Women Champions in the Energy Sector

Born and raised in Senegal, Aminata's fascination with multiple subjects led her to pursue an education in STEM fields. She enrolled in preparatory classes after completing her secondary education and applied to France's best schools of engineering, ultimately receiving dual degrees in Hydrodynamics and Offshore Engineering and Sustainable Energy Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Nantes in France and Danmarks Tekniske Universitet in Denmark. Aminata's passion for energy access led her to undertake a practicum with the United Nation's Environment Program, which brought her back home to Senegal. She discovered a new passion for electrification and realized that even in high school, power shortages used to impact her schooling, leading her to study by candlelight. Aminata's research for her thesis revealed that nearly 30% of Senegal's population did not have access to electricity at all, and she declared that "we cannot leave people in the dark." As Aminata began her career in energy, she found joy in the social elements of her work, valuing the connections she makes with people. Human-centered design has served as the foundation for all her programs, and she believes that technical work does not have to mean working alone. Aminata attributes her success to her ability to always raise her hand and jump head-first into new opportunities, crediting her sense of security and confidence to the support she's received from her family. Aminata's confidence in the male-dominated energy field is also attributed to the fact that her family never told her she couldn't do something because of her gender. However, she recognizes that not all women have this kind of support and emphasizes the importance of encouraging young girls to consider STEM fields early on. As a part of her work on the West Africa Energy Program, Aminata wants to make sure that all young women know that they can pursue any field of study or work they want, regardless of their gender. Aminata's story is a powerful example of what can be achieved when one follows their passions. Throughout her career, she has been involved in various initiatives, including a techno-economic assessment of renewable energy options for rural electrification in Senegal and a career fair organized by the Mariama Bâ School of Excellence for Girls in Gorée, Senegal, where she shared resources on STEM studies and careers with middle school girls.