When Nimita Uberoi transitioned from the public to the private sector, she quickly realized that her network and skill set didn’t transfer as seamlessly as she had hoped. “You have to build an entirely new network,” she said. “That’s why this fellowship was so particularly helpful. New people, new skill set, and new industry.”

Nimita is one of 21 early-career professionals selected for the Women in Energy Fellowship, a program led by the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Directed by Jessica Weis, Program Director of CGEP’s Women in Energy initiative, the fellowship is designed for women with three to eight years of experience in the energy sector. It provides participants with a variety of energy topics, professional skills, and a strong peer network—three pillars essential to advancing in a rapidly evolving industry.

Nimita Uberoi (right), Co-Founder of Giraffe Financial, speaks to the group of fellows.

CGEP launched the program in response to a persistent challenge: while women make up about a third of entry-level energy positions, they account for just 19 percent of executives. Many leave the field before reaching senior leadership roles, creating a loss of talent and perspective at a time when the sector is undergoing profound transformation.

The fellowship is a direct investment in closing that gap. Over several months, participants take part in in-person sessions at CGEP’s New York City offices, featuring deep dives on timely energy topics such as sustainable finance, offshore wind, nuclear energy, and energy equity. They also engage in skill-building workshops on public speaking, negotiation, conflict resolution, and, in a recent session on August 6, 2025, confidence-building.

The confidence session began with reflections on how fellows had approached challenges differently since the last meeting. Ava Ibanez-Amador, Associate Attorney at Earthjustice, shared:

I’ve learned a lot about areas outside my own field. And each time we present, I notice the hesitation fading. This kind of cohort builds you up to do it without thinking twice.

Ava Ibanez-Amador

The session then welcomed guest speaker Dr. Luisa Palacios, Interim Director of Research and Managing Director of Energy Transition Finance at CGEP. With a career spanning leadership in energy companies, finance, and policy—including serving as the first chairwoman of Citgo Petroleum Corporation—Palacios brought decades of insight.

“It became very clear to me that I had to learn and relearn every time I changed jobs,” she told the group. “I thought: I might not be the best person right now, but I will become the person to figure this out.”

Dr. Luisa Palacios, Interim Director of Research and Managing Director of Energy Transition Finance at CGEP

For Carly Ayukawa, Senior Program Manager at Solar One, this perspective was grounding:

We’re so used to US stability, but hearing about volatility abroad put things into perspective. It makes me more confident seeing the longevity that speakers have had in their careers.

Carly Ayukawa presents.

Cheryl Ma, Project Manager for Clean Energy Origination at Walmart, found Palacios’ points on resilience especially relevant:

Policies change, companies change—sometimes overnight. Her message was that it’s your responsibility to work toward the resilience of your organization. That’s something I can take back to my professional life.

Cheryl Ma

For CGEP, the fellowship is an extension of its mission to not only produce evidence-based research but also to shape the future of who leads in energy. The program’s impact is already measurable. In its pilot year, fellows reported a 49% increase in knowledge of energy equity, a 28% increase in professional networks, and a 17% increase in confidence about public speaking. Six months after completing the pilot, 67% reported that they had been promoted or changed jobs—a testament to the fellowship’s tangible career impact. Eighty-five percent said they would recommend the fellowship to a colleague.

By bringing together women from across sectors—utilities, clean energy startups, law, public agencies, and multinational corporations—CGEP is creating a cross-disciplinary community that will remain connected long after the program ends.

As Palacios reminded the group, “The learning process never stops.”

With the skills, knowledge, and networks built at CGEP, these fellows are not just preparing for the next step in their careers: they are shaping the future of the energy sector itself.

Find more information on the Women in Energy Fellowship here.

Within days of taking office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order to create the Justice40 Initiative. The policy aims to allocate 40% of the benefits of federal clean energy and climate investments to frontline communities. 

For the energy sector, it’s helping to shine a growing light on  “energy justice.” Historically, the current energy system has negatively impacted disadvantaged communities the most – communities that often lack access to affordable energy, are excluded from potential benefits of a clean energy economy, and suffer the greatest harms from climate change. The Energy Opportunity Lab at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs is working to address these challenges, among many others. 

So, what progress has been made in ensuring energy justice for frontline communities? And with the energy transition continuing to accelerate in size and scale, how do we make sure disadvantaged communities aren’t left behind?

This week host Jason Bordoff talks with Shalanda Baker about the historical inequities of energy systems, and the Biden administration’s agenda on energy equity and climate justice.

Shalanda is the director of the Office of Energy Justice and Equity in the U.S. Department of Energy, and the secretarial advisor on equity. She also serves as chief diversity officer for the agency. Prior to her Senate confirmation in 2022, Shalanda served as the nation’s first-ever deputy director for energy justice. Before joining the Biden administration, she co-founded and co-directed the Initiative for Energy Justice, which provides technical law and policy support to communities on the front lines of climate change.