105 SA WOMEN GRADUATE FROM EWSETA ENERGY LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME PART 1

Caption: EWSETA CEO Mpho Mookapele and Duke CE, CEO Sharmla Chetty congratulate one of the graduates.

In a significant stride towards gender inclusivity and empowerment, 105 South African women have graduated from the prestigious ‘Women Leading in Energy Sector’ (WLES) bursary programme. This is Part 1 of a two-part series.

This initiative, a collaboration between the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA), Eskom, and Duke Corporate Education, culminated in a celebration of women leaders in the energy sector, including Eskom’s female power station managers, marking the commencement of Women’s Month in Johannesburg.

The WLES programme targeted executive and middle management professionals from Eskom, Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges. Over nine months, participants honed leadership skills and prepared for an enriching global immersion experience in the USA and Germany. The curriculum emphasised personal leadership development, strategic operations, sustainable economics, work-life balance, advocacy, and building supportive networks. Academic modules delved into entrepreneurship, renewable energy trends, sustainable solutions, and policy.

EWSETA CEO Mpho Mookapele highlighted the programme’s comprehensive approach, “The Women Leading in Energy programme underscores the importance of local thinking, strategic application, and collaboration in skills development through experiential learning. These principles are critical in the energy transition, where creative leadership and alignment with sustainability goals are essential to addressing local socio-economic challenges and generating economic and social benefits.”

Monde Bala, Interim Group Executive for Human Resources at Eskom, praised the programme’s impact, “Eskom is committed to advancing the role of women within the organisation. We can already see the benefits of how it has revolutionised their professional and personal lives. By planting a pipeline of women leaders, we are securing a stronger, more inclusive future for generations to come.”

Continued in Part 2…