Women in Solar

We are committed to improving our gender balance, as we believe it benefits our workforce and delivers better results. And to accelerate the development, we have established a Group Diversity Community headed by our CEO. Local diversity and inclusion communities will be established in all major subsidiaries by the end of 2026.

Furthermore, we will develop a diversity and inclusion road map to drive progress. We also have a diversity policy, which helps to ensure that HR and the hiring managers carefully consider different backgrounds and qualifications. Read more about these initiatives in our Sustainability Report.

Meet some of the competent, innovative, and driven women in Solar below.

Caroline is Department Manager at Warehouse Örebro in Solar Sverige.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

My childhood dream was to become a lawyer.

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

I think it is a fun and varied work environment. You get to be a part of the team all the way from ordering a product to delivery to a satisfied end customer.

What is your best work-related memory?

My best work-related memory is when we were involved in starting up our new data system eWM in Denmark. It was both exciting and challenging to be a part of that project. It was also interesting to see the main warehouse and meet new colleagues from other countries.

Who has been your role model?

I do not have a specific role model. I look up to all women, who have made it without education, but with a strong will and tenacity.

Rianne is Planner at Eltechna, a subsidiary of Solar Nederland B.V. located in Amersfoort, the Netherlands. See more at www.eltechna.nl

What did you want to become when you were a child?

With my father being a carpenter and my mother working as a laboratory technician, the choice of a technical education and profession was quite obvious. I wanted to become an audiologist myself. An audiologist is a healthcare professional, who can help you diagnose and treat hearing loss.

Why did you choose to work within a technological working environment?

Eventually, I chose to study mechatronics engineering. This is an interdisciplinary branch of engineering that focuses on the integration of mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering systems. At the intersection of mechanics, electronics, and computing, mechatronics specialists create simpler, smarter systems.

Through an internship that was part of my studies, I became familiar with panel building. After getting my degree, I sent an open application to Eltechna. And I’ve been working there ever since, for 9 years already, and still with great pleasure.

What is your best work-related memory?

At Eltechna I got the opportunity to assist a Service Mechanic at a production site of a large project in Maastricht, in the southern part of the Netherlands. It was quite a challenging project where I assisted for about a week. I learned a lot working in practice in this complex technical environment.

I still benefit from this experience in my day-to-day work at Eltechna. We deliver craftsmanship. Each switchboard is custom made and no two panels are the same. It makes me proud when I have wired up a complex panel myself.

Who has been your role model?

That’s my mother, a laboratory technician, for sure. She always stimulated me to choose a profession, which I like. Eventually, this turned out to be a technical one, just like hers.

Lisbeth is Director of Group Commercial Administration & MDO in Solar Group.

What did you want to become when you were a child? 

I do not remember. But when I was young, I wanted to become a bookkeeper. Believe it or not - I like debit and credit. 

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

Since I have been in Solar for almost 25 years, I have had several interesting positions. I started in Solar as a financial controller, stationed in Solar Norge. Later I was heavily involved in process optimisations and implementations of IT systems. That led to my current job in Sourcing and Services as head of Master Data.

If you ask me, I have the most interesting job in Solar, as you cannot perform any business processes appropriately without having the right master data. Master data is interesting in many ways – both strategically, as master data is important in Solar, as well as practically, as the ‘devil is in the details’.

Our department has a good spirit, the energy level is very high, and the days are never the same. Here, you really feel the heartbeat of Solar. I embrace the journey towards working in a global organisation solving local challenges with shared resources.

What is your best work-related memory?

My stationing in Solar Norge in 2001. First, it gave my competences and knowledge about Solar a major boost – I gained 7 years of experience in 10 months! But most importantly, I managed to build personal relations with a lot of fantastic Solar colleagues, which have benefitted greatly subsequently. In Norway, they still refer to me as being ‘half Norwegian’.

Who has been your role model?

I do not have one single role model. I am inspired by current and former colleagues in Denmark and abroad – male and female – as well as peers in my network.

Kajsa is Teamleader at Warehouse Örebro in Solar Sverige.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

When I was a kid, I knew that I would like to have a practical profession where I get to work with my body.

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

I applied for a job in sourcing and services because I felt that I wanted a job where I get to work with my hands. For me, it is also important that there are different things to do and that there is room for development, which there is in this industry.

What is your best work-related memory?

The best thing about my job is the communication with my colleagues and that I feel appreciated for the work I do.

Who has been your role model?

I would not say that I have a specific role model, but my parents have taught me that if you want something, you should work for it and put your best foot forward.

Merete is HR Business Partner in Solar Norge.

What did you want to become when you were a child? 

My first dream was to become a hairdresser. I had to give up this dream because of allergies. Later, I wanted to become a psychologist. I have put my interest in psychology to good use over many years as a manager and now as HR Business Partner.

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

After a few years as self-employed when I had young children, I wanted to go back to a large company, and Solar seemed like a forward-thinking business with room for growth. I applied for the role as Customer Centre Manager and started in August 2017.

I value the way we work with our employees and focus on what we can achieve when we cooperate across departments and borders. Our motto is 'stronger together' and I believe in just that!

In 2023, one of the things I appreciate us focusing on is the green transition. Solar wants to be a first mover in taking better care of our planet for the coming generations. And working in a company that prioritises our environment is important to me.

What is your best work-related memory?

I have so many good memories! Seeing people develop and grow gives me the best feeling. Working in HR gives me the possibility to see how newly recruited employees turn out in their roles. I especially enjoy seeing how an employee or a manager handles a difficult situation and comes out on top of it.

Who has been your role model?

One person that has inspired me is a manager I had some years ago. As a woman in an environment dominated by men - she was very good at her job, both the profession and as a manager.

I believe that men and women are both capable to be good managers and there is no reason for women not to dream of becoming the next MD in Solar Norge!

Stine is Commercial Specialist, Services, in Solar Norge.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

My big childhood dream was to become a journalist, but I also explored the idea of ​​working as a hairdresser or a flight attendant. I never got tall enough to be a flight attendant, but still ended up with a job in tourism early in my career.

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

When I chose to apply for a job at Solar several years ago, I did not know much about the company. Three different jobs and ten years later, I have become more aware of what we stand for and how we can contribute to our customers.

I greatly appreciate being part of Solar's further journey. In my job as a Commercial Service Specialist, I am directly involved in developing services that help our customers become more efficient. We help the customer to spend time on value creation and become more profitable.

That Solar is a company where there is room to develop, is also important to me. If you persevere, do your job and dare to take on challenges, you will find opportunities. Courage is one of our values and the one I identify with the most!

What is your best work-related memory?

Of course, I have many memories with my good work colleagues at Solar. One of the things I most appreciate having contributed to is how the collaboration with one of our biggest customers progressed from the small beginning to where we are today.

I think it is very exciting to follow the process from tender work until we win projects. It is motivating to see that we achieve good results in cooperation with the customer. It is satisfying to see that what I work with on a daily basis adds value to our customers.

Who has been your role model?        

I have never met a better person than my grandmother! She is a generous, warm, and hard-working lady whom everyone loves. She has taught me all the good values ​​in life, for example how to meet all people with openness. This is something I have taken with me into my working life.

Denise is Head of Sustainability at Solar Danmark.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

When I was a child, I always dreamed about being a funambulist. I practiced every day on the wooden bedpost at the end of my bed. In some way, it a lot similar to working with leadership; you walk a fine line following a vision, while trying to balance the daily life and challenges - only minus the ‘tutu’ that I also loved wearing as a child. At one point I dreamed about being a bartender. Mixing drinks was fun, but I also loved meeting new people. In some ways, my job in sustainability is not too far from that dream - interesting subjects, many different projects, and great input from business partners and colleagues.

I have always had a creative mind-set. In school, I often peferred climbing trees over playing with toys. And I probably always knew that I would like a challenging job - one where I was able to grow and learn. That includes making mistakes and learning from them! Solar is a place in which I feel that I can grow. There are so many opportunities to develop and learn. I’m actually taking an education right now, and I’m looking forward to being able to further support the sustainability journey in Solar. 

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

I believe working with sourcing and services is a business model for the future. In an environment that always moves, you need to follow along and adjust. Working with sourcing and services means going from just having customers to being their business partner. I’m very aware of this and need to show in my new position that we can make the difference together.

What is your best work-related memory?

I think that with my many years in Solar, the best memory has to be the people that I have met and the good friends I have gained. This is a company filled with so many passionate and talented people in so many different functions. Everyone with their own great insights into the company and the business. When I have faced challenges, I have always been able to call a colleague to get a piece of good advice or a chat, and that to me is golden. This is how you can turn a bad day into a good one or a good day into a great one.

I love the feeling of doing a job successfully and celebrating it with good colleagues that wish you the best. And it's maybe even better to see your colleagues be successful and to help them succeed if needed. People mostly just have to believe in themselves to succeed, and when they do, it's amazing to be a part of. 

Who has been your role model?

I have many, actually! Walt Disney, Julia Child, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Lise Nørgaard. I think one thing they all have in common is that they are all “power women” (and men) who have not been afraid of failure. They always tried their best and never gave up. They followed their dreams. They had strong voices and were not afraid to be heard or listened to - and they stayed themselves and did not lose themselves. I hope and dream to be like that someday - and I am working on becoming it.

And of course also Kermit the frog 😉 It’s not easy being green – but green is a color that inspires creativity and imagination. And that for me is very true words for the green transition taking place at different paces all over the world. We all have the potential to make a great impact - let the imagination flow. To support that I will end with one of my favorite quotes: - Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age and dreams are forever.

Tina is Key Account Manager in Industry and Food & Beverage MRO in Solar Sverige.

What did you want to become when you were a child?

Veterinarian - but I realised at an early age that I would be forced to put animals to sleep and changed that idea fast and bought myself some animals privately later on.

Why did you choose to work within sourcing and services?

My education as a strategic purchaser led me to work closely with suppliers. When the opportunity to join the ‘other side of the table’ came, it was a challenge that I wanted to take. I took the opportunity to test my experience and be helpful to the customers with their struggles and challenges that were my everyday work in the past. I have never regretted that decision.

To have a job that enables you to get to know the customers and see many types of organisations is a fulfilling feeling. That combined with the blessing of having wonderful colleagues, who always help each other to achieve goals and have fun at the same time, is a motivator for working within sourcing and services at Solar.

What is your best work-related memory?

That is a tricky question as there are many. I can mention one, which is both the best and the worst. I, a newly hatched purchaser, was to hold a presentation on economic risk handling together with Dun&Bradstreet in front of the whole purchasing department at Siemens Gas turbine, approx. 150 people. I was so nervous and it was very good that the presenter's table was attached to the floor as much as I was shaking. But I did it and it helped me a lot when remembering that you have to try to achieve. 

Who has been your role model?

My role model is a former boss. In my opinion, she was/is everything a leader should be. Incredibly smart, funny, a team player, sharp, humble, and helpful with not just figures and performance in sight, but a lot of individual coaching. Operating in a male-dominated environment on a high level, she needed sharp elbows sometimes. But to her team, she was always inclusive and you could really see that she enjoyed seeing others grow and develop.

As this was over 25 years ago, I imagine it was even more of a challenge to be heard as a female leader than it is today. Her motto that she always said was ‘kill them with kindness’. Some years later, when we were at lunch, she had added one thing to the motto - ‘and bury them with a smile’. She, of course, said that with a twinkle in her eye but to me, that symbolised her - fun and serious at the same time. She taught me many things and I hope that I have passed these on to my daughter when she enters the workforce.