Be brave, be authentic, be prepared to move: Our chair, Jo Butlin, shares her thoughts on leadership for International Women’s Day

  • Posted: 08 Mar 2023

We hear from Jo about her career in the energy industry, how she thinks it can improve and prioritise diversity and her advice for others looking to progress in traditionally male dominated sectors.

It’s the 8th of March – which means it’s also International Women’s Day. An opportunity to take a moment, celebrate women’s achievements and raise awareness about discrimination that unfortunately still exists within many industries and sectors.

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Embrace Equity’, with an aim to get the world talking about why equal opportunities aren't enough. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action.

To mark the occasion, we caught up with our chair, Jo Butlin, who has had an impressive 25-year career leading and operating energy businesses across the UK, with roles including E.ON UK, SmartestEnergy and Utilyx. In 2017, she also set up her own consulting company, EnergyBridge Limited, to help businesses and investors navigate the evolving energy market.

Empowering other women is something Jo is incredibly passionate about, which is why she co-founded the Women's Utilities Network (WUN), a not-for-profit which supports women working in the utilities industries to connect, develop and encourage one another.

Watch the video below to hear Jo’s thoughts on how the energy industry can become more diverse, equitable, and inclusive and her tips for other women looking to break the ‘glass ceiling’ in industries which have been traditionally dominated by men.