Taking the Mic and Taking Action With Women in Energy

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In Fall 2023, Athena partnered with the Women in Energy Initiative at Columbia’s Center for Global Energy Policy (CGEP) to create Take the Mic, Take Action! In this community of practice, changemakers across Columbia University — from Barnard to Columbia College to the School of International and Public Affairs and more — learned practical strategies to facilitate dialogue on all things energy. The group met for two 4-hour sessions focused on public speaking and facilitation, led by Jessica Weis, the Program Director at Women in Energy.

Read below to hear from three participants about the strategies they are taking from the sessions to inform their facilitation practice.

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The first thing Daniela Bushiri, a Chemical Engineering Ph.D. student at SEAS, notices about Take the Mic, Take Action! is that it’s composed of a majority of women. “I haven’t found many women-led spaces at Columbia. I was surprised to find that here, of all places, in a group dedicated to energy policy.” Daniela’s observation represents the energy field at large, where women and nonbinary people make up only a small portion. They aren’t only underrepresented, as Sana Asif, a MPA student at SIPA, explains, but also feel undervalued—especially on stage at panels at events. 

“Many times I’ve felt excluded from the conversation and like my opinions don’t matter, despite my knowledge and experience,” says Sana. “In Take the Mic, Take Action! I learned how to take my space. The workshop gave me the tools to talk more confidently about what I know.”

In particular, participants practiced how to create an environment for inclusion and invite ignored or obscured voices into the conversation.

“Moderating does not mean telling people what you feel, it’s about making sure everyone feels heard,” Sana explains, and Claudia Sachs, a JTS/GS dual-degree undergraduate student, agrees. “That’s what I gained from this community of practice—how to be intentional about the ways I include people.” For example, when transitioning from a panelist’s response to the facilitator’s next question, they learned a helpful trick: pick out a keyword from the panelist and use it to reframe the question. 

A few other things they learned: 

• How to courteously interject
• How to research your interviewee beforehand & host a prep meeting
• How to craft a conclusion
• How to increase self-awareness by using the Johari Window
• How to encourage diverse or opposing opinions while maintaining mutual respect

All of this training took place inside a community committed to uplifting women and nonbinary voices in the sector. For Claudia in particular, interacting with graduate students and professionals offered her a glimpse into potential future career paths. It provided her with a support network of individuals who shared similar experiences—a valuable benefit of being part of a community of practice that transcends age and degree programs.

“There were times when we would digress from the main topic to discuss some of the things we face as women when public speaking or moderating, like gender bias. It added a depth to what we're learning because people’s stories would resonate with one another,” Claudia reflects. 

The participants credit these honest discussions to Jessica, the group’s facilitator, as she embraced difficult topics such as gender dynamics. “She's such a leader in the energy space,” says Sana, “I valued her candidness in sharing her personal experiences and perspective.” 

Take the Mic, Take Action! provided Daniela, Claudia, and Sana an opportunity they couldn’t find elsewhere—a space to cultivate a women-led community while gaining access to a professional network and valuable hands-on experience. Energy policy remains pivotal for the leaders of tomorrow, and by the end of their time in the community of practice, Daniela, Claudia, and Sana turned their practice into action by facilitating events for the CGEP.

Inspired by Daniela, Sana, and Claudia’s experience? Take the Mic, Take Action! is re-launching for Spring 2024. Learn about how to join here.