Reflections from the CEI Africa Gender Pillar: Women Leadership Training
The Gender Pillar anchored within CEI Africa Technical Assistance Facility is dedicated to advancing women’s leadership and participation within the clean energy sector, recognising the vital role women play in driving sustainable change. Through targeted initiatives, such as leadership training and gender capacity building, the CEI Africa Gender Pillar seeks to empower women and bridge gender gaps across the clean energy landscape and productive use activities.
In the days leading up to International Women’s Day 2026, twelve women from across the CEI Africa portfolio and pipeline in Kenya gathered in Nairobi for a three-and-a-half-day leadership training designed to strengthen their leadership capacity, expand their professional networks, and foster their growth within the renewable energy sector.
Held in Nairobi, Kenya, the workshop brought together participants from three companies three companies active in the mini-grid or productive use of energy sectors – Cytek Solar, Kudura Power East Africa, and Plexus Energy. The group represented a mix of high-performing professionals across low-management, mid-management, and management roles, each navigating the demands of fast-growing energy companies while building their leadership pathways.
The training created space for reflection, skill development, and practical learning focused on the realities women face when stepping into leadership roles in technical and operational sectors.
Rather than focusing only on theory, the workshop was designed around a simple principle: leadership is a skill that can be practiced, strengthened, and supported.
Day 1: Leading Self – The Foundation of Leadership
Leadership begins long before managing teams or influencing organisations. It begins with the ability to lead oneself.
The first day of the programme focused on self-leadership, encouraging participants to deepen their awareness of their leadership styles, strengths, and personal working patterns. Through guided exercises and reflection, participants explored how self-awareness, energy management, and personal productivity influence their effectiveness at work.
Participants engaged in personality and leadership style exercises, reflecting on how different working preferences shape communication, decision-making, and collaboration. These discussions helped participants better understand how they show up in teams and how others may experience their leadership style.
Participants worked with practical tools and activities to help them:
- Strengthen awareness of their personal leadership style
- Manage time and energy more effectively in demanding work environments
- Establish clearer professional boundaries
- Build habits that support consistent performance
For many participants, this session created an opportunity to step back from day-to-day operational pressures and reflect on how they show up as leaders – both for themselves and for their teams.
Day 2: Leading Others – Navigating Teams, Power, and Influence
On the second day, the focus shifted from self-leadership to leading others within teams and organisations.
Participants explored how leadership dynamics play out in real workplace situations, including how influence, communication, and decision-making shape team performance. Discussions centered on the realities of leading within fast-growing renewable energy companies, where roles often evolve quickly and professionals are required to guide teams while managing complex operational demands.
Key topics included:
- Understanding leadership roles within teams
- Recognising how power and influence affect team dynamics
- Delegating effectively while maintaining accountability
- Strengthening collaboration and engagement across teams
Participants also reflected on their experiences of both leading and being led, creating honest conversations about what supportive leadership looks like in practice.
Day 3: Leadership and Communication – Building Trust Through Conversations
Leadership is often exercised through communication – whether in daily team interactions, stakeholder engagement, or difficult workplace conversations.
The third day focused on strengthening communication skills, equipping participants with practical tools to engage more effectively with colleagues, partners, and teams.
Through guided exercises and practice sessions, participants worked on:
- Applying active listening techniques to build trust and understanding
- Preparing for and conducting challenging or courageous conversations
- Delivering constructive feedback
- Crafting impact stories that clearly communicate the value of their work
One of the central themes of the day was helping participants link their work to a clear narrative: why the work matters, who it serves, and what impact it creates.
For professionals working in the renewable energy sector – where projects often deliver social, environmental, and economic value simultaneously – the ability to communicate impact is particularly important.
Day 4: Networks, Visibility, and the Leadership Journey Ahead
The final half-day of the training focused on an important leadership skill: building and using professional networks.
Often, women face greater structural barriers to accessing professional networks thus participants practiced delivering concise professional pitches that communicate their roles, expertise, and aspirations. They also mapped out their personal networks, identifying individuals who support their growth and opportunities to expand their professional connections.
The training concluded with an inspirational conversation with a guest leader, Wairimu Karanja, Partner and Chief Legal Officer at Persistent Energy Capital LLC, offering participants an opportunity to hear first hand reflections on navigating leadership challenges in practice.
Through reflection and discussion, participants identified concrete next steps to apply what they had learned within their organisations.
Leadership Development as a Strategic Investment
Women continue to play an essential role in the renewable energy sector across Africa, contributing technical expertise, operational leadership, and innovative thinking. Yet leadership opportunities within the sector do not always grow at the same pace as the industry itself.
The CEI Africa Gender Pillar helps address this gap by investing directly in the leadership potential of women already driving change within the sector.
By supporting leadership development across different levels of management, CEI Africa is helping to strengthen not only individual careers but also the organisational capacity of the companies within its portfolio and pipeline contributing to a more equal and sustainable clean energy sector.
Beyond the immediate skills building for the participants, the CEI Africa Gender Pillar leadership training reflects a broader, strategic commitment to strengthening leadership capacity across the clean energy sector. As energy markets expand and organisations grow in complexity, the sector increasingly depends on diverse leadership that can navigate technical, operational, and organisational change. Investing in women’s leadership is therefore not only a question of equity, but a critical driver of resilient companies, stronger decision-making, and long-term sector performance.
Looking Ahead
As the world celebrated International Women’s Day 2026, initiatives from CEI Africa and the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management proved that moving beyond awareness into concrete support for women’s leadership remains essential. The conversations, skills, and networks built during the training represent more than a three-and-a-half-day workshop. They form part of a broader commitment to strengthening leadership within Africa’s clean energy ecosystem.
For the twelve women who participated, the programme served as both a pause for reflection and a catalyst for continued growth – equipping them with practical tools to lead with greater clarity, confidence, and impact in their organisations and beyond.
