A recent Women in Renewables event featured guest speaker Anna Kelly, a specialist recruitment consultant, who offered advice on how to advance your career.  She has adapted her inspiring speech, to more people to benefit.

My name is Anna Kelly. I’m a Principal recruitment consultant specialising in policy, public affairs, and communications roles, and renewable energy is my largest portfolio. This includes working with RenewableNI to secure their new Director.  I realise my specialism may not be relevant to everyone reading this, but I hope my insights from seven years in recruitment (and being a women myself) will be.

I want to start with a truth I’ve learned as a woman navigating my career: opportunities don’t just appear – you must go after them. I’ve felt the hesitation, the doubt, the ‘Am I really ready or right for this?’ question. But stepping up, even when it’s uncomfortable, is how growth happens.

Every day, I see incredible talent in this sector, but I also see talented women missing out, not because they aren’t capable, but because they hold themselves back.  I want to share how you can claim opportunities, grow within your company, and stand out.

One thing I see all the time is hesitation. Brilliant women sometimes wait until they tick every single box before applying for a role. Meanwhile, others who don’t meet every requirement are putting themselves forward and getting the role. Typically, this is men. Why should they get all the good stuff?

Here’s what I’ve learned from both my experience and my work as a recruiter:

1. Apply boldly. Don’t wait until you feel ‘perfectly ready.’ Potential, ambition, and a willingness to learn often outweigh a perfect CV. In fact, I’d be suspicious of a perfect CV…
2. Craft your story. Show how your skills transfer, why you’re the person to solve the problem, and the impact you can make. Don’t just list your experience – connect it to results.
3. Leverage insider knowledge. Talk to people in the sector, understand what’s valued, and position yourself strategically. Thankfully, the renewable sector is very well-connected in NI – well, certainly what I learned through my recent work with RenewableNI! You don’t need to have done it all before, but you need to communicate that you can.

Landing the job is just the beginning, however. Growth is active, not passive. As women, we sometimes wait for permission or the perfect opportunity – but the reality is, you must make it happen. And you absolutely can make it happen.

1. Seek sponsors, not just mentors. A mentor gives guidance; a sponsor puts your name forward. Both are essential for career progression.
2. Be visible. If no one knows what you’re achieving, it’s harder to get promoted. Speak up in meetings, share wins, and make your impact known. Basically, just don’t let them forget about you. And you know what they say, “well-behaved women rarely make history”.
3. Create opportunities proactively. Don’t wait for the perfect project. Suggest initiatives, take on challenges, and show that you can drive results. If you demonstrate a creative and solutions mindset, you’re seen more and more as an asset. That’s pretty hard to ignore.

I’ve done this myself – stepping into conversations or suggesting projects that initially felt out of reach, but I knew it had to be said or suggested. The right environment will amplify your voice, not quieten it. Every time, it taught me more than I imagined and built my confidence to work with some of the most senior people I have.

Now don’t get me wrong, I know the renewable energy sector moves fast, and it can feel daunting to know where to go, or what to do. But resilience is a superpower. Mistakes and setbacks happen to everyone – but they’re not failures; they’re lessons. And I can tell you now, no man I have spoken to gets hung up on the little things.

Confidence, persistence, and proactivity are what separate those who grow from those who plateau. Trust yourself – you already have the skills, insight, and potential to succeed.

So, here’s my challenge to you: this month, pick one role, project, or conversation that stretches you – and go after it. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t wait until everything feels perfect. Step forward, claim your space, and show the impact you can make. And then do that the next month, and the next month… Soon it’ll feel second nature.

I’ve been in your shoes – hesitating, questioning myself, wondering if I was ready or if I was the right fit. And every time I stepped up, I surprised myself. That’s my challenge to you: step into your potential.

I’ll leave you with a thought: there is a line the preeminent comedian, Harry Hill, said at my graduation back in 2014. Though that’s, 11 year ago now, it’s stuck with me. He was confidently stood up in front of a whole Cathedral of art students (so I’m sure you can imagine the weight on our shoulders, especially about the prospects of making our way into an artistic career!). He said, “there are people out there who get those jobs, so why the hell should it not be you?”.

Remember: you are capable, you are ambitious, and you are ready. Go for it – and don’t hold back!