Last month, our Managing Director of Cairngorm Consultancy, Christina, attended the Women in New Energy Conference in Aberdeen, where this year’s theme, Purpose in Practice, was reflected throughout every session, panel and discussion.
This year marked Christina’s first as a Women in New Energy Ambassador. She was honoured to join join Beena Sharma, Steve Pickavance and Heather Hutcheon for a thought-provoking discussion on how AI and digital innovation are shaping the future of the energy industry.
“What I love about this conference is that diversity is far more than representation. Different backgrounds, experiences and ways of thinking lead to better innovation, better decision-making and stronger business performance.”
Christina spent time with old friends, colleagues but also had an opportunity to meet and speak with lots of new connections from all across the energy ecosystem, from lawyers, to students, academics and founders
Following the event, we asked Christina to reflect on the discussions that resonated most. Here are some of her key takeaways.
- One of the biggest takeaways was the importance of leading through uncertainty. It was a topic raised across multiple sessions, with many leaders recognising that progress often depends on navigating ambiguity rather than waiting for complete certainty. That message strongly aligns with our work at Cairngorm Consultancy, where supporting organisations to make confident decisions under uncertainty is central to what we do.
- During the AI panel, Christina encouraged people to take a practical approach to AI. Rather than fearing it, learn how and where it can support your work. AI proficiency is becoming an important professional skill, but it’s equally important to understand its limitations as well as its strengths.
- A key message Christina shared during the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion workshop was that creating a strong culture starts with truly knowing your people. At Cairngorm Energy, Our people are at the centre of everything we do, through creating a postive environment the team are motivated to deliver in the short-term, whilst being retained to deliver long-term goals too.
- A recurring theme throughout the event was the rise of non-linear career paths. More people are moving between sectors and disciplines, with transferable skills, adaptability and curiosity becoming just as valuable as traditional career progression.