Gaps, Paths & Ownership: Career Advice For Women Aligning Ambition And Values

Composite image – (L to R top): Daniella Ortega, Jill Tidman, Jean Case. (L to R bottom:) Dr. … [+] Heather Boushey, Dr. Melissa Lott

Joan Michelson composite, photos from subject sources

If you were asked to give career advice to midcareer women who are ambitious, want to make real money, and want their work to make a difference, what would you say?

That’s what I ask at the end of every interview on Electric Ladies Podcast, and the answers I hear are fascinating. They each reflect the unique lives we’ve lived, the choices we’ve made in our own careers, and the circumstances we’ve experienced, as well as our skillsets, values and priorities.

All my guests are women whose work is in, or intersects with, energy, climate, sustainability, environment-social-governance (ESG) principles, and corporate responsibility, so that is the prism through which they look.

These women come from all industries and sectors: government, finance, fashion, transportation, policy, food, housing, energy, media, the arts, academia, science and technology.

As another United Nations climate conference convenes with COP28 this week, where parties are addressing related policies and economics, and how to drive results, women are driving important discussions and changing outcomes.

Here are answers to the career advice question from five women on the frontlines of this work, and highly successful:

Daniella Ortega, “Carbon: An Unauthorized Biography”

Daniella Ortega

· Mind the gaps: Daniella Ortega, writer, codirector and coproducer of “Carbon: The Unauthorized Biography” and Development and Investment Manager at Screen Australia: “What I’ve come to learn about what it is to be a creative person with ambition and wanting to make an impact … I think finding the gaps of where you sit. You have some skills, that’s great, but where are the gaps? What do you feel can empower you or make you feel or give you those skills that you need to fill those gaps? And then look to other people or ways in which ways to fill them… (Also) don’t be isolated. Connect, connect, connect with those around you, and…don’t give your power away, keep your power and try to build on it.” Daniella Ortega on Electric Ladies podcast

Heather Boushey, Ph.D., Member, National Council of Economic Advisors, The White House

Heather Boushey

· Decide what you want to achieve: Heather Boushey, Ph.D., Member of the National Council of Economic Advisors at the White House and Chief Economist of the Invest in America Cabinet: “For me, the key to my career was being clear on what my mission is….I feel so enormously fortunate that I found a president to be able to work for who shares that goal….So I think the lesson in that is either be the leader that you want to believe in, or find that leader and attach yourself to them and see what amazing things you can do together. But, for me, it’s been about being clear on what it is that I wanted to achieve.” Dr. Heather Boushey on Electric Ladies Podcast

Melissa Lott, Columbia University and Nova Carbon Zero documentary

Dr. Melissa Lott

· Forge your own path: Melissa Lott, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Global Energy Policy Institute at Columbia University, and chief scientist on the NOVA/PBS documentary “Chasing Carbon Zero.” “Create your path because it probably hasn’t been created before. And follow your passions and the things you want to contribute to…At the end of the day….it’s about understanding where you want to have impact and then creating the path forward….When I started in this work, the thing I do now did not exist. It didn’t, now it does. And I’m so glad that I positioned myself to be able to do the work that I do today because it speaks to me on many, many levels and it brings together different pieces of me, and it’s a way that I can contribute. So,….It’s about how are you going to create and be that change you want to see?” Dr. Melissa Lott on Electric Ladies Podcast

Jean Case, CEO, the Case Foundation

Case Foundation

· Own your work, literally and figuratively: Jean Case, investor and philanthropist, CEO of the Case Foundation, Chairman of the National Geographic Society and former SVP of AOL: “Ladies, you need to own it….And by owning it, I mean, bring confidence that you’ve got what it takes. Own things that will make you a more profitable, build wealth for yourself, own that.…it’s hard for a lot of us to do the things that we think we naturally can’t be good at….(but) You can be trained, you can learn into almost anything. I see so many really capable, smart, awesome women and they just really need to own that.” Jean Case on Electric Ladies Podcast

Jill Tidman, The Redford Center

The Redford Center

· Align with your values: Jill Tidman, Executive Director of The Redford Center, which advances environmental solutions through storytelling (founded by actor/filmmaker Robert Redford and his late son James Redford): “Any time you can find work that aligns with your, your personal values and goals, you’re going to excel, you’re going to feel better, you’re going to be happier, you’re going to have more value, you’re going to succeed in the ways that I think are probably most meaningful for women. And then, I also think, don’t be shy. I think that we have a tendency to not ask for what we need or put in an idea forward, or, go out on a limb. We don’t need to play small. We’re in the room, and if you’re in the room, be in the room.” Jill Tidman on Electric Ladies podcast

As we start the holiday season and approach the end of the year, we tend to think about our careers and what choices we might want to make next year. The counsel from these accomplished women give us good food for thought.

Listen to each of these full interviews by following the links in each quote, or go to Electric Ladies Podcast or find the show wherever you like to listen to podcasts.