Energetica India Magazine March 2022

innovation. This will certainly make us not only AtamNirbhar but also place us as the next export hub. Q What will be your suggestions for women taking a mid-career break and wanting to return to work? Dr. Rashi Gupta: Women returning to work after a mid-career break need to upskill themselves. The times are changing at a very fast pace and they actually have a benefit of the past ex - perience and should capitalise it while adding more industry-relevant skills to jump up the ladder. Return to Work with confidence, the world has changed and so have you during this break, and it’s perfectly alright to accept this change, adapt and bloom. Just align to the ever-changing requirements, go with the flow, and believe that you are the only one who can do it and who has done it! Q What is your outlook on the re- newable energy sector (for India or global industry) amidst current de- velopments such as coronavirus, Rus- sia-Ukraine conflict, etc? Dr. Rashi Gupta: Pandemic has taught us resilience, the need for local manu- facturing, adapting to new technolo- gies, and most importantly coming out of our comfort zones and innovating, it just brought back humanity. The im- petus on the use of clean energy is far more than it was ever before. Those who will be powerful and successful will be wise to harness the free resources of na- ture and use them for the betterment of mankind. Conflicts will keep happening but we have to focus on ourselves and our development, protection of our nation, and at the same time show the world the value of peace. Renewable Energy Technologies will play a very significant role in making the world un - derstand that peace and prosperity will come from them and that you would not exist without these energies. Q Biggest supporter and critic who helped you in making you stronger? Any role model or inspirational person? Dr. Rashi Gupta: My mother! She has been a role model and strong support system. She brought the equality value system right from childhood. She made me an independent, strong fighter and most importantly a good human be- ing. Something that has added another dimension to me is spirituality. It has helped me grow multi-folds both per- sonally and professionally. Q Will storage technologies could prove to be a game-changer in pow- er grid management and renewable en- ergy grid integration? Dr. Rashi Gupta: Definitely. We need ro - bust storage technologies to strengthen the power grid and the government and the industry is collaborating towards it. The first step, tenders are out to show this intent. We have to shift gears very fast and build the ecosystem faster than ever seeing the geopolitical situations, pandemics, depleting non-renewable re- sources. Renewable energy integration with Energy storage is the only way forward to have a sustainable resilient ecosystem for the survival of mankind. Everything, even the smallest of the equipment/gadget is electrified today. The per capita consumption of electric- ity is one of the makers of the develop- ment of a country, so storage technol- ogies will certainly be the forerunners and game-changers in the power sector. Q In your view, what could be the reason behind few women found in leadership roles in the renewable energy space? Dr. Rashi Gupta: Women take up STEM but the careers really just divert to more softer roles stereotyped by the society rather than being at the core. Women probably never saw themselves to be a perfect fit in this industry, but the times are changing now and it is for the best for everyone. To be in a leader- ship role you have to start from the base and progress to the top with persistence and perseverance but most of the wom- en lose their track in the mid-career leading to very few women in leader- ship roles. This needs a drastic change, the women who have made it to the top have to do a lot of hand-holding and help the other women to climb up the ladder. The energy sector was always male-dominated because we thought it was a man’s job to do it, but it’s time to create gender-neutral roles and treat a man or a woman just as professionals and not classify them with their gender. Women also have to step up their confi - dence, unleash the stored sleeping ener- gy in them, and come forward and take this challenge to break the stereotypes. We can do it! Q Lastly, what keeps you motivated? Dr. Rashi Gupta: Every day striving to make myself better, the need to make this world a peaceful, happier, cleaner, greener, respectful and better place to live keeps me going! I’m just contribut- ing in my own small way. 32 energetica INDIA- Mar_2022 INTERVIEW