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What career advice does the Women's Utilities Network panel offer to young people entering the utilities industry?
Three panellists from the Women's Utilities Network each offer a distinct lens. Sophia Goring says young people should stay open-minded: utilities is far more than fieldwork, with roles spanning communications, finance, and people teams. Naz Khanon urges them not to be afraid to be themselves — their unique qualities are precisely what the industry needs. Karen Anderson adds that building connections and having brave conversations outside daily tasks is essential, and reminds them that no one will care about their career as much as they do.
Utilities offers far more roles than most young people realise
The persistent image of utilities as a sector of engineers and field crews puts many young people off. Goring, Head of Sustainability at Business Stream and 2024 Mentor of the Year in the One Mentoring Programme featured on The Future of Utilities Podcast, pushes back on that directly. The sector actively needs professionals in sustainability, communications, HR, and finance.
This breadth matters more than ever as utilities companies work to reflect the communities they serve. Widening the perceived scope of what a career in utilities looks like is one of the most practical ways to attract a more diverse talent pool — a point the Women's Utilities Network has championed since its founding in 2018.
"No one cares about your career as much as you do" — three voices, one message
Khanon, Head of People at Lane's Group and 2025 Mentor of the Year, frames authenticity not as a soft skill but as a strategic asset. The utilities sector needs people who think and act differently — conforming to a perceived mould is counterproductive for both the individual and the industry.
Anderson's advice is the most action-oriented of the three. She pushes young entrants to build connections deliberately and to have conversations that go well beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. The Women's Utilities Network itself is a direct embodiment of that principle: what started in 2018 with five women who felt isolated in their organisations has grown into a community that drew well over 100 attendees at a single Future Utilities conference event. That growth is a result of exactly the kind of brave networking Anderson encourages — and it's explored further in this episode of The Future of Utilities Podcast.
The three pieces of advice — open-mindedness, authenticity, and proactive connection — are complementary. Together they sketch a clear posture for anyone starting out: explore widely, show up as yourself, and take ownership.
"Mentoring, for me, has given me a purpose. Seeing people build confidence, overcoming obstacles, they've set goals that they thought were impossible. Seeing them achieve those goals has been rewarding."
Karen Anderson — Executive Director, Women's Utilities Network.
Anderson has led the Women's Utilities Network for just over two years, overseeing a period of significant growth for an organisation founded in 2018 by five women who were often the only females in the room at utilities industry events. She is a regular speaker at sector conferences, including Future Utilities, where she addresses large audiences on gender diversity and inclusion. Under her direction, the Network's annual mentoring event has grown from a handful of participants to more than 100 women and allies gathering to support one another. Her belief that career ownership must be personal — not delegated — runs through everything the Network does. The full conversation is available on The Future of Utilities Podcast.
See also
Why is diversity of backgrounds and perspectives important for utilities companies?
Karen Anderson argues that a utilities workforce needs to reflect its diverse customer base. If everyone in a team looks, thinks, and acts the same, the company risks missing the needs of many of the people it serves — a point developed in depth on The Future of Utilities Podcast.
What is the One Mentoring Programme and how does it help people find mentors?
The One Mentoring Programme is a portal that connects mentors and mentees across the utilities industry, including outside of one's own organisation, making it easier to find the right match regardless of employer.
How does mentoring help with imposter syndrome in the workplace?
Naz Khanon acknowledges that imposter syndrome is something many people suffer with, and that mentoring helps by constantly checking, improving, and building the confidence of mentees so they can overcome self-doubt and set more ambitious goals.
Key takeaways
- Utilities careers span communications, finance, sustainability, and HR — not just fieldwork — and young entrants should explore the full range.
- Bringing your authentic self to the workplace is not just acceptable; it is actively what the industry needs to become more diverse and effective.
- Building connections and having conversations beyond your daily role is a career investment — no one else will make it for you.
- The Women's Utilities Network grew from five founders in 2018 to a community of over 100 at a single event, proving the concrete impact of brave networking.