Abigail Hopper, CEO of Solar Energy Industries Association, has steered our sector through turbulent waters and overseen tremendous growth. That includes a 7-fold expansion in U.S. solar from 36 GW to 255 GW.

On January 30, Abby will step down as CEO, marking the end of a remarkable 9-year tenure.

As a female executive, Abby has been a particularly inspiring leader for me. I was struck by her sense of self and her advice on receiving feedback: Be open to it, but don’t let it become your identity. Your sense of what’s right, and who you are, can’t be built from other people’s opinions.

Here are three big takeaways from our conversation:

🔹 Impact and empathy can coexist. Leadership isn’t just about growth, but about making people feel welcome in the process.

🔹 Clear is kind. Abby navigated COVID layoffs and policy fights by seeing that honesty and being direct build far more trust than just being “nice.”

🔹 A new chapter in life does not always need to start with a job title. As Abby prepares to step down, she’s focused less on what role comes next and more on the quality of life she wants to build.