Stories of Women Leaders in Energy: Ms Māra Bērziņa
Māra Bērziņa, Secretary General of the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER) shares her inspiring journey as a woman working in the energy sector. Her story exemplifies resilience, dedication, and a commitment to making a difference in the energy field. As a woman leading the way in a male-dominated field, she inspires others to pursue their passions and overcome challenges with determination. Her career journey from Latvia to Brussels is a testament to hard work and persistence in achieving success.
Despite the dynamic nature of the energy sector, Māra sees challenges as opportunities for growth and learning. Balancing between her role at CEER while staying abreast of industry developments has been her biggest challenge. However, working with a supportive team has helped her overcome these obstacles. “While these are exciting times to be in the energy sector, balancing the demands of leading the CEER office while staying up to date with the latest industry developments is time-consuming. The role of the Secretary General at CEER is fascinating, but it certainly requires careful attention to work-life balance” – states Māra. Therefore, building a strong team, prioritising personal activities like sports, and making time for self-care help her maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Māra encourages young women to pursue their passions and work with purpose. She emphasises the importance of hard work, dedication and a willingness to learn. In the modern era, there are no real barriers to entering any profession, and women should not be deterred by gender cliches.
To address the gender gap in STEM professions, particularly in the energy sector, Māra advocates for promoting successful women and engaging with students to challenge stereotypes. Inclusive gender equality policies and STEM programs can encourage girls and women to pursue careers in these fields.
Māra considers her ability to follow her passion and make a positive impact as her greatest achievement, both personally and professionally.
Māra plans to continue making a positive impact on the energy sector through her work. With the EU's energy strategy extending to 2050, she acknowledges the ongoing challenges and opportunities for improvement in the sector.
EU4Energy promotes gender equality and encourages greater participation and visibility of women in the energy sector through a series of interviews on its Blog: Women in Energy. The aim of the Blog is to promote professions in the energy/power sector towards women and raise awareness about the women who contribute to its development, as well as about promising women who are taking their first steps in the profession. The Blog aims to encourage the young female generation to choose a profession in the energy/power sector and discover the advantages and adventures associated with it.
