This week, Women in Solar+ Europe (WiSEu) shares key insights from its flagship breakfast workshop at Intersolar Europe 2026, where professionals across the solar and storage sectors explored the double standards that continue to shape women’s careers. From visibility and credibility to motherhood, networking, and organisational culture, the discussion highlighted the barriers still in place — and the leadership behaviours, allyship, and structural changes needed to build a fairer, stronger energy transition.
Under the theme The Leadership Lens: Leading Through Double Standards in the Energy Transition, WiSEu’s flagship breakfast workshop at Intersolar Europe created a space for honest conversations about the invisible rules many women still navigate in their professional lives. What emerged was more than a reflection of personal experiences; it revealed a clear pattern of structural and cultural double standards that continue to influence visibility, progression, recognition, and opportunity across the solar and storage sectors.
Visibility without recognition
One of the strongest themes across all discussion groups was visibility, not simply being seen, but being recognised. Janine Wirth, Founder and General Manager of Ilanco GmbH, captured a reality many women in the room immediately recognised: “Too often, men still take credit for women’s work, and many women don’t feel comfortable challenging it because they fear being seen as emotional or as creating unnecessary conflict.” Her point revealed more than a frustrating workplace habit. It exposed a leadership gap where contribution and recognition are not equally distributed.
