‘I Love My Job’: A Culture of Recognition, Open Doors, and Positive Changes for Our Planet

Welcome to I Love My Job, the series where we hear from women who really love their jobs. In this edition, we sat down with Janhavi Kulkarni, Senior Director of the Photovoltaic (PV) engineering team at RWE Clean Energy (RWECE).

Kulkarni’s career at RWECE began a little over five years ago as a project engineer for solar and storage projects. Her dedication to climate solutions and knack for solving complex problems propelled her career to new heights. “As I really enjoyed my work, I started getting more passionate, eventually growing to become a senior director of the team,” Kulkarni reflects. Today, she is an electrical engineer with a specialized master’s in energy systems, a testament to Kulkarni’s dedication to the clean energy field and RWECE’s commitment to nurturing talent.

One of Kulkarni’s favorite aspects of working at RWECE is the culture of recognition. “Everybody I know comes in every morning passionate about making a positive impact,” says Kulkarni. “If you’re talented, passionate, or doing a great job, it gets noticed, which I think is important. It’s always recognized when you put in all that hard work.”  

Kulkarni also appreciates RWECE’s dedication to employee wellbeing, demonstrated in their comprehensive parental leave practices, which provide employees with the practical support needed to thrive. “The last time I took maternity leave, I never went back to work thinking, ‘Do I have to prove myself all over again? Do I have to do everything from scratch?’ The value I had created was never forgotten; it was always appreciated.”

In the video below, Kulkarni shares more about why she loves working at RWE Clean Energy and the projects she is excited about. We also provide lightly edited highlights from the video discussion in the following article.

What do you find most exciting about your work? 

Two things help me wake up in the morning and get to work. The first is the problem-solving aspect. As an engineer, I’m always drawn to solving complex problems that aren’t easy to solve. The second is the very tangible positive impact I get to create toward the planet and the future of our generations, which is very exciting and inspiring and motivates me to wake up in the morning and just get to work.

How would you describe the culture at RWECE? 

Diversity is such a great thing about RWECE because it’s not just about the kind of people in terms of diversity, but it’s the kind of thoughts and ideas people bring to the table, which I think truly makes it diverse. I really appreciate that.

The other part of the culture I would like to stress is the lack of doors. You can always approach the CEO, a senior director, or any other team member to learn what they’re doing, see what you can help with and how you can make a bigger contribution to the organization. 

What advice do you have for other women looking to work at RWECE?

My one advice, in short, is don’t wait because, as women, we tend to overthink. We try to fit in all the boxes, check it all off. You’re going to learn things on the job. No one’s perfect. No one’s tailor-made for any role. Whatever you think you might need, don’t wait. You have it today, so go ahead and apply for the role. Whether it’s at RWECE or somewhere else, you have to take that chance. 

Fairygodboss is proud to work with RWE Clean Energy. Find a job there today!

Check out other posts in the ‘I Love My Job’ series:

• ‘I Love My Job’: BlackRock Empowers Me to Embrace My Unique Perspective While Pursuing Opportunities

• ‘I Love My Job’: A Home Away from Home, a Chance to Explore and Grow a Career

• ‘I Love My Job’: How Capital One Empowers This Leader to Grow and Be Her Authentic Self

• ‘I Love My Job’: The Skills I Used to Advance in My Sales Career

• ‘I Love My Job’: Making a Real Impact on Millions of Users as Part of the Global TikTok Team

• ‘I Love My Job’: ‘I’m Working at My Dream Company at the Intersection of Healthcare and Engineering’