Curious about what a career in the energy industry really looks like for women? In this episode of Hire PowHER, brought to you by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), host Concetta Defa continues the conversation with guests Shannon Skinner, Lechana Rankins, and Michelle Gianelli. Together, they share the realities of working in the trades—the benefits, the challenges, and the support systems that make a difference.

You'll hear how jobs in the energy sector have helped women build solid foundations for themselves and their families, offering strong wages and life-changing benefits. The discussion explores how workplace safety has evolved, with better PPE and training tailored to women in the field, and the role that coworkers, unions, and mentors play in shaping inclusive and supportive career paths.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fSFlH35M--I

👉 If you're looking for an honest look at energy careers, advice on breaking into the field, or inspiration from women who are reshaping the trades, this conversation is for you. Visit https://www.hirepowher.org/ 

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about energy careers, skilled trades, and opportunities for women in the industry.

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Hire PowHER! introduces women to the skilled trades of the energy industry by offering a career roadmap and diving into the opportunities for fulfilling, well-paying careers with purpose. Concetta Defa, experienced IBEW journey worker and proud supporter of women in the trades, brings real role models from women in the trades for real talk and real guidance. A new initiative by the Center for Energy Workforce Development, Hire PowHER! is for anyone with passion or curiosity about the energy sector. There's a place and need for you in energy, whether you're hands-on, strategic, creative, or community-driven. Join our next webinar here and step into a career where your PowHER truly matters: https://getintoenergy.org/hire-powher/powher-hours/ 

This episode features the webinar "Energy Career Conversations: What did we get into?" from September 23, 2025.

Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com/ 

Curious about careers in the energy industry? Welcome to Hire PowHER—a new series introducing women to the skilled trades that power our world.

In this first episode, brought to you by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD), host Concetta Defa sits down with energy professionals Michelle Gianelli, Operating Engineers, Lechana Rankins, LIUNA, and Shannon Skinner, IBEW to share their career journeys and insights into the trades.

Here's what the conversation covers in this first episode:

• What skilled trades are and how apprenticeships work in the energy sector
• Real stories from women working in electrical work, line work, heavy equipment operation, and labor
• A "day in the life" look at energy careers—from job sites to nuclear plants
• How teamwork powers the industry
• The importance of mentorship and finding the right career fit

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e0j2-zi3dik 

👉 If you're exploring career options in the energy industry—or want to hear inspiring stories from women building powerful futures—this episode is for you! Come back for part two to hear more from these women and visit https://www.hirepowher.org/ 

🔔 Subscribe for more conversations about energy careers, skilled trades, and opportunities for women in the industry.

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Hire PowHER! introduces women to the skilled trades of the energy industry by offering a career roadmap and diving into the opportunities for fulfilling, well-paying careers with purpose. Concetta Defa, experienced IBEW journey worker and proud supporter of women in the trades, brings real role models from women in the trades for real talk and real guidance. A new initiative by the Center for Energy Workforce Development, Hire PowHER! is for anyone with passion or curiosity about the energy sector. There's a place and need for you in energy, whether you're hands-on, strategic, creative, or community-driven. Join our next webinar here and step into a career where your PowHER truly matters: https://getintoenergy.org/hire-powher/powher-hours/ 

This episode features the webinar "Energy Career Conversations: What did we get into?" from September 23, 2025.

Produced by Through The Noise: https://www.getthroughthenoise.com 

Coming soon!