase captures the challenge well, and it is a balance I think about constantly as a leader.”
Sonia Kastner, Pano AI
Women's History Month
“If you approach this space with a ‘move fast and break things’ mindset, you will fail. Our philosophy is to move fast and not break things. Values matter. A culture driven purely by profit will not resonate with customers responsible for public safety and critical infrastructure.”
Maria Korsnick, Nuclear Energy Institute
Women's History Month
“When people believe in the mission, they bring their best efforts. Nuclear provides reliable, carbon-free electricity every day. The people behind that work deserve leadership that recognizes their commitment and provides confidence in where we are headed.”