Career advice for women aligning ambitions and values

If you were asked to give career advice to mid-career women who are ambitious, want to make real money, and want their work to make a difference, what would you say?

This is what I ask at the end of every interview Electric Ladies Podcast, and the answers I hear are fascinating. Each of them reflects the unique lives we’ve lived, the choices we’ve made in our own careers and the circumstances we’ve experienced, as well as our skills, values ​​and priorities.

All of my guests are women whose work falls within or intersects with the principles of energy, climate, sustainability, environmental social governance (ESG) and corporate responsibility, so this is the lens through which they look.

These women come from all industries and sectors: government, finance, fashion, transport, politics, food, housing, energy, media, arts, academia, science and technology.

As another The United Nations climate conference convenes with COP28 This week, as parties consider relevant policies and finances, and how to drive results, women are driving important conversations and changing outcomes.

Here are the answers to the career advice question from five women at the forefront of this, and highly successful, job:

· Beware of gaps: Daniella Ortega, writer, co-director and co-producer of ‘Carbon: The Unauthorized Biography’ and Head of Development and Investments at Screen Australia: “What I learned about being a creative person with ambition and wanting to make an impact… I think you find the gaps where you sit. You have some skills, that’s great, but where are the gaps? What do you think can empower you or make you feel or give you those skills you need to fill those gaps? And then look to other people or ways you can fill them… (Also) don’t isolate yourself. Connect, connect, connect with those around you and…don’t give away your power, keep your power and try to tap into it.” Daniella Ortega on the Electric Ladies podcast

· Decide what you want to achieve: Heather Boushey, Ph.D., Member of the National Council of Economic Advisers at the White House and Chief Economist of the Invest in America Cabinet: “For me, the key to my career has been to be clear about what my mission is….I feel so very fortunate to have found a president to be able to work for who shares that goal….So I think the lesson is either be the leader you want to believe in, or find that leader and cling to them and see what amazing things you can do together. But, for me, being clear about what I wanted to achieve.” Dr. Heather Boushey on the Electric Ladies Podcast

· Forge your own path: Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Global Energy Policy Institute at Columbia University and lead scientist on the NOVA/PBS documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.” “Make your own path because it probably hasn’t been made before. And follow your passions and the things you want to contribute to…At the end of the day…it’s about understanding where you want to make an impact and then creating the path forward….When I started in this job, what I’m doing now did not exist. He didn’t, now he does. And I’m so happy that I’ve been positioned to be able to do the work that I do today because it speaks to me on many, many levels and brings together different pieces of me, and it’s a way that I can contribute. So,….The question is, how do you create and become that change you want to see?” Dr. Melissa Lott on the Electric Ladies Podcast

· Own your job, literally and figuratively: Jean Case, investor and philanthropist, CEO of the Case Foundation, President of the National Geographic Society, and former SVP of AOL: “Ladies, you have to own it… And by own it, I mean make sure you have what it takes. Own things that will make you more profitable, create wealth for yourself, own this… it’s hard for many of us to do things we think we naturally can’t be good at….(but) You can train, you can learn almost everything. I see so many really capable, smart, awesome women and they just have to own it.” Jean Case on the Electric Ladies Podcast

· Align with your values: Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, which promotes environmental solutions through storytelling (founded by actor/director Robert Redford and his late son James Redford): “Whenever you can find work that aligns with your personal values ​​and goals , you will excel, you will feel better, you will be happier, you will have more value, you will succeed in the ways that I think are probably most important to women. And then, too, I think, don’t be shy. I think we tend not to ask for what we need or put in an idea or get out. We don’t need to play small. We’re in the room, and if you’re in the room, be in the room.” Jill Tidman on the Electric Ladies podcast

As we begin the holiday season and approach the end of the year, we tend to think about our careers and the choices we might want to make in the coming year. Advice from these accomplished women gives us good food for thought.

Listen to each of these full interviews by following the links in each excerpt, or go to Electric Ladies Podcast or find the show where you want to listen to podcasts.